Airport Transfers – A Simple Guide
Don’t Let Your Airport Transfers Be A Hassle
Why Book Airport Transfers In Advance
Different Types Of Airport Transfers
No matter which country you may be travelling to in the world, you will need to get from the airport to your final destination and then back to the airport on your return. Unless you already have somebody waiting to meet you at the airport or you are travelling on a package deal which has airport transfers included, you will need to arrange your own transfers to and from the airport.
What Does Airport Transfer Mean
The term ‘Airport Transfer’, is commonly used in travel and one that you will no doubt have heard. It basically means the process of passengers getting from the airport to their final destination, then back to the airport on their return journey.
Airport Transfers are generally pre-arranged and can be many different forms of transport.
How Should I Choose An Airport Transfer Service
Airport transfers should be a hassle free transition from the airport to your final destination and nobody wants to land at the airport worrying about how they are going to get there.
Travelling to and from the airport can be a daunting thought for many, simply because of language barriers, foreign currencies and the different transport networks. So many people encounter bad experiences unnecessarily, simply because they fail to do a little pre-planning, don’t be one of them!
There are many different factors that will determine which type of airport transfer you use. Everybody’s needs, circumstances and requirements are different but there are several things you should consider before booking you r transfers.
- Budget
- Who is travelling in your group
- Where you are staying
- Distance from the airport
- Time of flight arrival
- What luggage you will have
- Are you travelling with children
- Are there any people with limited mobility in your party
All the above may seem obvious but they all play a big part in finding the best transfer options to suit your travel needs and requirements.
Budget:
Budget will play a very big part in which type of transfer you use. If you are travelling on a budget, then obviously you will not be able to afford a private taxi or shuttle. This is even more so, if you are travelling alone or your final destination is located quite a distance from the airport.
If you are travelling on a limited budget, then using public transport or shared shuttle may be your most cost effective option.
Who Is Travelling:
The amount of people travelling in your group, will be another major factor that can determine your transfer. If you are travelling with a large number of people, then it can sometimes work out more cost effective to rent a car or minibus for the duration of your stay.
If you don’t want to take out car rental, then it might be worth considering hiring a private shuttle bus or taxi.
Where You Are Staying:
Your final destination is obviously where you need to get to from the airport. However, this can eliminate certain types of transport, that might be available.
Not all transport options will be suitable for you and this is even more so, if your accommodation is off the beaten track.
Generally, if you are staying in a major city or holiday resort, it will normally be possible to take public transport. However, if you are staying somewhere that is not accessible from public transport, you will need to consider other options.
Distance:
There are several reasons, why you may need to fly into a specific airport, that could be located quite a distance from your final destination. Once again, if you are travelling alone or on a limited budget, you will need to find the cheapest airport transfer option, to suit your budget.
If this is the case, you should ensure you do your homework before booking your flight. Just because a flight is cheap, it doesn’t mean it will be the cheapest option. In many cases, your airport transfer can cost several times more than the flight itself. As a result, it might be cheaper to pay a little more for your flight and fly into a closer airport to your final destination. Always check you are flying into the best airport to suit your needs.
For Example:
If you are wanting to visit Barcelona and you are looking for flights to Barcelona, you will find that you have several options for flights.
The main airport that services Barcelona is ‘Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN)’, which is located just 9 miles (14.5 Kilometers) from the centre of Barcelona. The transfers to the centre of Barcelona from the airport are very cheap. There are multiple options for transport, including taxi, bus and train.
However, many low cost airlines also advertise other airports as ‘Barcelona’ such as Reus Airport and Girona Airport. The problem is, although you can get to Barcelona from both these airports, they are located quite a considerable distance from Barcelona itself!
Girona is 65 miles (104 Kilometers) from Barcelona and Reus is 57 miles (91 Kilometers) from Barcelona.
As you can imagine, getting to Barcelona from these two airport will take much longer. Not only that, the transport networks will not be as efficient. It will also cost more money for your airport transfer, than actually flying into Barcelona El Prat (BCN).
It is just something you just take into consideration before booking your flight and airport transfer.
Don’t Let Your Airport Transfers Be A Hassle
The good news is there are plenty of transfer options available to passengers landing at most airports throughout the world. The determining factor as to which transfer option you choose, generally comes down to personal preference and budget.
Most airports provide a good ground support and normally have a variety of transfer options in place that are available to passengers ranging from: Public transport to private hire transfer.
