Gatwick Parking park and stay packages

Staying at a hotel the night before you fly off to some exotic destination has become increasingly popular over the last ten years. Gatwick Airport has added another 1000 rooms to the existing Hilton and Sofitel hotels within the airport perimeter over recent years. This tells you that a lot of people want to put their head down with the peace of mind they have no problem when it comes to catching their plane.

This is an age of disruption coming from a number of causes which includes of late, volcanic dust, floods and powerful winds.

Hotels and guest houses have improved too with the help no doubt of the review web sites and on-line forums. Tea/coffee, wireless internet access and en-suite bathrooms are all considered standard these days in a very competitive market place.

With sleep and fly packages abound offering discounted rates from the big comparison companies like Trivago and Booking.com it is still worth while calling the hotel direct to see if they are offering last minute discounts.

Most hotels offer a bus service to the terminals although this comes at a small charge. With other hotels you drive to the car park in the morning and transfer to a shuttle into the airport terminal.

Some hotels only offer a taxi service into the airport which may cost upwards of another £20 to the cost of your room.

However, there are a limited number of hotels that offer a meet and greet parking service at Gatwick Airport included in the price. You are transferred to the terminal in their courtesy car and on your return from holiday your car is delivered to you on the terminal forecourt.

All these services are designed to bring more comfort and less stress to the travelling public at a time when the public are demanding more value for money.

Gatwick meet and greet parking

This is a small article to advise holidaymakers to check very carefully the small print when booking Gatwick meet and greet parking.

Trading Standards have received a number of complaints from Customers who have suffered thefts from their cars, damage to their vehicles and excessive mileage added to their cars’ odometers while in the care of some companies.

The advice given when booking Gatwick Parking is:

• Check the company websites and make sure you know who you are dealing with. Legally, companies need to provide their name, address and company number on websites. If contact address details are missing, be extra cautious and consider booking with a different provider.
• If the cost of the booking is more than £100, consider paying with a credit card as this will give you extra protection should things go wrong.
• Most reputable companies will complete paperwork highlighting any damage to the vehicle at the time you drop it off. Trading Standards advises customers to take pictures of all 4 sides of their vehicle when they drop it off to help avoid any disputes regarding damage to your vehicle when you return from holiday. 
• The majority of meet and greet companies will have parking facilities which are relatively close to the airport. Make a note of the mileage reading on your car when you drop it off, that way you will know whether or not it has been driven further than you expected. 
• Lastly, do not leave any valuables or money in your vehicle whilst you are on your travels.

Lionel Barnard, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services with responsibility for trading standards said: “It’s important to say that the majority of people suffer a stress free experience when dealing with official and regulated meet and greet firms.

“There are so many things to arrange when you are going on holiday that it is easy to look at car parking online and concentrate on price or availability rather than reading the small print.

“If you look closely some companies offering ‘meet and greet’ services do not have full contact details on their websites so you have no way of making contact if you have a complaint.

“In some cases claims of secure parking can actually mean a field or a street near to the airport.

“We advice people to use a secure ‘meet and greet’ service provided by our ‘Buy With Confidence’ trading standards approved business and Approved Operator by Gatwick Airport”

Gatwick Parking: Parking at Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Parking: 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 an...

New Valet Parking at a Parking & Ride Price

Even in this day and age of our carbon footprint being followed by political and corporate institutions we still need the automobile. If you have a family or possessions then it is the only comfortable way to get from A to B. Getting to the airport for example, with a family and luggage is not an option by public transport. For all those that have flown from an airport, you have probably tried a number of options for parking your car. If we are talking of comfort then why use a park and ride operator that takes up to an hour to get you from the car park to the airport terminal and then back again on your return from holiday. Valet parking is a huge step up in comfort but of course it carries the price tag. Unlike a bus carrying huge numbers of people it takes money and manpower to personally collect, store safely and deliver your vehicle on the terminal forecourt. New Airport Meet and Greet Parking Company at Gatwick (AMAG Parking) offer a premium service at a budget price. With the increasing popularity of Airport Valet Parking the long established firm of parking operators Tudor Rose came up with the idea of enticing new Customers to an elite service without hitting their pocket. In spite of the phenomenal growth in airport valet parking over the last 4/5 years it has not stopped the industry from being tainted by bad practices and rogue operators. All of these have been well documented in the various media. This has created a lot of confusion and suspicion where Customers want to take advantage of what valet parking has to offer but have difficulty in selecting a good operator. Tudor Rose believe that by tempting the disillusioned back into the fold a lot of the credibility will be restored. Tudor Rose has been in the business of valet parking at Gatwick for over 20 years. One of the founders of this great service Tudor Rose has helped over the years to make this elitist and normally expensive service an option that everyone can afford. With the introduction of the Approved Operator Scheme by Gatwick Airport Ltd, Trading Standards, The Chief of Police, The Home Office and the Safer Parking Scheme (ParkMark), this will undoubtedly rid the industry of the undesirable element but at the same time have the effect of pushing prices back up to unaffordable levels. Tudor Rose has introduced its budget service for Gatwick meet and greet parking to offset these market influences and hope to maintain the current growth trends in the industry. Customers get all of the products associated with their premium service. There is no doubt that when comparing your parking options at Gatwick, Airport Meet and Greet Parking is a service well ahead of its alternative options. However, there are still a number of bad operators out there and we can only hope they will put their house in order. In the meantime, be wise and only use an Approved Operator and one that’s been around for a long time. Remember, Approved Operators only are allowed to use the terminal forecourts at Gatwick.

