Get me to the airport on time...

spookalili

Hi everybody,

Just looking for a spot of advice on a topic which is driving me a bit mad! You're all very sensible and I'm hoping you can help me make a decision.

I'm arranging a surprise weekend away for my partner. We fly from Manchester Airport at 8am, meaning we will need to be there by 6.30am at the very latest! We live (according to Googlemaps) a 1hr20 drive from the airport, not including potential traffic. The route I would need to take would be either over Woodhead or down the M62 (both quite risky in terms of hold ups!).

There is a train which would get us into Manchester Airport itself for 6.28am but it leaves from our closest station at 5:11am and this station itself would take around 20 minutes to drive to.

So I'm debating the following (if you're still with me!).

Option 1: Drive to Manchester on the morning of the flight but leave with more than enough time to take into account traffic (4am). I'd have to use a park and ride/meet and greet but overall this would be the cheapest option (although it would result in a very, very long day).

Option 2: Get the 5:11am train and get a taxi (additional cost of around £20) to pick us up from our house at around 4:30am to ensure we have enough time.

Option 3: Pay for a night in a nearby airport hotel which includes parking for the three days we will be away and drive over the evening before we fly, meaning we are a mere 10 minute transfer away from the airport (or a 25 minute walk at a push!).

Option 1 will cost around £45 including petrol, Option 2 will be around £52 and Option 3 will be around £65.

Any opinions on this trivial matter would be gratefully received - I will need to book shortly whatever I decide to do!

michele-p

Personally I'd stay the night before, and class it as the start of the holiday. You will get much more sleep, and not have any worries (other than setting 10 alarms to make sure you wake up). You could get up much later - I'd be able to get up at 5.45, ready and out the hotel by 6.15, but that's just me!

wallbash

For me , no contest .......option 3
Start the w/e early. No hassle, no worries and its not a lot more expensive.

wallbash

Must learn to type quicker!

spookalili

michele-p wrote: »

Personally I'd stay the night before, and class it as the start of the holiday. You will get much more sleep, and not have any worries (other than setting 10 alarms to make sure you wake up). You could get up much later - I'd be able to get up at 5.45, ready and out the hotel by 6.15, but that's just me!

Thanks very much for your input, Michele - I am very much in agreement! I think my major concern was the additional cost as this is a bit of a bargain weekend away. However, it's not worth saving a few quid at the cost of missing my flight or ruining my first night away being too tired!

If I was a brighter person, I may have booked the later 12:40 flight. However, I was worried that we'd have lost half the day if I'd done that! You live and learn, I suppose...:p

duchy

Option three definitely
You *know* you're worth it

balletshoes

with more than an hour's drive between your home and the airport, coupled with an early morning flight, i'd go for option 3. check premier inn/travelodge near the airport, you might get something cheaper (also holiday inn express if there is one).

michele-p

spookalili wrote: »

Thanks very much for your input, Michele - I am very much in agreement! I think my major concern was the additional cost as this is a bit of a bargain weekend away. However, it's not worth saving a few quid at the cost of missing my flight or ruining my first night away being too tired!

If I was a brighter person, I may have booked the later 12:40 flight. However, I was worried that we'd have lost half the day if I'd done that! You live and learn, I suppose...:p

On a short break early flights are great though. You'll be at your destination in time for lunch, maybe a quick catnap in the afternoon, then out for the night. The later flight means you'd probably miss all the afternoon.

We've done a few Ryanair early mornings over the years, and it's never as bad as you think it will be! Have a fab time, what a lovely surprise.

Make sure you shop around for the best hotel/parking deals to make sure you get it as cheap as possible. They usually offer a good cashback rate on TCB and Quidco too.

spookalili

Slight update - the price I quoted above is the Premier Inn on site airport hotel which is unfortunately coupled with Jetparks parking which doesn't have great reviews. The only hotel with an "official" carpark (Longstay T1 and T3) starts at £63 or £68 for a slightly different one. Total cost will end up being about £78.

Still worth the cost?

Alternatively - does anybody have any recent experience of Jetparks? Is it really as bad as people make out? (very few spaces, no tarmac, etc?)

balletshoes

spookalili wrote: »

Slight update - the price I quoted above is the Premier Inn on site airport hotel which is unfortunately coupled with Jetparks parking which doesn't have great reviews. The only hotel with an "official" carpark (Longstay T1 and T3) starts at £63 or £68 for a slightly different one. Total cost will end up being about £78.

Still worth the cost?

Alternatively - does anybody have any recent experience of Jetparks? Is it really as bad as people make out? (very few spaces, no tarmac, etc?)

how much is it to book hotel and car park separately (remember discount sites etc)

spookalili

balletshoes wrote: »

how much is it to book hotel and car park separately (remember discount sites etc)

Long stay by itself is £25 and meet and greet is £33 (these are the cheapest I can find!). The cheapest airport hotel I can find (within five miles of the airport, which I feel is far enough) is £44 and that is the Premier Inn without the parking deal (which is only offers as the Jetparks offer).

This makes the Premier Inn with Long Stay parking on-site £69.

There is an alternative hotel and parking (Mercue Bowdon for £68 and a Best Western at £63 including parking. I don't think they're as close to the airport though (although not far by any stretch of the imagination).