Regular readers may recall that we often discuss all the extras, such as airport hotel and parking that need to accompany our holidays abroad. On this occasion we needed to leave our car at Heathrow for a holiday we took at the end of a particularly wet and miserable winter.
There are literally hundreds of options available when it comes to hotel and parking packages. It can sometimes be a bit of a minefield, especially with all the recent press stories of scams. They describe where cars have been damaged, driven huge distances, and even lost on a couple of occasions. So, when researching, it’s important that you look at reputable companies. The temptation to go with the cheapest option might be a draw, but remember, you’re entrusting them with your car. It’s a very valuable piece of your life! Do you really want to come home to a repair bill, insurance claims, or at worst, no car at all?
Early Flight
As we had an early flight to catch, we wanted to get a package that included an airport hotel stay the night before and a convenient parking option that would make our lives easy on the day. We finally opted for a package from Holiday Extras . It had us staying at the Radisson Red hotel. This is one of the closest hotels to the terminals. It included parking at the hotel for the whole duration.
This, we felt, was just as convenient as the slightly more expensive ‘meet-and-greet’ packages. Those are where the car is driven into the terminal car park and then taken to an off-site parking facility. We have used these before, but on this occasion, because of the early flight, this seemed like a better option. All we had to do was get to the hotel, park up and then use the Hotel Hoppa shuttle bus to get us to and from the terminal the next morning. Couldn’t be easier.
The Radisson Red Hotel and Parking
The Radisson Red is a huge hotel, literally at the entrance to the airport. We were quite impressed with the quality of the room. Also, the bar/restaurant offered a good range of tasty meals and drinks in a nice convivial environment. It was busy when we were there, but that didn’t seem to be a problem. It’s worth pointing out that this is a HUGE hotel. If you happen to be staying in a room a long way from reception, add a few minutes to your departure estimate. This is to allow for the long walk and lifts etc. to get back to the entrance in time for your shuttle bus or taxi.
The whole airport hotel and parking package cost around the same as the parking alone would have. But, instead we had the convenience of not having to worry about the car from the moment we arrived until the day we got back. The last thing anyone needs is a stressful time at either the start or end of your break. This option made life as easy as it could be for the special occasion.
Check out all the options available at Holiday Extras, from parking, hotels, lounges, transfers and more!
