Best parking and hotel arrangements - Heathrow T3
Discussion
Sorry if this has been asked before, but I am on a 4 day trip in early July and just hoped some frequent users might be able to give me the low down on the best hotel/car park arrangements. I would like to avoid too much getting on and off of shuttle buses and waiting around etc just to get from car to hotel to terminal etc. Any info appreciated.
First of all book in advance
Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
Thirdly - always allow more time on your reservation than you think you might need to allow for any delays
and then you can choose any hotel you want
Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
Thirdly - always allow more time on your reservation than you think you might need to allow for any delays
and then you can choose any hotel you want
sparkypups said:
First of all book in advance
Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
Thirdly - always allow more time on your reservation than you think you might need to allow for any delays
and then you can choose any hotel you want
Thanks for your response. As nobody else had posted a reply, I took it into my own hands this morning and fortunately did everything you just mentioned! Thanks for reassuring me I did right! Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
Thirdly - always allow more time on your reservation than you think you might need to allow for any delays
and then you can choose any hotel you want
TBH I didn't reply, although a LHR regular, as I hardly ever use T3 and never a hotel, but imo sparkypups answer is the money shot.
To the rest, the advantage of prebooking the short term is that you just don't have ANY faffing about with shuttle buses either on departure or return.
You only ever have to experience one major delay for whatever reason, and you'll know that waiting for some shuttle bus driver to get his arse in gear is a major stress.
Likewise on return you only ever have one severely delayed flight that gets in after midnight when all the shuttle buses have packed up, and again realise the experience of finding the number to phone, rousting a driver out and then standing around waiting when you're knackered is just not worth repeating.
In short term you just walk in, walk out, FU&FO, and I'm usually out of T5, round the M25 and up the M40 slip before I'd have been out of either Pink Elephant or Purple Parking, as good as those services are.
Off topic, does anyone know when those driverless Pods doing the transfer T5<>Business parking are going to start up? They were two years late in February. Nothing on BAA site.
To the rest, the advantage of prebooking the short term is that you just don't have ANY faffing about with shuttle buses either on departure or return.
You only ever have to experience one major delay for whatever reason, and you'll know that waiting for some shuttle bus driver to get his arse in gear is a major stress.
Likewise on return you only ever have one severely delayed flight that gets in after midnight when all the shuttle buses have packed up, and again realise the experience of finding the number to phone, rousting a driver out and then standing around waiting when you're knackered is just not worth repeating.
In short term you just walk in, walk out, FU&FO, and I'm usually out of T5, round the M25 and up the M40 slip before I'd have been out of either Pink Elephant or Purple Parking, as good as those services are.
Off topic, does anyone know when those driverless Pods doing the transfer T5<>Business parking are going to start up? They were two years late in February. Nothing on BAA site.
F i F said:
Off topic, does anyone know when those driverless Pods doing the transfer T5<>Business parking are going to start up? They were two years late in February. Nothing on BAA site.
I used one a couple of weeks ago to get from Business parking to T5. Very good but I think it was just a test running.Purple parking is not your friend - their valet parking is a 30 mile round trip after you've handed your key's over. BAAs short term on terminal parking is actually your friend - they're are regularly undercutting all but the cheapest parking and you walk straight into departures.
Gatwick (non-BAA) are also doing this - the most recent deal I got from them was £100 for 10 days on terminal. Can't complain at that.
Gatwick (non-BAA) are also doing this - the most recent deal I got from them was £100 for 10 days on terminal. Can't complain at that.
Olf said:
Purple parking is not your friend - their valet parking is a 30 mile round trip after you've handed your key's over. BAAs short term on terminal parking is actually your friend - they're are regularly undercutting all but the cheapest parking and you walk straight into departures.
Gatwick (non-BAA) are also doing this - the most recent deal I got from them was £100 for 10 days on terminal. Can't complain at that.
In fact a 6 mile round trip!!! They are based close to western international market j3 of the M4Gatwick (non-BAA) are also doing this - the most recent deal I got from them was £100 for 10 days on terminal. Can't complain at that.
Melman Giraffe said:
Olf said:
Purple parking is not your friend - their valet parking is a 30 mile round trip after you've handed your key's over. BAAs short term on terminal parking is actually your friend - they're are regularly undercutting all but the cheapest parking and you walk straight into departures.
