Figuring out the best ways to get to the airport is arguably one of the most frustrating parts about holiday planning. Unfortunately, there is no one best way that is always convenient, affordable and reliable – typically, at least one of the criteria gets compromised. The transport method that is most suitable to you will also depend on how far you are from the airport, whether you’re travelling with children and how much luggage you have on you. So, without further ado, let’s compare the various ways to get to the airport, with pros and cons of each.
In your own car
Travelling with your own car, if you have one of course, is perhaps the most convenient way you can get to the airport and back. You can leave on your own time, there is no relying on other people or services, plus your passengers can bring pillows and blankets for a comfortable journey that can be left in your car once you arrive at the airport.
The biggest drawback of bringing your own car to the airport is finding a parking spot for the duration of your holiday. Depending on the airport and how busy it is, this can be tricky as well as very expensive. To avoid the unnecessary stress, you can compare parking prices in major UK airports prior to your journey on https://parkos.co.uk/.
Taxi
Pre-booking a taxi transfer to the airport is one of the most ways to get to the airport. It offers door-to-door convenience, reliability and a fast journey, without the worries of parking the car or getting yourself to the station. Most taxi companies also have 24/7 customer support and allow late bookings.
On the other hand, taxis are one of the, if not the most, expensive modes of transportation, particularly if you’re travelling in the early hours. Making any stops during the journey is also more difficult, which could become a problem for families with children or older people.
Coach
Coaches are a brilliant budget-friendly choice for an airport transfer and the UK, in particular, has a great network of them throughout the country. Coach journeys can sometimes be as cheap as £10 for a 5-hour-long drive to the airport, the seats are fairly comfortable and there are typically toilets available.
However, the great prices also mean compromising some of the other aspects in terms of convenience. Coach journeys tend to be much longer, with multiple stops made along the way and sometimes multiple changes too. The journey also starts at the coach station, so you have to figure out a way to get there first.
Train
In most countries, trains are the single most effective way to get to the airport. The journeys are much faster, all traffic on roads gets avoided, there are toilets available on board and even the smaller towns have local stations nearby.
In the UK, however, return train journeys to the airport are at the top of the list when it comes to high prices, especially if you’re travelling to one of the London airports. Besides that, unexpected delays or cancellations can happen and you are not guaranteed a seat in an economy class, on a busy train.
Car sharing
Car sharing services, like Uber or Bolt, are great for many purposes, including airport transfers. They are typically much cheaper than regular taxis but offer all of the same convenience.
The biggest worry with car sharing services, however, is that you cannot pre-book your trip nor can you guarantee that you will get a car on the day of your travels. Even if there are drivers available, they may not accept your trip if the airport is too far away. So, perhaps car sharing is ideal for people living close to the airport and with other last-minute transportation options available, if needed.
