You might have heard but I’m a pretty keen follower of the valet car parking scheme often run at airports. Why? Well they seem to be a hidden gem of the travel world. Airport parking is a pretty boring affair that is near essential if you are doing quite long distance air travel. Often people debate about the advantages and disadvantages of parking at airports – can you guarantee a space near the terminal buildings, is it cheaper to park or get a taxi, what do you do about luggage space etc. What valet parking does is make the parking element very easy. You simply drive to the airport, leave your car with a driver at the terminal entrance and get on with your holiday. You have the flexibility of car ownership combined with the stress free benefit of a taxi drop off. So how do you ensure your experience stays stress free? Follow these tips and guides when organising your parking and you’ll be on your way to a completely stress free holiday (well… sort of..!)

Put valet service on speed dial.

Well not really! But the least you can do is make sure that you store the valet car parking number in your phone. You will be required to call the valet service at least 15 minutes prior to your arrival. So if you are looking for Gatwick North Airport Parking you will probably have to drop them a call when you are around B2028 or junction 10 on the M23. Similarly when coming back it might be best to switch on the mobile after landing and giving the valet parking agency a heads up.

Check the security credentials of the valet car parking area.

There is nothing worse than hearing stories about poor parking and companies abusing cars. Recently there have been stories about rogue valet parking services that lock cars in non secure areas. Therefore make sure you book with a reputable company like Park and Go and ensure you read up about the security levels of the car park. The least a service should have is the same level of security as on onsite parking however looking out for perimeter fencing and CCTV add that extra level of protection.

Check the location of the valet car parking.

An interesting one for sure but make sure you know where you car will be parked. Why? Well this will certainly affect the speed in which your vehicle is returned to you. Ideally no longer than 15 miles away from the airport otherwise you will be waiting at the pavement for your car to return.

Again make sure you book with a reputable company

Booking with an aggregator like Park and Go means that you know the parking service has been used multiple times. Look for customer reviews and most importantly look for confirmation of insurance – your driver should be insured to drive your car. For example the Meet and Greet airport parking at Bristol makes assurances that their drivers are insured – and because of this the ratings are fantastic.

That’s really it! Make sure that you book in advance and then you are all set in continuing your holiday stress free safe in the knowledge your car will be waiting on your way back.