Cheap Airport Parking: Gatwick Airport hints, tips and local parking

catswin

In my experience of Gatwick parking it pays to use several sites to check prices. I use holiday extras mostly. As I need to leave my car and take keys with me, I normally use the official on airport car parks. I have found in the past that the North terminal used to charge more than the South terminal. This seems to have changed this year, and both charge the same. Book as far in advance as you can, and always sign up to the search sites. If the site notes that you are enquiring, normally within 3 or 4 days of looking, you will receive an email offering you 10% discount, so don't book in a hurry, scan a few sites then wait for the emails to arrive offering the discounts - then book.
The on airport price can sometimes work out cheaper than the off airport alternatives that require a taxi journey for the last few miles. I am always a bit concerned about organising a taxi in the early hours of the morning to take you to the airport from a place you have never been to before.

BillJones

I always use the official Gatwick web site and pay to park in the short-term parking right at the terminal. It doesn't work out a huge amount more than the long-term parking, and means that my car is under cover while I am way.

I used to use valet parking, but after a very bad experience of car abuse, won't let anyone touch my cars now.

tasty_snacks

We caught a flight from Gatwick a couple of weekends ago - surely the cheapest bet is to park near a local railway station and catch a train? We parked 5 mins from Horley station, then jumped on a train which took 3 minutes and cost £4 return for the both of us.

catswin

tasty_snacks wrote: »

We caught a flight from Gatwick a couple of weekends ago - surely the cheapest bet is to park near a local railway station and catch a train? We parked 5 mins from Horley station, then jumped on a train which took 3 minutes and cost £4 return for the both of us.

This begs 2 questions in my eyes.

1. Do the trains run 24/7?

2. How secure was the parking where you ultimately left your car at Horley, and at what cost?

Two very valid questions if you are going to be away for anything more than the one day.

yorkielovit

I have used CTS Gatwick for many years. Rang today and they never answered phone (normally would be re-directed) does anyone know if they are still in operation.


Many thanks
Michelle

ckyw974

unfortunately your code MSE15 does not work...

Leon_W

A couple of people in this thread mention Tudor Rose for valet parking. Drive right into the terminal on departure, car collected by Tudor Rose and delivered back to terminal on arrival. Always had excellent service, booked 10 days in July for £82. Saves lugging all those cases on and off buses and is probably cheaper.


http://www.tudorrose.co.uk/

QQQ

isocor wrote: »

h t t p s : / / maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=east+grinstead&ll=51.149188,-0.134561&spn=0.005101,0.01929&hnear=East+Grinstead,+West+Sussex,+United+Kingdom&gl=uk&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.149182,-0.138482&panoid=Eu0IZCo91HYl4g5Xc4F0cw&cbp=12,103.02,,0,-2.41

Take a stroll up this lane (Antlands Lane West), also notice the field entrance to the right. This is just a public lane with no parking restrictions....

This is just one example of a road near an airport crammed with cars...

Looks like a free parking is finally found

notforsale2

We used Purple Parking for 2 weeks in August 2014. All seemed fine but a week or so after collecting our car we noticed that our spare wheel had disappeared. We have the strong suspicion that our spare wheel was stolen while in their care. Just wondering whether anyone else has had a similar experience?! Purple Parking was particularly unhelpful when we reported our suspicion - any suggestions?

Mobeer

catswin wrote: »

This begs 2 questions in my eyes.

1. Do the trains run 24/7?

2. How secure was the parking where you ultimately left your car at Horley, and at what cost?

Two very valid questions if you are going to be away for anything more than the one day.

In response to 1. - yes they do, at least hourly through the night.


Don't know what tasty_snacks did, but there are public roads with free parking.