Birmingham airport - car/parking or train? Getting in a muddle!

badger09

Thanks for updating. 

dondhain

ChasingtheWelshdream said:

So we're back. :-)

Everything went smoothly and I learned a couple of things for (if) there is another time.

Ibis Budget:

Very much budget, but perfectly functional for one night, and only a couple of minutes walk from the airport entrance.  The surprise was the lack of bathroom walls! The sink is in the room, and the shower door opens directly into the room, which is rather awkward as a mum sharing with a teenage son... I actually thought there wasn't a loo for a few minutes as it appears to be in a cupboard. I can only suppose it makes the overall room footprint smaller, and therefore they can fit more guests in. Tea/coffee are in a communal area on the first floor.

Food is costly. Instead, we popped over the road to Greggs and got a huge pizza box for £7.99, and sat in the sunshine.

Airport: 
We dropped off our luggage the previous night and were advised to start queuing at 3am. We did and were through security within 40 minutes. I think if we had left even another 15 minutes to join, we would have been waiting much longer, judging by the build up behind us.

Parking:
It looked like the station car park was half empty by the time we arrived, so next time I think I would drive/park at the station and get the monorail over (2.5hours drive vs 4 hours public transport).

On our return, the queues to get to the station link, via the lifts was horrendous. My son ended up abandoning and walked over instead. He was there 15 minutes before me, so next time I would join him!


All in all, event-free, which I judge as a success. :-)

Hope you had a great holiday!

I'm planning to travel to the airport mid sept and im looking for parking for a week. What would you advise after everything you have learnt?

Is the station car park expensive? Ibis is showing as £167 for one night - assuming they have parking?

leonj

dondhain said:

ChasingtheWelshdream said:

So we're back. :-)

Everything went smoothly and I learned a couple of things for (if) there is another time.

Ibis Budget:

Very much budget, but perfectly functional for one night, and only a couple of minutes walk from the airport entrance.  The surprise was the lack of bathroom walls! The sink is in the room, and the shower door opens directly into the room, which is rather awkward as a mum sharing with a teenage son... I actually thought there wasn't a loo for a few minutes as it appears to be in a cupboard. I can only suppose it makes the overall room footprint smaller, and therefore they can fit more guests in. Tea/coffee are in a communal area on the first floor.

Food is costly. Instead, we popped over the road to Greggs and got a huge pizza box for £7.99, and sat in the sunshine.

Airport: 
We dropped off our luggage the previous night and were advised to start queuing at 3am. We did and were through security within 40 minutes. I think if we had left even another 15 minutes to join, we would have been waiting much longer, judging by the build up behind us.

Parking:
It looked like the station car park was half empty by the time we arrived, so next time I think I would drive/park at the station and get the monorail over (2.5hours drive vs 4 hours public transport).

On our return, the queues to get to the station link, via the lifts was horrendous. My son ended up abandoning and walked over instead. He was there 15 minutes before me, so next time I would join him!


All in all, event-free, which I judge as a success. :-)

Hope you had a great holiday!

I'm planning to travel to the airport mid sept and im looking for parking for a week. What would you advise after everything you have learnt?

Is the station car park expensive? Ibis is showing as £167 for one night - assuming they have parking?

I stayed at the ibis twice this summer before flights, £75 in July and £45 in August, I wouldn't pay £167 maybe there is an event pushing up prices on that date.  The Hotel has no parking of it's own at all, it is literally part of the airport.  The station car park is much cheaper that the airport if you are only going for a few days, not sure about 7 days though the prices might be similar in September.

badger09

dondhain said:

ChasingtheWelshdream said:

So we're back. :-)

Everything went smoothly and I learned a couple of things for (if) there is another time.

Ibis Budget:

Very much budget, but perfectly functional for one night, and only a couple of minutes walk from the airport entrance.  The surprise was the lack of bathroom walls! The sink is in the room, and the shower door opens directly into the room, which is rather awkward as a mum sharing with a teenage son... I actually thought there wasn't a loo for a few minutes as it appears to be in a cupboard. I can only suppose it makes the overall room footprint smaller, and therefore they can fit more guests in. Tea/coffee are in a communal area on the first floor.

Food is costly. Instead, we popped over the road to Greggs and got a huge pizza box for £7.99, and sat in the sunshine.

Airport: 
We dropped off our luggage the previous night and were advised to start queuing at 3am. We did and were through security within 40 minutes. I think if we had left even another 15 minutes to join, we would have been waiting much longer, judging by the build up behind us.

Parking:
It looked like the station car park was half empty by the time we arrived, so next time I think I would drive/park at the station and get the monorail over (2.5hours drive vs 4 hours public transport).

On our return, the queues to get to the station link, via the lifts was horrendous. My son ended up abandoning and walked over instead. He was there 15 minutes before me, so next time I would join him!


All in all, event-free, which I judge as a success. :-)

Hope you had a great holiday!

I'm planning to travel to the airport mid sept and im looking for parking for a week. What would you advise after everything you have learnt?

Is the station car park expensive? Ibis is showing as £167 for one night - assuming they have parking?

There are 3 Ibis @ BHX, used them all. Budget is (usually) cheapest but very basic. We’re staying @ Ibis (New Rooms) 31 August, booked in April £84.55 pay on arrival, can cancel up to 30/8. I’ve never paid anything like £167 so as above, must be an event @ NEC. 
Depending how long you’re away for, I’d consider train if at all possible. We’re in Shropshire, away for 3 weeks & a very early flight on 1/9 so train is a no brainer.