Airport Parking – How to Save Money

Airport Parking – How to Save Money

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

Airport Parking- TRAVELING, What You Need to Know

Airport Parking- TRAVELING, What You Need to Know

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

Airport Travel Tips: Reducing Waiting Times

Airport Travel Tips: Reducing Waiting Times

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.

http://boatrighttravels.globaltravel.com

Do You Make These Air Travel Mistakes?

Do You Make These Air Travel Mistakes?

You’re sitting at home thinking about tomorrow’s plane journey. Remember last time ? Remember how you felt when you arrived ? Aggravated, stressed, hot, tired, needing a couple of days to recover ? Did you make these mistakes ?

* Packed your luggage just before you left home.

Don’t pack your bags a half hour before leaving. You know those vital papers, that book you wanted to read, or even your passport will mysteriously disappear at the last minute. Always pack the night before, and you’ll find everything right there waiting !

* Arrived at the airport late.

There’s no worse way to start your journey than sitting in traffic a couple of miles from the airport, watching the minutes tick by. Leave early. Expect a lot of traffic and your journey will take extra time. Then you’ll arrive at the airport relaxed and near the front of the check-in line. If you get your first choice of seat you’ll feel even better !

* Didn’t prepare for the plane journey.

* Dehydrated – the air you breathe on a plane is very dry. If you want to avoid dehydration bring a bottle of water with you and sip on it during the journey.

* Air Sick – if you suffer from motion sickness, and many people do, you can take precautions before you get on the plane. It’s too late when you’ve already started to feel sick. Take a motion sickness drug before you get on the plane. Some can make you drowsy, but that’s good on a long flight !

* Teeshirt – airplanes can get quite cold, so always keep a jacket or sweatshirt nearby if you need them. Some airlines provide blankets, but don’t count on it.

* Arrive lost at your destination.

Okay, you’ve just landed at your destination airport, and got your luggage back. What do you do now ? No idea. Feel those stress levels rising again ! Before you travel, check out your destination on the internet. Airport 50 miles out of town ? In that case, you don’t want to use a taxi if you can avoid it. You should pre-plan your bus or train journey before you leave home.

Follow the above tips and you’ll arrive relaxed and stress free, ready to enjoy your vacation or business trip.

Neil Stelling is Marketing Manager of New York based, DigiLectual Inc. He travels extensively, and shares his travel experiences in a series of helpful air travel articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Neil_Stelling/111