Reserve Your Airport Parking Here
Airport parking refers to the designated areas within an airport premises where passengers and visitors can leave their vehicles while they are traveling. These parking lots are typically located near the terminals and offer various options such as short-term parking, long-term parking, and valet parking services. Passengers can choose the parking option that best suits their needs and budget when traveling to or from the airport
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Airport parking is not counted among the enjoyable parts of travel, whether for business or pleasure. When you are budgeting for travel, you may or may not even consider it in your costs. For those who are watching their money (and who aren’t) there are ways that you can save money on parking and use it for those other more pleasant travel related expenses like dinner at a restaurant, or even a souvenir. You have many choices for airport parking-including short-term, long-term, economy lots, off-site parking, rental cars, taxis, and even having a friend drive you to the airport.
Choices For Parking:
* The short-term lots are generally the most expensive type of parking available at the airport and are usually just used for those who are taking very short trips or are simply dropping people off or picking them up at the airport or have business at the airport. If you are traveling for more than a day, you should probably choose another airport parking option.
* Long-term lots are for those who are taking more extended trips. They are still fairly close to the terminal, but you may have to take a free shuttle to the terminal. The shuttles run through each lot frequently, so your wait will probably not be longer than a few minutes. The cost for these airport parking lots is usually a few dollars a day.
* Some airports also have economy lots in addition to their long term parking lots. They are usually even farther from the terminal and do not have covered parking. But, there are still shuttles that take you to the terminal from economy airport parking and it is even less expensive than long-term. For frequent travelers or for those who are taking extended vacations this may be the best choice.
* Off-site airport parking is generally less expensive or comparable to long-term parking at the airport and you can often find coupons and other discounts by looking online. You simply leave your car there at the lot, which is a short distance from the airport, and they have a shuttle that takes you right to your terminal. When you return, they take you to your car.
* Another option that is available to you is to rent a car for a day and drive it to the airport and turn it in at the rental car counter. This allows you to have car to use without having to worry about airport parking or shuttles. There are often deals on daily rentals-especially on weekends.
* One of the most expensive options or alternatives to airport parking for most people would be to take a shuttle service or a taxi-with the taxi being the most expensive. You simply call ahead and you are picked up right at your home and taken to the airport. You don’t have to worry about driving or airport parking.
* The least expensive option or alternative available is to have a friend or family member drive you to the airport. This costs nothing unless you offer to pay for gas or compensate the driver in any way and you can leave exactly when you need to. You may also have to return the favor at a later date, but it really might be worth it.
These are some of the more common solutions to the parking problem at the airport. You may want to use one of these or you may have a better idea of your own. But at least these ideas can get you started.
By Margarette Tustle. Learn more about airports and airport references from firstairport.com [http://www.firstairport.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Margarette_Tustle/20573
Air Travel with toddlers doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Here are some exclusive tips that will help you make it through your flight.
Schedule your flights to coincide with nap/bedtimes.
Whenever possible, try to book direct flights during the time of day or night your child would normally be sleeping. In all likelihood, they will keep up the pattern and fall asleep despite being 25,000 feet in the air. Any sleep they get on the plane will serve to cut down the time they must be entertained while awake!
Car seat on the plane?
When our daughter was an infant we choose to save the money and only purchase seats for ourselves which meant she spent the duration of the flight(s) on our laps. More recently, we have taken to carrying-on the car seat which accomplishes two very important things: freeing up our laps, arms, and such, and keeping her in the seat. It also adds some familiarity to a new vehicle/mode of transportation – a little piece of home(life) in a new place. Yes, it is frustrating having to carry the seat around the airport, but the in-flight payoff is worth it. One Step Ahead sells an adapter to turn a car seat into a backpack which may help you manage your carry-ons.
Managing the Flight
An easy and effective way to manage your in-flight, family-with-toddler(s) experience is to break the trip down, mentally, into 20 minute segments (to borrow an airline term). So, if you have a 2 1/2 hour flight, you really have only 7 twenty minute segments to schedule and occupy your child’s (or children’s) time. When you think of your flight in this manner it becomes a relatively manageable event. Here are some parent and flight tested tips on segment ideas that will occupy and entertain your kids, providing you with some down time to peruse the SkyMall catalog, and not have you lugging a suitcase full of toys around the terminal.
(remember: each idea has to occupy a mere 20 minutes, anything more than that is a bonus!):
* A new toy or book (nothing fancy, just something brand new to him or her)
* Crayola Color Wonder Markers (an inventive product that will only write on the special Crayola paper) – This is a favorite of ours. No messes at all and no toxic marker smell. The marker caps make for great, silly kid fingernail extensions. In fact, if your child is anything like ours, the caps alone could be their own segment.
