Parking at Gatwick Airport

Going on holiday is very exciting but we all know that getting to the airport is often fraught with problems. Finding a car park, waiting and transferring to a bus to take you into the terminal all take time and only add to the anxiety and overall travelling time. Since 1992 Tudor Rose Airport Parking have offered an excellent alternative to the normal park and ride method of leaving your car at Gatwick. Valet Parking (or meet and greet parking as it is sometimes known) has always been available but considered too expensive and prohibitive to most peoples pockets. Security and safety are a priority and the purchase of Hookwood Park in 1999 has provided Tudor Rose with the perfect location for its valet parking operation. The park is manned 24 hours a day, gated and has total metal, palisade fencing on the perimeter. A centrally located security office provides constant monitoring of the car park areas and full CCTV provides further security and records of activity. Being within a few minutes of both North and South Terminals at Gatwick we are able to despatch a vehicle upon demand and will arrive on the terminal forecourt within 5 to 10 minutes. Using this method of parking at Gatwick meant that Customers could save as much as 2 hours of their travelling time. Year on year investment into the company have enabled Tudor Rose to offer a premium service at reasonable rates. Our comprehensive web site goes beyond expectation and provides all the facts you need to know when leaving your valuable property in the hands of someone else. The acquisition of the Hookwood Lodge Hotel in 2007 directly opposite the car park further expanded the range of products Tudor Rose has on offer. Set in 20 acres of parkland it has the peace and quiet of a rural estate yet is only a few minutes drive to the airport. Gatwick park and stay packages are available including the same fast valet parking service the company has become renowned for. Our cooperation with Gatwick Police, Gatwick Airport Ltd and membership of local associations give us a superior overview and up to date knowledge of airport activity. We in turn inform our Customers of all these events which may affect their travel plans via our web site which is constantly updated. Tudor Rose are an 'Approved Operator' by Gatwick Airport Ltd, hold the coveted ParkMark® award from the Association of Chief Police Officers and are approved by West Sussex Trading Standards.