Gatwick Airport Hotels with Parking

There are many advantages to staying at a hotel the night before you fly off to some distant 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? A.1 Choose a hotel that has leisure facilities and/or a bar depending on your needs. Q.2 Do you want an evening meal in the hotel and how much money are you prepared to spend? A.2 Fine dining or plain good wholesome food that is the question. Sometimes a good pub within walking distance is great. Q.3 Do you have a family and do you require a family room? A.3 Some hotels do not offer family rooms and others may charge a premium. Q.4 Do you require leisure facilities? A.4 A gym, swimming pool or sauna is great but make sure they also offer an early check-in so you have plenty of time. Q.5 What is your budget - do you want to keep the price below or above £100? A.5 A good many Hotels or Guest Houses offer accommodation below £100 including parking. Use the search engines like ‘Google’ to find the right one. Q.6 Is your priority a comfortable bed and a good night's sleep? A.6 Essential to start your holiday. Choose a hotel away from the bustle of the airport and busy roads. 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? A.6 Having breakfast at the airport kills time after check-in and there are some good restaurants offering reasonable prices. Q.8 How important is the time factor in getting to the check-in desk on the morning of your flight? A.8 This is important as some hotels do not offer parking on site. Check first with the hotel. 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? A.9 Having to drive to a car park and transfer to buses on the morning of your departure is time consuming and stressful. Look for a hotel that offers direct transfers to the terminal. Q.10 Do you expect to pay extra for your transfer to the terminal? A.10 Most hotels will charge extra for a transfer between £3 and £5 one way. If you have a family this can add quite a bit to the overall cost. Q.11 Do you have a car and do you need to keep it somewhere safe for the duration of your holiday? A.11 Only use an operator that is part of the ‘Approved Operator’ scheme. A list of these can be found on the Gatwick Airport web site. Q.12 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? A.12 This is time consuming and stressful especially if you are tired or have a family. There are better, alternative options. Q.13 Do you want a Gatwick Parking Service where your car is brought to the airport terminal. This enables you to drive directly home saving you valuable time especially after a tiring flight? A.13 Valet Parking or Meet and Greet Parking is available at most airports and is considerably more convenient and less stressful than park and ride operations. Q.14 Do you expect to pay extra for a Valet Parking Service? A.14 The present market place is extremely competitive and ‘Approved Operators’ are keen to win business off park and ride operators.

Gatwick Parking

Booking Agents or Book Direct.

 

We have all seen the advertisements for Comparison Sites which cover a wide range of products from insurance to airport parking. With the power of internet marketing becoming ever more powerful it is no surprise that the numbers of comparison sites are increasing year on year. Some web sites call themselves comparison sites and others as agents for the various company products they are selling but they are both ultimately the same.

Comparison sites are what it says on the tin, they offer the opportunity for you to compare prices on your chosen product and in some cases but not all, explain the advantages over one product to another. This is great for products like insurance or banking but does it apply to other businesses like airport parking?

What are the real advantages of buying through comparison sites compared to buying local or going direct to the product company? As with the example above we shall look at airport parking and explain the differences between booking through an agent and booking direct.

Depending on the agent or comparison site the Customer will have a choice of a number of parking operators to choose from. If we take Gatwick Airport Parking as an example these prices range from £35 upwards to over £100 for a weeks depending on the quality of the service. We will assume that the lower price range would offer a park and ride service ( transfer by bus )  and the higher price would be a valet parking service or meet and greet at the airport terminal. However this does not always apply as some agents offer a meet and greet parking service as low as £40 - £50. Prices as low as this for a valet service can only be offered by un-approved operators where they are compromising on safety and security. It is most unlikely the agent will sell the product for less than the operator itself.

