Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: tunnie on 15 September 2016, 19:54:19

Title: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: tunnie on 15 September 2016, 19:54:19
What's the best car park to use, if parking there for a week.

The airport itself or off site? I've used Purple Parking before, but it's been a few years.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: tunnie on 15 September 2016, 20:03:15
Only a couple of quid in it, might as well park on site. £65 for the week.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 15 September 2016, 20:13:28
Official Long Stay :y

One at each Terminal, bus stops nearest the door of all the buses ;)
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: zirk on 15 September 2016, 20:27:13
Ive used the White House Hotel before, they offer free transfers, about £5 per day for there Hotel Parking, or they do deals if you want to say the night before etc.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: TheBoy on 15 September 2016, 20:50:42
Every time I drive to Gatwick I always use the onsite long stay.

I wouldn't trust meet and greet type, and offsite parking is always a PITA.

At least Gatwick is reasonable pricewise, until the useless, incompetent retards at that shithole some refer to as Luton.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: tunnie on 15 September 2016, 22:07:26
Thanks all  :y :y :y :y

It was cheaper for them to let them park the car, but errr no thanks.

So on-site long stay it is  :)
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Mister Rog on 15 September 2016, 22:18:57

Last time I used Gatwick, needed to stay over Holiday Inn gave me a great deal. Can't recall exact cost but overnight before departure, and overnight after arrival, was pretty good. I do not live close to Gatwick, thus the overnights.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: omega2018 on 16 September 2016, 01:04:01
APH or cophall farm.  APH slightly better, very frequent coach to terminal and much cheaper than onsite official car park - £31.60 for a week
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 16 September 2016, 01:12:06
APH or cophall farm.  APH slightly better, very frequent coach to terminal and much cheaper than onsite official car park - £31.60 for a week
And a complete ball ache at 3 am I with a pushchair and luggage, especially if you have to stand... :-X

Ignoring the fact
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: omega2018 on 16 September 2016, 01:18:08
easier at 3am, no traffic no crowds :y

never had to stand, last time APH laid on a 2nd coach and cophall have minibuses ;D.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 16 September 2016, 02:43:59
APH or cophall farm.  APH slightly better, very frequent coach to terminal and much cheaper than onsite official car park - £31.60 for a week
And a complete ball ache at 3 am I with a pushchair and luggage, especially if you have to stand... :-X

Ignoring the fact that the long stay car parks are a mere five minutes from the terminals should Tunnie wish to fetch the car around. Also neither of your suggestions are actually anywhere near the airport... APH is halfway to East Grinstead and Cophall Farm might as well be in the arse end of nowhere, (it even has a mobile home site), and neither let you park the car and take the keys with you :-X

The official long stay is directly off the motorway ::) and at the airport.
Fixed as had to do a job before I had chance to finish the post...
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: biggriffin on 16 September 2016, 06:35:35
APH or cophall farm.  APH slightly better, very frequent coach to terminal and much cheaper than onsite official car park - £31.60 for a week
And a complete ball ache at 3 am I with a pushchair and luggage, especially if you have to stand... :-X

Ignoring the fact that the long stay car parks are a mere five minutes from the terminals should Tunnie wish to fetch the car around. Also neither of your suggestions are actually anywhere near the airport... APH is halfway to East Grinstead and Cophall Farm might as well be in the arse end of nowhere, (it even has a mobile home site), and neither let you park the car and take the keys with you :-X

The official long stay is directly off the motorway ::) and at the airport.
Fixed as had to do a job before I had chance to finish the post...

