Category: Airport transfers

Luxury airport transfers are popular with business executives who value their time, safety and comfort when travelling to, from and between airports. Booking professional airport transfers via minicab offers a large number of advantages. The vehicle will collect you at your chosen time and location and transport you easily and effortlessly to your required airport, all as part of a comfortable, VIP airport taxi London experience.

What are luxury airport transfers?

Booking a luxury minicab can be one of the best airport car service options available to time-poor business travellers. It is a pre-arranged service that picks you and your luggage up from home and takes you to the airport, or vice versa. You can also use the service to transfer between airports to catch connecting flights during a longer journey.

Professional airport transfers can be booked from home or a hotel, conference centre, office, or anywhere else you need to travel from. Normally, you can agree on a fixed price for luxury airport transfers in advance of your journey. That means you don’t end up with a nasty surprise on arrival at your terminal.

Why use luxury airport transport for business travel in London?

There are, of course, other transport choices available, such as using your own car or going by public transport. Choosing luxury airport transfers via minicab, however, cuts down on a long wait for a taxi, unreliable bus or train services and the need to pay for petrol and expensive long-term parking for your own car. Going by minicab is safe, convenient and reasonably priced when compared to other, costly options.

Being driven to the airport by a professional minicab driver allows you to sit back and prepare for your flight in comfort. You might need to make a few last-minute phone calls, chat to family or friends or make arrangements with office colleagues during your absence. A minicab used for luxury airport transfers also allows you more room to bring luggage with you, and your driver will even help you carry suitcases and bags in and out of the vehicle.

Added extras

Alongside the basics of getting you to the airport safely, comfortably and in time to catch your flight, using luxury airport transfers can bring added bonuses. You can enjoy a personal greeting from your driver who, if collecting you from a flight, will make themselves known to you at the arrivals desk when you land. They will keep in touch with you by phone, too, so that you don’t spend ages trying to find them in the car park.

Other services that could be potentially offered include flight monitoring, so that they will watch out for when your flight is due and be there to greet you, even if it arrives early. If your plane is going to be late, there’s no need to worry about letting your luxury airport transfers company know. They will already be aware of the delay through monitoring the flight times, and will adjust their arrival at the airport to suit. This adds a layer of reliability and reassurance to your airport transfer experience.

In addition, booking a luxury service gives you an experience that is above and beyond. Comfortable, spacious vehicles allow you to travel in style, in a quiet, relaxing environment. You can unwind before your flight, have a power nap or use the peace and quiet to get some work done – many luxury minicabs have free wi-fi or charging points available to passengers. Often, travellers really appreciate the calm space after coming off a long, red-eye flight and suffering the effects of jet lag.

There are many options to choose from when it comes to travelling to catch a plane. However, when you need to get there for a flight early in the morning, the most sensible option is to look around for the best hotels near London airports to stay in overnight. This stops any worry about traffic jams, delays on public transport or road works messing up your journey from home to the airport when you’re rushing to catch a flight.

Why stay in a London airport hotel?

Travelling up the night before an early morning or late-night flight enables you to have a more relaxed experience, even enjoying a meal, swim or spa treatment the in the evening before you fly. Or, if you are transferring between flights, booking one of the best hotels near London airports gives you somewhere to rest and relax before returning to the airport to catch your next flight (always check that your visa allows you to leave the airport and leave plenty of time to check in and sort your luggage when you return).

Another great advantage of booking one of the best hotels near Lond airports is that you can arrange for a minicab to take you to and from your accommodation very easily. Hotel staff will be very used to helping airport customers arrange transport to ensure they make their flights. There is plenty of parking outside for your minicab to wait for you, and the hotels are easy to find. The combination of a hotel stay and minicab ride can often work out cheaper than making other travel arrangements, such as driving yourself and paying for expensive parking or booking a train ticket at short notice.

What to look for in the best hotels near London airports

Staying in one of the best hotels near London airports also means you can get ready in comfort, repacking your bags to make things more convenient if necessary and making sure you have everything you need. You can explore the local area if you have time and fancy getting some fresh air before being cooped up inside an aeroplane for hours on end.

Finally, you can enjoy the amenities, such as free wi-fi, business services, swimming pools, spas, restaurants, bars and fitness centres. This can be extremely helpful if travelling with children, who may be bored waiting at the airport for ages, or stressed taking public transport while rushing against the clock.

Which are some of the best hotels near London airports?

Most of the major hotel chains will have premises close to the main London airports. At London Heathrow, there is the Sofitel, which is located close to Terminal 5 and has restaurants, a spa and 24-hour gym on site. Similar facilities are available at the  Hilton London, located an easy, ten-minute covered walkway away from Terminal 4. Here, food is served from 5am for early morning fuelling before a flight. Other hotels close to Heathrow include London Marriott with its heated indoor swimming pool and excellent view of planes taking off and landing – and Renaissance Hotel, which is very close to Terminals 2 and 3.

More of the best hotels near London airports are available by London Gatwick. Thes include the Sofitel London Gatwick Hotel, located less than a mile from the North Terminal and Holiday Inn London, just over a mile away. Both hotels have excellent facilities and easy transport, making them two of the best hotels near London airports for convenience and comfort. Other excellent and competitively priced options include the Travelodge Gatwick Airport Central and the Premier Inn London Gatwick. All offer relaxing, clean facilities with food, business services and easy airport transport routes via a private, comfortable minicab ride.