Gatwick Airport Hotels with Parking

There are many advantages to staying at an hotel the night before you fly off to some exotic destination. Not least is the fact that you can be assured you will be on time for your check in and boarding. At the time of writing this short blog gales and winds have caused havoc across the road and rail network causing mass disruption and traffic chaos. It's not just the fact that you may miss your flight but it's the associated stress and worry it causes. Not a great way to start your holiday as the whole purpose of a break is to get away from the daily stress we have to endure. Finding the right hotel for your specific requirements is another matter and Gatwick Airport offers an entire range of possibilities to suit your needs and pocket. So here are some questions to help you search for the right hotel; Q.1 What time do you intend to arrive at the hotel or do you want to spend some time at the hotel to help you wind down and relax? Q.2 Do you want an evening meal in the hotel and how much money are you prepared to spend? Q.3 Do you have a family and do you require a family room? Q.4 Do you require leisure facilities? Q.5 What is your budget - do you want to keep the price below or above £100? Q.6 Is your priority a comfortable bed and a good night's sleep? Q.7 Do you want breakfast before you leave the hotel or will you have it at the airport whilst waiting to board the plane? Q.8 How important is the time factor in getting to the check-in desk on the morning of your flight? Q.9 Do you want to hang around in the morning waiting for buses or would you like to get to the airport in 5 minutes? Q.10 Do you expect to pay extra for your transfer to the terminal? Q.11 Do you have a car and do you need to keep it somewhere safe for the duration of your holiday? Q.12 Do you mind driving to a car park on the morning of your departure and transferring to a bus to take you into the airport terminal which can take up to an hour? Q.13 On your return from holiday do you mind having to wait for a bus, transferring your luggage and taking you back to a car park to pick up your car? Q.14 Do you want a Gatwick Parking Service where your car is brought to the terminal to enable you to drive directly home saving you valuable time especially after a tiring flight? Q.15 Do you expect to pay extra for a Gatwick Valet Parking Service? There is a little gem nestled in 20 acres of parkland and away from the hustle and bustle of the airport and traffic. This little gem is only 3/4 minutes from both terminals and yet has the appearance of a small rural estate. Hookwood Lodge was built C1850 as a rural retreat for wealthy London City dwellers. Converted to a small hotel in 2007 it has the enviable position of also owning an airport parking business directly opposite it's main gate. Here are some answers to the questions above with regard to Hookwood Lodge. A.1 Hookwood Lodge is open to welcome guests from 3pm onwards but you are welcome to arrive earlier by appointment. You can stroll through the gardens and grounds and perhaps end up at the Black Horse Pub located on it's perimeter. A.2 The Black Horse offers good wholesome food at excellent prices and if you're feeding your family it won't dent your pocket. A.3 Family rooms are available to sleep 2 adults and 2 children up to the age of 16. A.4 There is a games room, small gym and sauna located next to the hotel by appointment only at no extra charge. A.5 A double room is priced from £69 including a week's parking. Even a family room with two children including parking is only £99. A.6 A good bed is essential and our divans are comfortable and warm. Spacious rooms, tastefully decorated all with shower en-suite. A.7 Tea/coffee/hot chocolate/biscuits are complimentary and available in your room. Breakfast is not served as a fine breakfast at reasonable cost can be had at the airport's Garfunkel's and while you are waiting to board your flight. Time flies and it keeps the kids happy. A.8 At Hookwood Lodge we offer an exclusive transfer service to the airport terminal 24 hours a day. No timetables, we take you on demand with a one to one service. It is just 3/4 minutes to both North and South Terminal. A.9 No buses, no coaches, no other passengers, no waiting. A personal service with only your interest of our interest. A.10 No transfer charges raising the cost of your stay. All included as part of the Hookwood Lodge facilities. A.11 Our car park is directly adjacent to our hotel, fully authorised and holding the current coveted ParkMark® award from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). We are also an Approved Operator with Gatwick Airport. Your car is safe in our hands. A.12 Our motto is ' We work harder to make travel easier ' and this is never more true than when it comes to saving you time and hassle. A.13 Same applies. A.14 Our valet parking service is second to none with over 20 years experience doing exactly that. You will be delighted at being able to drive straight home from the terminal forecourt within minutes of collecting your luggage. A.15 Our valet parking service is completely free and inclusive of your accommodation. Just another reason why you should choose Hookwood Lodge for your park and stay package.