Most parking operators are tied to their agents inasmuch as their prices cannot be more or less than the agent selling the product. This means that the parking operator will have to take a hefty chunk of its fee to pay the agent and this can be as much as 35%. Add this to the 20% VAT element of the booking it means that the operator is only getting approximately 50% of the total cost of the booking. This substantial cut in the operator’s profit margins can only reflect itself in the ultimate quality of the service the Customer receives. At a price range of £35 to £50 this means that the profit is small or non-existent or where the parking is not subject to adequate insurance, has no planning permission or even VAT.

The recently introduced Approved Operator Scheme at Gatwick will inevitably create a bigger divide in price between park and ride and valet parking. Airport Access Charges have been introduced for every vehicle that enters the forecourts. This again will create a greater burden on the Operator as it is them that will have to absorb the costs and not the commission agent.

Most of the Gatwick Parking operators have their own web sites in spite of the fact that most of their traffic is derived from the Agents. The Agents are superior marketers and this is readily demonstrated by typing in a keyword such as ‘Gatwick Park’ in a search engine such as ‘Google’. The first page is entirely made up of agents or comparison sites and sole operator sites are found further on.

If you look at price comparison web sites for airport parking and then compare them to sole operator web sites you will find an enormous difference particularly if the sole operator is an approved operator.

The sole operator’s web site goes a long way to explaining its service and the industry surrounding it. The agent’s web site is a long way short of descriptions and will simply show icons to indicate what is offered with no actual detail.

If you are a new Customer and you are booking direct with an approved parking operator at Gatwick then you will find the operator working hard to please you and to tempt you back again and again. Very often the operator will offer discounts for your next trip.

Gatwick Parking

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.

 

Gatwick Valet Parking

New Valet Parking at a Parking & Ride Price.

Even in this day and age of our carbon footprint being followed by political and corporate institutions we still need the automobile. If you have a family or possessions then it is the only comfortable way to get from A to B.

Getting to the airport for example, with a family and luggage is not an option by public transport. For all those that have flown from an airport, you have probably tried a number of options for parking your car. If we are talking of comfort then why use a park and ride operator that takes up to an hour to get you from the car park to the airport terminal and then back again on your return from holiday. Valet parking is a huge step up in comfort but of course it carries the price tag. Unlike a bus carrying huge numbers of people it takes money and manpower to personally collect, store safely and deliver your vehicle on the terminal forecourt.

New Airport Meet and Greet Parking Company at Gatwick (AMAG Parking) offer a premium service at a budget price.

With the increasing popularity of Airport Valet Parking the long established firm of parking operators Tudor Rose came up with the idea of enticing new Customers to an elite service without hitting their pocket.

In spite of the phenomenal growth in airport valet parking over the last 4/5 years it has not stopped the industry from being tainted by bad practices and rogue operators. All of these have been well documented in the various media. This has created a lot of confusion and suspicion where Customers want to take advantage of what valet parking has to offer but have difficulty in selecting a good operator.

Tudor Rose believe that by tempting the disillusioned back into the fold a lot of the credibility will be restored.

Tudor Rose has been in the business of valet parking at Gatwick for over 20 years. One of the founders of this great service Tudor Rose has helped over the years to make this elitist and normally expensive service an option that everyone can afford.

With the introduction of the Approved Operator Scheme by Gatwick Airport Ltd, Trading Standards, The Chief of Police, The Home Office and the Safer Parking Scheme (Park Mark), this will undoubtedly rid the industry of the undesirable element but at the same time have the effect of pushing prices back up to unaffordable levels.

Tudor Rose has introduced its budget service for Gatwick meet and greet parking to offset these market influences and hope to maintain the current growth trends in the industry. Customers get all of the products associated with their premium service.

There is no doubt that when comparing your parking options at Gatwick, Airport Meet and Greet Parking is a service well ahead of its alternative options. However, there are still a number of bad operators out there and we can only hope they will put their house in order. In the meantime, be wise and only use an Approved Operator and one that’s been around for a long time. Remember, Approved Operators only are allowed to use the terminal forecourts at Gatwick.

Gatwick Meet and Greet Parking

Approved Valet Parking Contractors at Gatwick Airport

 

Following on from previous articles regarding the Approved Operator Scheme for Valet Parking at Gatwick, this is an update on progress and what the scheme has done to achieve its objectives.