Many of the European airports that now have a large number of the Low cost/No thrills airlines servicing them, also have many transfer companies working alongside them. These transfer companies provide coach services that co-inside with all the flight arrival and departure times to ensure passengers have a hassle free transfer. These services now make it even easier for passengers to get to and from the airport, especially at smaller airports, that would not normally have such transfer options in place.
Why Book Airport Transfers In Advance
Most people like to have the peace of mind that once they land at the airport, their transfer is in place. There is nothing worse than sat on your flight wondering how you will get to your final destination and wondering if there will be any availability left, especially if it is late at night. The other concern is how much it will cost!
The beauty of pre-booking your airport transfers in advance is not only that you have peace of mind in knowing you will have the transfer waiting for you when you land but also that you have paid in advance and will not be left wondering or worrying how much it will cost you. Booking in advance eliminates the possibility of you being overcharged at the airport or on route to your final destination.
Using one of the reputable transfer companies that operate services to and from the airport will help reduce the stress of reaching your final chosen destination.
The bottom line is very simple, if you require a transfer, why leave it until later to book? It just makes sense to book your transfer in advance because you will need to pay for the service anyway regardless as to when you book it. The only thing is, it will be much cheaper to book in advance than it would be at the airport.
For example: If you wanted to use one of the transfer services to and from the airport, you would pay more money on the day just turning up at the airport and making a reservation. This is the same with taxis, airport shuttle and car hire. The reason being is that once you are at the airport, you are a captive target market and they know you are in desperate need of transfer. As a result, you will be charged a premium rate.
However, when you visit any of their websites prior to travelling, you will be offered a better rate because you are not in such a desperate position and they will be wanting to secure your booking. They know that you have a wider option of choice on the Internet and will offer you a better deal to ensure you book through them. This is to your advantage, so make good use of your position and BOOK!
No matter which option of transport you decide to use, places are always limited. If you are looking to use one of the coach services, shuttle services, taxis or car hire companies, it is always best to pre-book. The reason for this is very simple, apart from giving you peace of mind, it GUARANTEES your reservation!
Eliminate All Doubts
One of the main concerns with passengers travelling to a foreign country is not being able to speak the language and as you can imagine, landing in a foreign country to whose language you cannot speak, can be a little daunting and raise many issues. Unfortunately, this very factor can lead to many passengers being overcharged for their transfers if they have not pre-booked in advance.
These very issues can start right from the very beginning at the airport when trying to find transport. Many passengers find themselves in situations they need not be in, simply because they fail to take a few minutes before travel to book their airport transfer. You hear and read about so many
people who have had bad experiences with getting to and from the airport and the majority of these stories have been because the passengers have not pre-booked their transfers in advance.
Most people become stressed when landing at the airport and then have to try to make transfer arrangements. This stress is even greater if they are travelling with family and children. As a result, they end up paying high prices simply because they become fed up and just want to get to their chosen destination. All this hassle and expense can easily be avoided and it beggers belief as to why people put themselves through it unnecessarily.
The facilities are there in place online to pre-book, use them!
Different Types Of Airport Transfers
Passengers landing at airports now have a wide range of transfer options and depending on which airport you land at, determines what choice you will have.
Below is a list of the most popular transfer options:
Public Transport:
Public transport is probably one of the most viable forms of transport, provided that there is a good reliable network in place. However as well as its advantages, it does have its disadvantages. To read more about Public Transport to and from the airport
Coach Transfer:
Many airports have coach companies operating to and from the airport connecting passengers with surrounding towns, resorts and cities. Coach transfer is a very efficient way of getting to and from the airport and can be much less hassle than using the public transport networks.
Shuttle Services:
There are many companies that provide shuttle services to and from the airport. The beauty about using the shuttle service is that they will drop you off at your hotel and collect you from your hotel on your return journey.
Private Shuttle:
Private shuttle services are a very convenient way to reach your chosen destination. However, because they are private, they are often the most expensive for of transfer.
Taxi Reservations:
Many people prefer to get a taxi to and from the airport but don’t enjoy having to queue or haggle with the taxi driver about the fare. A popular choice with many passengers is to pre-book their taxi in advance and this ensures their taxi is waiting for them on arrival and will have agreed the price in advance.
Car Hire:
For many reasons, car hire is still a popular option as it provides freedom and allows you to plan your own time schedule. Many car hire companies operate in most airports throughout the world and there are some great deals to be found.
Rail Transfer:
Not all airports have a direct rail link but the ones that do, provide a very efficient and reliable means of transfer. Most airports that do have a rail link, offer services to most nearby towns and cities.
Ensure you arrange your airport transfers in advance and save yourself a lot of time, hassle and money:
[huge_it_portfolio id=”49″]