Not every body wishes to pay airport charges for parking, they find it cheaper to park off site,
But wooioo, betide anybody who doesn't do as you say, a complete rant, as per normal, yes you can put your opinion over, but you don't need to go on about it, and by the way I use purple parking, at Luton, no problems or issues, o we had to wait 5 mins for the bus, "my world ended, with such a wait" should have put a rant on trip advisor, or paid double and use the airport parking. There finished.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 16 September 2016, 09:35:07
I use one of the unofficial parking places near Bristol Airport, because not only are they a lot cheaper than the official long stay they are about the same distance from the terminal and I've found them much more efficient.  :y

I have to leave my keys with them, but I don't have a problem with that as there are much nicer, newer and faster cars in their care for their spotty yooves to play with than my 16 year old banger with 244,000 miles on the clock.  ;D
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: TheBoy on 16 September 2016, 12:26:33

Last time I used Gatwick, needed to stay over Holiday Inn gave me a great deal. Can't recall exact cost but overnight before departure, and overnight after arrival, was pretty good. I do not live close to Gatwick, thus the overnights.
Bit of a PITA when the staff nick your bag with iPad, Kindle, currency and your other goodies though.  Makes a stressful start to what should be a happy, enjoyable, relaxing time.

So, no thanks, not for me...
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: TheBoy on 16 September 2016, 12:34:10
I stupidly have used both Purple Parking and APH at Gatwick.

Having learnt my lesson, I now use the long stay at Gatwick.  Far easier, we tend to drop everyone and bags off at the drop off, go park, get the bus (and not have to lug suitcases on), and find the rest of the gang now nearer the front of the check in queue.

On return, we go and grab the coach, get the car, pick everyone else up and all the luggage from the drop-off point and be long gone within the claimed "20 minutes" its takes for the offsite coaches to arrive.  "20 minutes" obviously meaning up to 90 mins, although usually nearer to 30-40 mins.



For those going from Luton, using the train station carpark at Luton Parkway is much cheaper than the horrifically priced onsite, but you need to get there in plenty of time due to the incompetence of those designing the road layout leading to the airport - even the buses get stuck in the 45-60min delays.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 16 September 2016, 14:27:09
That wasn't a rant... ::)

A little local knowledge goes a long way ;), and off the off airport companies, Purple Parking is actually within the perimeter, of the airport, but the opposite end of the airfield from the terminals ::)

There is an alternative of Summer Special, which is around the corner from the North Terminal long stay, and the bus goes from the adjacent stop, so possibly the next best, but I haven't used it so can't comment on how good/bad they are. But I wouldn't touch any of the others with a long slippery pole.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Lazydocker on 16 September 2016, 15:50:54
APH or cophall farm.  APH slightly better, very frequent coach to terminal and much cheaper than onsite official car park - £31.60 for a week

APH are who damaged my car ;) As I said, they tried to wriggle out if it briefly (and may have if I hadn't only just bought it so had pictures as evidence) but did cough up in the end and were very helpful.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: omega2018 on 16 September 2016, 18:59:47

Ignoring the fact that the long stay car parks are a mere five minutes from the terminals should Tunnie wish to fetch the car around. Also neither of your suggestions are actually anywhere near the airport... APH is halfway to East Grinstead and Cophall Farm might as well be in the arse end of nowhere, (it even has a mobile home site), and neither let you park the car and take the keys with you :-X

The official long stay is directly off the motorway ::) and at the airport.

APH is 10 minutes from terminal.  Cophall 9 minutes.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 16 September 2016, 21:57:54

Ignoring the fact that the long stay car parks are a mere five minutes from the terminals should Tunnie wish to fetch the car around. Also neither of your suggestions are actually anywhere near the airport... APH is halfway to East Grinstead and Cophall Farm might as well be in the arse end of nowhere, (it even has a mobile home site), and neither let you park the car and take the keys with you :-X

The official long stay is directly off the motorway ::) and at the airport.

APH is 10 minutes from terminal.  Cophall 9 minutes.
Yeah right ::)
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Lazydocker on 16 September 2016, 22:01:43

Ignoring the fact that the long stay car parks are a mere five minutes from the terminals should Tunnie wish to fetch the car around. Also neither of your suggestions are actually anywhere near the airport... APH is halfway to East Grinstead and Cophall Farm might as well be in the arse end of nowhere, (it even has a mobile home site), and neither let you park the car and take the keys with you :-X

The official long stay is directly off the motorway ::) and at the airport.