Gatwick (non-BAA) are also doing this - the most recent deal I got from them was £100 for 10 days on terminal. Can't complain at that.
In fact a 6 mile round trip!!! They are based close to western international market j3 of the M4Gatwick (non-BAA) are also doing this - the most recent deal I got from them was £100 for 10 days on terminal. Can't complain at that.
Olf said:
Melman Giraffe said:
Olf said:
Purple parking is not your friend - their valet parking is a 30 mile round trip after you've handed your key's over. BAAs short term on terminal parking is actually your friend - they're are regularly undercutting all but the cheapest parking and you walk straight into departures.
Gatwick (non-BAA) are also doing this - the most recent deal I got from them was £100 for 10 days on terminal. Can't complain at that.
In fact a 6 mile round trip!!! They are based close to western international market j3 of the M4Gatwick (non-BAA) are also doing this - the most recent deal I got from them was £100 for 10 days on terminal. Can't complain at that.
Re the above Olf vs Melman faceoff assuming both parties are correct does this not reinforce the theory about these meet and greet type operations that
a) they don't always take the vehicles to the storage site they claim to.
and/or
b) vehicles are sometimes subject to :cough: other uses not approved / known by owner?
Note, thought I'd posted this yesterday, but if this one also disappears then need to add an extra layer of Bacofoil to my hat.
a) they don't always take the vehicles to the storage site they claim to.
and/or
b) vehicles are sometimes subject to :cough: other uses not approved / known by owner?
Note, thought I'd posted this yesterday, but if this one also disappears then need to add an extra layer of Bacofoil to my hat.
I'll still stick by original remarks!
Always prebook and park in the BAA short-term - it really does save time and buggering about and doesn't cost much more
Book any hotel you want - either 5 star luxury or travelodge economy
The hotel doesn't even necessarily have to be at heathrow as they all charge for overnight parking.
Also there is a great curry house in Sipson (www.sipsontandoori.com) which is nearby if you fancy a curry before you depart.ý
Always prebook and park in the BAA short-term - it really does save time and buggering about and doesn't cost much more
Book any hotel you want - either 5 star luxury or travelodge economy
The hotel doesn't even necessarily have to be at heathrow as they all charge for overnight parking.
Also there is a great curry house in Sipson (www.sipsontandoori.com) which is nearby if you fancy a curry before you depart.ý
sparkypups said:
I'll still stick by original remarks!
Always prebook and park in the BAA short-term - it really does save time and buggering about and doesn't cost much more
Book any hotel you want - either 5 star luxury or travelodge economy
The hotel doesn't even necessarily have to be at heathrow as they all charge for overnight parking.
Also there is a great curry house in Sipson (www.sipsontandoori.com) which is nearby if you fancy a curry before you depart.ý
With the exception of the curry, this is exactly what I've done. Got a great deal on a room at the Marriott at Twickenham which is not too far away and looks really nice. Always prebook and park in the BAA short-term - it really does save time and buggering about and doesn't cost much more
Book any hotel you want - either 5 star luxury or travelodge economy
The hotel doesn't even necessarily have to be at heathrow as they all charge for overnight parking.
Also there is a great curry house in Sipson (www.sipsontandoori.com) which is nearby if you fancy a curry before you depart.ý
sparkypups said:
First of all book in advance
Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
Strangly I just tried pre-booking short term at T3 for next Friday and it doesn't seem to be available on BAA's web-site. Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
RichB said:
sparkypups said:
First of all book in advance
Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
Strangly I just tried pre-booking short term at T3 for next Friday and it doesn't seem to be available on BAA's web-site. Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
How many days did you try to pre-book for?
3 days minimum for short term
1 day for Business
no minimum for Long Term pre book.
F i F said:
RichB said:
sparkypups said:
First of all book in advance
Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
Strangly I just tried pre-booking short term at T3 for next Friday and it doesn't seem to be available on BAA's web-site. Secondly reserve a place in the short term carpark - its not much more if booked in advance and saves all the shuttle bus malarky.
How many days did you try to pre-book for?
3 days minimum for short term
1 day for Business
no minimum for Long Term pre book.
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