Your Holiday Travel Checklist

By: Marketta Mineah

Published: June 29, 2010
Holidays are supposed to be about relaxation. Sitting in the sun, sipping an ice-cold drink, listening to the sound of the ocean around you... In reality, the combination of sorting out accommodation, travel insurance, flights and what you're actually going to do on your holiday can take all of the fun out of a break.

If you're travelling from one of London's main airports , Gatwick, Luton, Heathrow , this problem is even greater. Unless you are an expert in navigating the twists and turns of London's one-way system, and willing to pay an extortionate amount to park your car at the airport, getting to any of these can be a nightmare.

Trains seem to provide a relatively simple solution to this problem. Just book a ticket, sit back and watch the world go by. A very real advantage of travelling by train is (unless something goes wrong along your route) you have an increased level of control over timings, and can predict roughly what time you'll get to the airport without running the risk of traffic jams or London congestion.

However, the train isn't as practical an option as it may first appear. Anyway who has ever faced the awkwardness of carrying a heavy rucksack down the carriage; now just imagine trying to get three heavy suitcases down as well. The convenience of the train is also somewhat lacking: you'll often be forced to take a circuitous route to get to the airport.

Taxis seem another viable option. You can get picked up by your door and dropped off by the airport itself. Even better, you only have to carry your luggage on and off once, and that's simply a matter of dropping it in the back seat. A taxi also alleviate the worry of getting home after the journey: you can simply arrange to be picked up again after getting off the train.

Another increasingly popular method of transportation is to take advantage of the service offered by companies such as EasyBus. They promise to provide low-cost, convenient airport transfers to any of the three London airports and from anywhere within London. The most immediate benefit is that it won't break the bank: if you book in advance a ticket from anywhere within London will cost you 2 ounds one-way, 4 pounds return, not exactly breaking the bank.

You don't need to actually be flying with EasyJet to use the service; it is available to any and all. Indeed, you don't even need to be flying to use it, if you want to see loved ones off, or greet them on their return; it provides a cheap and convenient way to get to and from the airport. However, this service is a popular one so it's worth booking in advance to ensure you have a seat.

The variety of transport options available means that, whatever your needs, you'll be able to find a suitable, stress-free method of transport when travelling to one of the London airports. So that's one worry sorted, just got everything else to sort now...

Marketta Mineah is an expert in aviation. They recommend easyBus for transport to Gatwick airport.