APH is 10 minutes from terminal.  Cophall 9 minutes.
Yeah right ::)

To be fair, APH is only 10 minutes from the terminal in a car with no traffic and a rolling start ::) Every time I've parked there it has been a minimum of 30 minutes from parking to getting off the bus and at least the same on return.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 16 September 2016, 22:04:16
It can take 25 minutes to get to the staff car park, and that's next to the runway ::)
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Nick W on 16 September 2016, 22:09:26

Ignoring the fact that the long stay car parks are a mere five minutes from the terminals should Tunnie wish to fetch the car around. Also neither of your suggestions are actually anywhere near the airport... APH is halfway to East Grinstead and Cophall Farm might as well be in the arse end of nowhere, (it even has a mobile home site), and neither let you park the car and take the keys with you :-X

The official long stay is directly off the motorway ::) and at the airport.

APH is 10 minutes from terminal.  Cophall 9 minutes.


In a bus?? Presumably each seat has a four point harness and the luggage is retained to NASA specs?


Off site parking needs to dirt cheap, or it isn't worth losing the convenience of the expensive long stay carparks. The one time I've done this, paying £30 for the week with a 20minute trip to the airport was better than three times as much nearby. But if I'd had a carful of kids/passengers, stuff etc, rather than just me with no luggage, I would have gladly paid the extra
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: omega2018 on 16 September 2016, 23:44:24

APH is 10 minutes from terminal.  Cophall 9 minutes.
Yeah right ::)
these things are easy to check. go to google maps, set the journey as 'cophall parking gatwick' to 'south terminal gatwick' it says 4 miles and currently 9 minutes door to door. If you set it for rush hour, say 9am monday morning, it says "typically 10 min" (if you are lucky enough to get an 11am flight nowadays).

that coincides with my experience - best allow 15 minutes but usually less.

That wasn't a rant... ::)

all your posts end up as rants, you are well known for it ::). 

hence your slightly flattering avatar ;D.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 17 September 2016, 00:32:44
Not picking fault with Nick, Lazydocker or TheBoy then... only my contribution  :-X
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Nick W on 17 September 2016, 00:35:46
Not picking fault with Nick, Lazydocker or TheBoy then... only my contribution  :-X


You're not the only one that has spent a lot of time driving the area in and around Gatwick, but what do we know?
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 17 September 2016, 00:38:33
Not picking fault with Nick, Lazydocker or TheBoy then... only my contribution  :-X


You're not the only one that has spent a lot of time driving the area in and around Gatwick, but what do we know?
We were agreeing...  :D
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: omega2018 on 17 September 2016, 00:40:06
Not picking fault with Nick, Lazydocker or TheBoy then... only my contribution  :-X
must be something about you then ::)

biggriffin put it best and more bluntly:  "But wooioo, betide anybody who doesn't do as you say, a complete rant, as per normal, yes you can put your opinion over, but you don't need to go on about it, and by the way I use purple parking, at Luton, no problems or issues, o we had to wait 5 mins for the bus, "my world ended, with such a wait" should have put a rant on trip advisor, or paid double and use the airport parking. There finished."
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Nick W on 17 September 2016, 00:53:18
Not picking fault with Nick, Lazydocker or TheBoy then... only my contribution  :-X


You're not the only one that has spent a lot of time driving the area in and around Gatwick, but what do we know?
We were agreeing...  :D

Yes, we were.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 17 September 2016, 09:12:31
I've never had an issue with private offsite parking companies.  :y 

The one's I've used you give them a call from the warm and dry of the terminal building and they come and pick you up and the car is conveniently parked close to the office when you get back to their yard.  :y

Compare that with the 'convenience' of paying double at the official long stay and then trudging through acres of car park with luggage in the cold pissing rain!  :D  And that's assuming that you can remember where you parked!  ;D

All because you don't want someone else getting behind the wheel of your rusty 16 year old banger!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: TheBoy on 17 September 2016, 10:11:24
All because you don't want someone else getting behind the wheel of your rusty 16 year old banger!  ;D ;D ;D
Thank would be a concern if I had a nice or especially quick car, but think the Omega would be safe ;D...  ...although doubt they'd care enough not to bang it about a bit.

