The most viable alternative to expensive airport parking (Airport Parking & Hotels (APH))

Member Name: mrjoegoodwin

Product:	Airport Parking & Hotels (APH)
Date:	05/06/09 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, convenient

Disadvantages: If you miss the shuttle bus, you can have a 15 minute wait until the next one

This review concerns the parking facilities at the Manchester Airport branch of the APH chain. Situated under a mile from junction 5 of the M60 ring road, the secure compound is hidden away in the bowels of the Sharston Industrial estate, but is easy to find thanks to the clear instructions from APH, and road signs in the nearby area.

Booking your car into the facility is easily done online, needing your flight numbers, estimated arrival/departures times and the length of your stay. For a recent trip to Germany, I parked my car at APH from a Friday night until Tuesday morning, for a total price of £18.70. I checked the equivalent prices at the airport, and it would have cost me £50, so immediately, the savings are clear.

On arrival at APH, you leave your vehicle in one of the check in bays, hand your confirmation slip and car keys into reception, and they will confirm your flight details, and arrival time back into the airport. They will also give you a receipt that you should keep with you, as you'll need it when arriving back at the airport. Once you've checked in, the airport shuttle buses are waiting for you outside the building, and run very frequently, taking about 10 mins to reach the first terminal building. The drivers are always very friendly, and will help you to load/unload your luggage onto and off the minibus.

On arrival back in the UK, once clearing passport control, customs and having picked up your baggage, you can call the APH number (printed on your receipt) and arrange to get picked up from one of the bus stops outside each terminal. These are usually clearly signposted, and the phone operator will happily guide you to the right spot from your terminal. From here, the wait is normally no more than 15 mins before the shuttle bus comes to pick you up and take you back to the APH building to collect your keys.

Overall, APH is a painless and very cheap alternative to the standard on-site airport parking in Manchester, and I try to use it every time I travel from the airport. Highly recommended.

Summary: A great way to save money - spend the price difference on your holiday instead!