Gatwick Airport Hotel with Parking

Gatwick Airport Hotel with Parking Gatwick Airport Hotel with Parking A little over 20 years ago Trevor Bryan saw an opportunity in the market place to improve the airport parking arrangements that was generally offered to the public at Gatwick Airport. Having been in the travel business for over a decade he could see the many advantages of valet parking had over it's park and ride competition. The problem was that the cost of valet parking was prohibitive and unavailable to most peoples pockets. From a Tudor farmhouse a couple of miles from Gatwick Airport Trevor offered a nights stay with a personal chauffeur service to the airport. The Customers vehicle was then safely stored until his return when it was personally delivered to the Customer on the terminal forecourt. Tudor Rose Airport Parking was born. Business grew to a point where all rooms were taken but Customers still wanted to avail themselves of the unique parking service. Trevor rented a site only 2/3 minutes from both terminals and it wasn't long before the car park became full and business was thriving. In 1999 Trevor was given an opportunity to purchase the old Reigate Road Garage site north of the airport and after a year of negotiations and a hefty loan managed to purchase the site. The site was perfect as it was only a couple of minutes from both terminals and had the advantage of an office in the centre meaning that security was easy to manage. With considerable investment in the refurbishment of the site it lent itself easily to providing a meet and greet parking service at a reasonable cost. Valet Parking (or meet and greet as it is sometimes known) was offered at the airport but it had always been at a considerable premium for the well off, sometimes costing three times as much as park and ride. Collecting and delivering vehicles on the terminal forecourt meant that Customers could knock as much as 2 hours off their travelling time and eliminate the hassle and worry of getting to check-in on time. The advantages of a Gatwick Meet and Greet Parking service is obvious. Business expanded quickly and it was not long before Trevor was looking round for a small hotel to compliment the valet parking service he offered. He didn't have to wait long as in 2005 and as luck would have it the large Victorian lodge house directly opposite the car park came onto the market. He threw every single resource into acquiring the farmhouse and even though he realised he was over stretched he knew that it was a sound business decision. After considerable refurbishment the hotel now called the Hookwood Lodge Hotel offers spacious, tastefully decorated en-suite bedrooms. Set in 20 acres of parkland it offers the peace and quiet of a small rural estate yet is only 3 - 4 minutes from both North and South Terminals. The same fast valet parking service that the company prides itself on is still the mainstay of the business. 2013 saw the introduction of a regulated valet parking industry at Gatwick Airport. Rogue operators and bad practice within the industry were undermining the trust between Customers and good bona fide operators. All valet parking operators were given the opportunity to achieve approved status by co-operating with Trading Standards, the Safer Parking Award and Gatwick Airport Ltd. Only a handful of operators achieved approved status and these can be found on the Official Gatwick Airport web site. Tudor Rose is an Approved Operator with Gatwick Airport, the car park holds the coveted ParkMark® award from the Association of Chief Police Officers and is 'Buy with Confidence' approved by Trading Standards.

Commission Agents Vs Sole Operators

Most parking operators have their own web sites and it has to be accepted that they would rather not pay agents fees if they could achieve the same sort of traffic without them. However, the agents are marketing experts and you will see this just by typing in the term ‘Gatwick Parking’ in your chosen search engine. The first page of results is entirely made up of Agents or comparison sites. Move on to subsequent pages and you will see more actual ‘Operators Web Sites’.

Sole operator web sites offer many advantages to the Gatwick Parking Customer. They explain in much greater detail every aspect of their operation including security, location, terms and conditions, operational procedures and complaints procedures. They supply landline telephone numbers, VAT numbers and 24 hour phone numbers in an effort to provide total peace of mind to the Customer. They will tell you exactly where your car is parked for the duration of your holiday or business trip. By contrast, comparison sites use ‘call to action’ methods on their landing pages.  They use a series of icons to inform you of the security, service offered and others. They will indicate an icon of a barrier where the said car park has an entry barrier or a CCTV icon where CCTV is being used. This in no way indicates the true nature of the barrier i.e., always closed or CCTV ( total or partial coverage) and in some cases there is no barrier or CCTV at all.

Gatwick Airport has recently introduced an Approved Operator Scheme. After achieving certain awards from Trading Standards and the Safer Parking Scheme operators are invited to join the scheme. Only 8 operators have achieved Approved Status. These approved operators have their car park sites inspected every year in order to remain within the scheme. It is the actual operator that receives the award not the agent or comparison site.

An approved operator will deal with you the Customer for the entire length of your booking from the time you make it to the time you return from your holiday and your car is delivered to you. They will keep you informed of any changes as a result of airport security alerts, traffic issues and any other issues. They have one very special item on their agenda and that is to provide you with a service that will keep you coming back time after time and for you to recommend them to your friends.

The Gatwick parking operator may not be so good at marketing but he does have your very best interest at heart.

Most sole operators will offer discounts on return bookings or ‘loyalty’ discounts the more times you use them even if this is over several years.

Good operators will have landline telephone numbers so any queries or requests can be dealt with just by lifting the phone. Good operators have 24 hour mobile contact or emergency contact. After all, you’re going to leave your prized possession in the hands of someone else so wouldn’t it be nice to have total peace of mind so that you can really enjoy your holiday!

So for your parking at Gatwick always choose an approved operator and preferably one that’s been around for a long time.