Flying from Stansted - parking and hotels
Discussion
As a very inexperienced and anxious traveller I trying to get everything planned and booked asap. Going to be flying from Stansted in early May and haven't been there before. Can anybody recommend a hotel for the night before and parking for the week? Looking online the mid stay car park seems to be pretty close to both the premier inn and holiday inn, is it easy to get to the terminals from either of these, will have a 3 year old and an 8 month old with us so lots of crap and not many hands!
Both of those hotels you mention are a bus journey into the airport. You could use either the Radisson or Hampton which are both a short walk to the terminal. Radisson being my preference although breakfast isn’t included. Breakfast at the Hampton is included and very mediocre but if you want a bowl of cereal only this could be a good option. Radiosson breakfast is good IMO but think pricey.
Novotel is also a bus ride and better than both the Premier and Holiday inn.
Novotel is also a bus ride and better than both the Premier and Holiday inn.
Just go to the official Stanstead web site https://www.stansted-hotels-with-parking.com/ and pick a package. Hampton and Radison Blu are the most expensive but definitely the most convenient and hassle free. When you look at the cheaper options you will find there are a number of "add ons" that bring the price up. When I fly I always prefer the most convenient park,stay,fly option, after breakfast just walk into the terminal.
cranford10 said:
Another vote for Radisson Blu. Stayed there last year before our holiday and was excellent, short walk to terminal and walkway is under cover too
And another vote for the Radisson Blu - we always use them to stay and parking if we have a morning flight and never had a problem with leaving the keys with them.We always go through security and get breakfast at Leon, never tried the breakfast at the hotel.
I would avoid the mid or long term parking, read the reviews, it is often a shambles and can be very stressful.
I always go in the short term, usually costs £70 or so for 8 days but you are right outside the terminal building and you keep your car keys, worth the extra cost to avoid the issues with parking away from the terminal and relying on the bus.
I always go in the short term, usually costs £70 or so for 8 days but you are right outside the terminal building and you keep your car keys, worth the extra cost to avoid the issues with parking away from the terminal and relying on the bus.
RC1807 said:
Stansted *shudders*
Indeed. It's rammed whatever time you go there, day or night. 
Flew to Portugal from Southend Airport last year and it was like stepping back in time. No queues for security, chatting to staff, and no people there at all. Lovely.
Sorry OP, no help on parking or hotels,
Thanks all, have booked Hilton for the night, but parking in the short stay. Hilton only had 4 days or 15 days parking, I need 9.
Not great to hear Stansted is hell, I was hoping it'd be a bit quieter than Gatwick. How early would you experienced travellers suggest we get there, flight is 8.30 on a Saturday morning?
Am I the only one that hates holidays? What's meant to be a time for relaxing stresses me out!
Not great to hear Stansted is hell, I was hoping it'd be a bit quieter than Gatwick. How early would you experienced travellers suggest we get there, flight is 8.30 on a Saturday morning?
Am I the only one that hates holidays? What's meant to be a time for relaxing stresses me out!
Can't recommend a hotel but I have done the official Stansted meet and greet and that's a good service. You drop the car at their car park right outside the terminal, 5 mins later you've checked your keys and walk in. On return go to their reception and straight out to your car. They will move it but I've had no bother.
On a slight tangent I have also done Meet and Greet at Gatwick and found that a better service, probably die to the time's i've used it.
On a slight tangent I have also done Meet and Greet at Gatwick and found that a better service, probably die to the time's i've used it.
We normally get to the terminal about 2.5 hours before the flight is due to leave, allow 30 mins to get through security (in reality it's never taken us more than 15 minutes and we've never bothered with Fast Track) then go get some breakfast while waiting for the gate number. As soon as the gate number shows on the board we go to the gate and find half the passengers already there, no idea how they do that!
Be aware - the Ryanair flights say they are 'Boarding' pretty soon after they say go to gate, don't panic at that as often the plane hasn't landed yet and they set it to Boarding.
I think our record from alarm going off in the Radisson Blu to sat down eating breakfast at Leon is 45 minutes.
Be aware - the Ryanair flights say they are 'Boarding' pretty soon after they say go to gate, don't panic at that as often the plane hasn't landed yet and they set it to Boarding.
I think our record from alarm going off in the Radisson Blu to sat down eating breakfast at Leon is 45 minutes.
Monkeylegend said:
I would avoid the mid or long term parking, read the reviews, it is often a shambles and can be very stressful.
I always go in the short term, usually costs £70 or so for 8 days but you are right outside the terminal building and you keep your car keys, worth the extra cost to avoid the issues with parking away from the terminal and relying on the bus.
I completely agree about any Stansted parking relying on buses, particularly in peak times as the bus is often full before everyone has got on and then the next bus isn't for half an hour.I always go in the short term, usually costs £70 or so for 8 days but you are right outside the terminal building and you keep your car keys, worth the extra cost to avoid the issues with parking away from the terminal and relying on the bus.
Slightly cheaper than the 'proper' short term parking is the blue zone short term parking. It is further away than the 'proper' short term parking but only about 10 minutes walk from the car park to the terminal.
flew stansted this weekend although no hotel.
There’s a new multi-storey car park - green car park, which is pretty much all under cover to the terminal so you avoid getting soaked walking from the other short stays. Think it was also the cheapest.
Security with two kids of equal age was brilliant. Staff were very helpful.
There’s a new multi-storey car park - green car park, which is pretty much all under cover to the terminal so you avoid getting soaked walking from the other short stays. Think it was also the cheapest.
Security with two kids of equal age was brilliant. Staff were very helpful.
vixen1700 said:
Indeed. It's rammed whatever time you go there, day or night.
Flew to Portugal from Southend Airport last year and it was like stepping back in time. No queues for security, chatting to staff, and no people there at all. Lovely.
Sorry OP, no help on parking or hotels,
I flew out from Stansted yesterday morning and it was really quiet. Queue for security was about 30 seconds.Flew to Portugal from Southend Airport last year and it was like stepping back in time. No queues for security, chatting to staff, and no people there at all. Lovely.
Sorry OP, no help on parking or hotels,
Too late for the OP but I've used these a few times and while the place is a bit rough the service has been excellent.
https://www.mapleparking.co.uk/airport/airport-air...
Very prompt, polite and priced really well the last time we used them (18 months ago).
The minibus ride was interesting (ie. fast) but kids loved it :-)
https://www.mapleparking.co.uk/airport/airport-air...
Very prompt, polite and priced really well the last time we used them (18 months ago).
The minibus ride was interesting (ie. fast) but kids loved it :-)
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