I use onsite purely for the convenience, having time and time again suffered the inconvenience of offsite parking, particularly those private company offsite ones (which are the ones we can get very, very good discounts on via work).  I might not like spending more than necessary, but sometimes its just worth the extra £20-30 for the reduced hassle.

Even more convenient is taxi, but even at Taxi Al's OOF preferential rates, its extravagant (due to my location in relation to Gatwick)...  ...but hassle free, stress free, and no worrying about that tedious drive home when you land.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 17 September 2016, 10:33:44

I use onsite purely for the convenience, having time and time again suffered the inconvenience of offsite parking, particularly those private company offsite ones (which are the ones we can get very, very good discounts on via work).  I might not like spending more than necessary, but sometimes its just worth the extra £20-30 for the reduced hassle.


You seem to be very unlucky in much of your dealings with UK companies TB, as the experiences you frequently describe here rarely match mine.  ;D
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: TheBoy on 17 September 2016, 10:50:11

I use onsite purely for the convenience, having time and time again suffered the inconvenience of offsite parking, particularly those private company offsite ones (which are the ones we can get very, very good discounts on via work).  I might not like spending more than necessary, but sometimes its just worth the extra £20-30 for the reduced hassle.


You seem to be very unlucky in much of your dealings with UK companies TB, as the experiences you frequently describe here rarely match mine.  ;D
The last one - the 90 minute wait for the coach to take us back to the car in the early hours was a killer.  We'd been on one of those Nile cruises to see the ancient sites, and I forgot one morning to use bottled water to brush my teeth  :-[.  After 90mins waiting for the stupid bus, the poo-glue tablets were definitely wearing off.

I think we actually landed at something like 1am, and got home at 6am. Its a 90-100 minute journey at that time. Had I parked onsite, I would have been at home by the time I started the car in the offsite parking.


It was after than one that I started being less tight and paying for onsite parking, and what a revelation it was.


Obviously, at some airports you have no choice. You'd have to be mentally retarded to use an offsite carpark at Luton for a morning flight.  That's why onsite parking is so outrageously expensive there - prebooked, £85 a week (8 days), £207 without booking in the Mid term.  Even the offsites are £50...  ...although even the airlines warn of using offsites there, allow an additional 2hrs :o

Guess who's using an offsite at Luton next month ::) (I'm not driving, so just had to go with the flow)
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 17 September 2016, 14:33:10
I only used off site parking once at Gatwick. A few weeks later I received a parking ticket from council local to Gatwick, due to the fact my car had been parked on a local street for a fortnight.
Not long after this I was speaking to a local businessman who told me he had parked his new XJ6 with the same people. While he was sunning himself in foreign climes they wrote his car off.
Last time I flew from the dump they call Gatwick, we stayed overnight at a nearby hotel, and then used their carpark (for free iirc) while we were away for a long weekend.
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Lazydocker on 17 September 2016, 15:06:12
Not picking fault with Nick, Lazydocker or TheBoy then... only my contribution  :-X
must be something about you then ::)

biggriffin put it best and more bluntly:  "But wooioo, betide anybody who doesn't do as you say, a complete rant, as per normal, yes you can put your opinion over, but you don't need to go on about it, and by the way I use purple parking, at Luton, no problems or issues, o we had to wait 5 mins for the bus, "my world ended, with such a wait" should have put a rant on trip advisor, or paid double and use the airport parking. There finished."

Actually, it's getting rather tedious that several people, yourself included, seem to run "hate" campaigns against individuals... This isn't the first time either :-X ::)
Title: Re: Calling our resident Gatwick expert....
Post by: Lazydocker on 17 September 2016, 15:09:25
I only used off site parking once at Gatwick. A few weeks later I received a parking ticket from council local to Gatwick, due to the fact my car had been parked on a local street for a fortnight.
Not long after this I was speaking to a local businessman who told me he had parked his new XJ6 with the same people. While he was sunning himself in foreign climes they wrote his car off.
Last time I flew from the dump they call Gatwick, we stayed overnight at a nearby hotel, and then used their carpark (for free iirc) while we were away for a long weekend.

I've used the hotel option a few times... Still got the inconvenience of the bus but at least most of them leave your car in the space you put it in and let you take your keys