Traffic in London is a long-standing problem that has residents and tourists alike feeling frustrated, anxious and concerned on a regular basis. It is known as one of the worst cities in Europe for congestion and people are always on the look-out for ways to avoid London traffic. The London Underground and public transport system operate efficiently on the whole, plus London congestion zones are now a long-established thing. So why do cars and vehicles keep on coming into the capital causing queues, delays and hold-ups?

Despite the irritations of negotiating London traffic delays and trying to avoid London traffic hotspots, the city remains hugely popular with motorists. Whether they are coming in to work, sightsee, go to the theatre or meet friends, people still rely on their cars to get them safely in and out. So, is there anything that you can do to avoid London traffic and discover the best way to get around London?

Avoid London traffic by taking a minicab

There are all sorts of ways to travel around London, including tube, DLR, bus, boat, bicycle and by foot. However, don’t disregard the option of taking a minicab. While you are still sitting in a vehicle, you have the huge advantage of your driver knowing the most effective minicab routes London has to offer. Your minicab driver will know how to avoid London traffic hotspots and how to tackle London congestion zones. Taking a minicab also removes the hassle of finding somewhere to park and having to navigate by sat nav or map as well as concentrate on the road.

Plan ahead to dodge London traffic delays

Wherever possible, plan your journey into London for a time when there will be fewer cars about. Avoid morning and late afternoon rush hour, for example, and aim instead for quieter times of day. Factor time into your schedule for delays and hold-ups. This means that you will feel less frustrated if your minicab does encounter traffic – and means that you are far less likely to miss your train, plan, theatre show or dinner reservation. Book your minicab early too, so that you can be sure of availability when you want it. This is especially important if you are travelling in a larger group as you may need to book a bigger vehicle, or more than one cab.

Research the fastest routes in London

Although your minicab driver will already have a good idea of how to get you to your destination, you can still look up best ways to get around London if you want to have more control over your journey. Your minicab driver should be happy to take your ideas into account, so long as they are not too far out of the way. It is highly likely that you will have both thought of the same routes in any case. Don’t forget to check for roadworks and road closures that could affect your planning. Look for alternative routes in case you come up against something unexpected. If there is a difference in opinion, about which way to go it is better to defer to your driver. They are more likely to have experienced the trip before, understand road safety laws and know the best way to avoid heavy traffic.

Stay safe on your journey

Always book with a reputable minicab company to ensure that you experience a professional, smooth and safe trip. Book the right vehicle for your requirements, for example one with plenty of space to fit luggage in if you are travelling to a London train station or airport. Give yourself plenty of time to get into and around London to avoid stress levels rising and allow time to make rational, safer decisions around negotiating your journey. Always get in and out of your minicab in a quieter area and never open the door into traffic. Keep a close eye on children to make sure they sit quietly in the cab and do not endanger anyone inside, for example by distracting the driver.

Booking a minicab or taxi for an airport transfer might seem like the most straightforward thing to do in the world. However, as with so many seemingly simple tasks, there are still several things that can go wrong if you fail to plan, get the details muddled up and book the wrong thing. Airport transfer mistakes can prove costly and highly irritating if they lead to your missing a flight or spending more money that you originally intended to, in order to put right something that was not organised correctly at the beginning.

Read on for more booking minicab tips that will hopefully help you avoid common airport transfer mistakes and enjoy a smooth booking process and easy, trouble-free travel to and from the airport next time you travel abroad for business or pleasure.

Plan well in advance – don’t leave it too late

It is excellent practice to pick up the phone or go online to book your airport transfer minicab as soon as you know which flight you are going to be taking. Minicabs can get booked up in advance, especially around more popular times of year for travelling, such as Christmas, summer holidays or for larger sports or cultural events. It can be very frustrating to have to keep phoning round companies to find a minicab that is free to take you where you need to go. Leaving it too late can often result in having to pay more as a short-notice booking, which prior planning can help you avoid very easily.

Make sure you’ve got the details right before you book

This is probably one of the most important airport minicab tips to follow. If you have a larger party travelling with you, nor need to take bulky equipment with you, such as a wheelchair, pram or large suitcase, you will need a bigger vehicle. It’s no good asking for a standard sized minicab, only to find you cannot fit everyone, or everything you need to take with you inside it when it arrives at your door.

Likewise, check, double check and then check again the details of your flight – date, time, airport and terminal. You will need these when you book – and a mistake can cost you time, money and the goodwill of those travelling with you. It is such a quick an easy job to check details before you book that this is one of those minicab tips that shouldn’t need emphasising. Don’t ruin your journey by falling foul of this one!

Stay in touch with your driver

When you book your minicab, you will normally either receive the contact details of your driver to stay in touch directly with them, or be granted access to an app or website to keep the company in touch. This is vital if your flight is going to be delayed, you need to change your booking details or your plans change altogether and you no longer need the minicab at the time you booked it for.

If you have the contact details, or a means of updating your driver, you can also let them know about flight number changes if you miss a connecting flight, as well as alert them to bring a bigger car if you have got more luggage than originally planned.

Know how much the ride will cost in advance

Most minicab companies that carry out  airport transfers will have a fixed rate for taking people to catch their flights,. This may vary. Depending on time of day, number of people in the group etc., but it should be made clear to you on booking how much the minicab ride will be. This will help you plan your finances and ensure you have enough funds to cover the costs. Choose a reputable minicab company to avoid this most frustrating of airport transfer mistakes.

Ask for details of any additional charges that you may incur upfront, such as flights delays leading to the driver having to wait longer than expected for airport pick-ups or bringing a large amount of luggage with you. In the same vein, check how you are allowed to pay and make sur you have the right method of payment ready to go.