* Tape and/or Stickers – Plain old Scotch tape can be a load of fun for a little one. Roll it up inside itself to make a sticky circle and let them stick it to their nose, your nose, between their fingers…just good old fashioned fun with a 2 inch piece of tape.
* Magna Doodle (Travel Edition) – A classic toy that our modern kids still enjoy. (Note: really young ones may get frustrated at their inability to, independently, erase their work as the tab to clear the screen can be rather difficult to slide)
* A Discman/Portable CD player – If you do not have an old one collecting dust somewhere, they can be had relatively cheap in the iPod age. This is perfect if your child has a particular CD they are diggin’ at the moment (or if you have made a Mix CD of their favorite songs). If they have never used a portable cd player before, the novelty of this device combined with the music they already love should carry you for two segments. Be sure to keep the volume at a low level and use only the classic earphones with the large, round and padded ear pieces that sit on the outside of their ears. kid size earphones?
* Their favorite book(s) – (often a bedtime book, which is essential if your flight will involve a nap or take place during bedtime).
* For older toddlers/young kids: some brochures/city-location guide books. Allow and encourage your kids to plan a day trip, museum visit, etc. Give the reigns over to them for a period of time (whatever you are comfortable with/have the time for) providing they devise a plan using the material you bring on board. Not only will this occupy a good amount of time, but they will love the chance to be the boss and decision maker. By engaging them in the trip planning you will also increase the chances of them enjoying themselves and going along with something you want to do (reciprocating the favor). For the younger members of your family, use the brochures as a conversation piece to get them excited and interested in what they will be seeing during the vacation.
Snap-Crackle-Pop (Dealing with the altitude and popping ears)
Be sure to pack their favorite beverage and snack on board. Not only will the eating and drinking occupy a segment but it is also an method of reducing the impact of air pressure on their ears. By drinking or chewing they will hopefully not feel an uncomfortable amount of pressure while taking off and landing.
Enjoy your flight!
Copyright 2006 OutWithTheKids.com
Out With The Kids is a web blog dedicated to providing unique tips, trips, events, and ideas to families striving to raise healthy, happy, and interesting kids. Visit us at http://www.outwiththekids.com.
If you are planning a vacation or perhaps a business trip that requires you to park your personal automobile for a period of time in an airport, you need to know the ins and outs of what to expect. With the occurrence of terrorist attacks all over the world, the security at airports has increased, so too, has the security of the parking areas that surround the airport.
Before you arrive at the airport it is best to call ahead to find out what the situation is with the airport parking. You will need to know what they require for long term parking, if they have off site parking available or if there are shuttle buses for your use. Parking in the wrong place at an airport in today’s world can have consequences such as having your car towed, fines, and even longer searches before boarding your flight.
Most airport parking will consist of drop off, long-term parking as well as off site parking. The drop off parking is just that, to drop off passengers for a flight, it is not intended to be used for hours, but rather minutes. This zone is highly monitored by security personnel who are looking for vehicles that have been vacated, therefore leaving them suspicious as to the contents of the car.
Long-term parking is to be used by persons that will be boarding a flight. There is generally parking available on the airport property, but it will be far away from the terminal. There will be airport shuttles available for you to get to the terminal with your luggage without having to hike across the acres of asphalt that is waiting before you. Most airports require you to pay a fee to use the long term parking that is available, but some even charge for parking by the day. Be sure to inquire about these fees before parking your car.
The other option that is often available is off-site parking. This parking is most often in the same area as the airport, with an airport shuttle bus to get you to the terminal. There is usually a parking fee with this arrangement also, although it will not be as high as parking on airport grounds. Keep in mind though, that the off-site parking is generally not patrolled by airport security.
Some hotels will also offer shuttles to and from the airport, this is very nice when traveling from city to city. The hotels normally provide this service free of charge to its customers. Many people find that this it is nice not to have to worry about how to get to the hotel and will book a room close to the airport for this reason.
Keep this information in mind the next time you find yourself heading to the airport for a vacation or a business trip. It will be one less thing to think about if you take care of your parking arrangements before heading to catch your flight.
Linda Moore writes on a variety of subjects such as children, careers, home ownership, personal enrichment, Travel Airport Parking and Colorado Skiing http://www.cheap-fun-colorado-adventure-skiing.info
Key Travel Tips
Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.
Before you go to the Airport
o Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport.
o Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only.
o Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.
o Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.
o Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.
o Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.
o Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.
o If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock.
o Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.
o Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.
While at the Airport
Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once.
o Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint:
o Mobile phones
o Keys
o Loose change
o Money clips
o PDA’s (personal data assistants)
o Large amounts of jewelry
o Metal hair decorations
o Large belt buckles
o Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint.
o Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.
Marisol Boatwright is an Independent Travel Agent with Global Travel International. She has years of experience in the travel agency business and wants to help people with their travel needs. Whether it be for hotel or air reservations, auto rentals, cruises, or vacation packages, Marisol will be able to help.