Taking off Travel blog

A recent post by Ken McGuire wondered whether airport parking online was a bit too easy. He discussed his experience of travelling through Dublin airport and avoiding the old hassles of having to pay for your space before getting on the bus to get you back to the car. He commented favorably on the rate offered for a weekend’s airport parking. For our money, this is the way it should always be. What’s the point of looking airport parking online if it doesn’t save you hassle?

Choosing Off Airport Parking

When I travel I always arrange airport parking in advance. It’s usually offsite and I usually get an excellent deal. There’s no big secret to this — it just involves looking around to see who has an off airport parking lot close to the airport I will be flying from. That usually narrows it down to just a couple of options. My next step is to see how else I can save. For example, if I’m collecting air miles or have loyalty cards from hotels or car rental firms, then I see if they have a deal with the off airport parking lot I plan to use. Depending on the length of my stay, this can save me quite a bit. Read more »

Christopher Elliot recently published a list of 7 trips you should never book online. His list online booking scenarios to avoid included:

• Cruises
• Round the world trips
• International travel
• Exotic holidays
• Special events

An Online Booking Nightmare

He cites the case of a honeymoon couple’s online booking nightmare as a reason and suggests the use of travel agents instead.

I disagree, because I don’t think it’s an all or nothing scenario. I’ve been booking online for years to destinations including Europe, the Caribbean and of course, the US. Read more »

Park Ride Fly USA is happy to announce a new provider relationship with AARP, the nation’s largest membership organization for people over 50. We’ve linked up with AARP to offer its 40 million+ members a 10 per cent discount on reservations made at any of our off airport parking locations. There are 132 (and counting …) at 67 airports nationwide so that’s a lot of choice.

We’re happy to say that we offer better parking rates than most on site airport parking lots, so AARP members will really feel the benefit. To grab your discount, visit us online and have your AARP membership number handy. You will also need this discount code: aarp10. Your space will be waiting for you before you arrive at the airport.

Want to find out more? Park Ride Fly USA will be appearing at the AARP Expo in Las Vegas from October 22-24. In the meantime, there’s more information on http://www.parkrideflyusa.com/aarp

In this economy, people are looking for more ways to save on the cost of travel. One good way is by using offsite airport parking. Offsite airport parking, also known as off airport parking, is parking that is removed from the main airport complex. Airport real estate is expensive, even if you’re only renting a parking space so parking on site can cost a bomb. Off airport parking lots are much cheaper and can be sited just outside the airport or a couple of miles away. With lots close to the airport, you may be able to walk to the terminal with your bags. For those further away, there is a shuttle to the airport.

Research Off Airport Parking

Once you know where you’re going, it’s a good idea to ressearch off airport parking facilities to see which one meets your needs. The services vary at each facility. Some offer self parking, where you put your car in an assigned space, while others offer valet parking. Some facilities will make sure that your car is heated or cooled for your arrival. I’ve even used facilities where the car got a wash before I picked it up. So shopping around really pays off. Read more »

Making the right offsite airport parking choice save not only time but money. Here are some tips for getting the best from off airport parking.

Tips for choosing offsite airport parking

Research The Facilities

Before you even think about booking, check out the airport parking lot online. Is it located close enough to the terminal you will be traveling from? What facilities does it have? Accessibility, the availability of a cell phone lot and other amenities will all make a difference to the overall experience of using the parking lot. Check whether the offsite airport parking provider offers a choice of parking options, plus useful services like turning on the heat or air conditioning before you come back to the car. Read more »