This scheme was initiated a couple of years ago by discussions between Gatwick Airport and the Airport Valet Parking Contractors Association. Since 2007/08 a considerable number of would be entrepreneurs decided that Airport Valet Parking was a great idea to make money and required little investment as there were no controls or legislation governing the industry. Web sites sprung up out of nowhere offering valet parking with empty promises of safety and security. An aerial view of Gatwick and its surrounding area would have been littered with vast numbers of cars parked in fields and side streets. With no business rates to pay or VAT for that matter and the opportunity of pay per click campaigns on the search engines, these people thought of nothing but a fast buck to riches. Needless to say it just got out of hand and was undermining the industry that had been built up by a few good people who had invested a considerable amount of money in great operations.

Customers began complaining and the internet forums, review centres and chat rooms were inundated with the problems people had experienced. It is fair to say that this even prompted people to complain where there was nothing really to complain about but this takes us away from the real issue.

Anyway, a lot has happened in the last couple of years culminating in the introduction of the Approved Operator Scheme for Meet and Greet Operators (MGO’s). Briefly, this has been created with the co-operation of;

Gatwick Airport Ltd

West Sussex Trading Standards

British Parking Association (ParkMark)

County Councils

Airport Valet Parking Contractors Association

Gatwick Police

So what has all this done for the consumer? Has it helped to protect the consumer from bad practices and provided a better, more efficient service.

Well, 8 valet parking operators at Gatwick managed to achieve approved status by reaching the requirements of the bodies listed above. These requirements included;

Web sites that were truthful and did not mislead the public.

Publication of Company Registration Number, VAT and Registered Address.

Planning permission on all sites.

Secure storage, safe and effective operational procedures that reflect an excellent deterrent of crime.

Able to deliver an efficient service to meet the demands and not to bring the industry into disrepute.

Proper dispute or complaint procedures.

Audited financial accounts.

And many others…….

As an approved operator you were allowed to stay using the terminal forecourts.

So what of the others?.. I mean what has happened to all the other operators that were unable to attain the Approved Status?

Well, they are still there. They are unable to settle on the terminal forecourts and must do their transactions in the multi-storey car parks. In order to use the multi-storey car parks they must purchase what are called proximity cards and these are preloaded with cash. This has hardly enhanced the exchange with the Customer and left a lot of them bewildered and confused. Having said that, one or two of them have risen to the challenge, got their house in order and provide an effective, affordable if not top quality service.

Un-approved operators do not have any institutions looking at them to ensure their operations meet a high standard. They are self regulated and we are all aware of things that go wrong with self regulation. Take the City of London as an example.

By contrast, the approved operators are all inspected every year by the various bodies listed above. The maintenance and upkeep of these operations to a high standard year on year is expensive and time consuming and only go to create a difficult platform from which to compete with the affordability of valet parking at Gatwick.

So the next time you choose a valet parking company at Gatwick and you want the peace and knowledge of knowing your investment is safe and secure, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to persuade you which one.

Valet Parking is a wonderful way to park your car at Gatwick Airport. Its convenient, hassle free and most of all it saves your precious time. If you haven’t tried it before it’s a must. Put your property in the trust of companies that have been prepared to put a lot of their money into looking after it – properly.

 

 

Gatwick Airport Parking

30th September 2013

Hello all

It's been some time since I have updated everyone on Gatwick Parking events. What with the holidays and a busy summer I have had little time to catch up on all events.

A lot has happened this summer not least the new Surface Access Charges that Gatwick Airport have imposed. All Approved Valet Parking Companies at (Meet and Greet) will have to pay a £6 fee for every Customer they meet or greet on the Terminal Forecourt. All unapproved operators have been pushed into the multi-storey car parks for their meet and greet which are subject to the current parking rates in force.

The general public will still be able to drop off their passengers on the forecourts but pick up is also being pushed into the multi-storey car parks. This applies to all taxis and passenger service vehicles.

Implementation of this scheme was on the 10th July for all Gatwick Meet and Greet Parking Operators. Forecourt transactions seem to have settled in reasonably well although it seems that a number of Valet Parking Operators and Taxis have failed to get the message and continue to abuse the new regulations. Traffic Wardens and Marshalls are doing their very best but it would appear that some of them are unaware of who can use the forecourt and those that can't.

There are mixed reports of the use of the multi-storey car parks with the majority stating that there has been an element of confusion for the Customers in finding the meeting points. Access to the MS car parks have shown an increased volume and this has slowed the pick up and delivery times for those operators using them. The traditional drop off and pick up on the forecourt remains the favourite option for most Customers.

Meet and greet parking at Gatwick is growing fast in popularity as indeed at all other UK Airports. This coincides with a reduction in Customers using Park & Ride operations. It is not co-incidental that some of the well established park and ride operations are investing in or expanding their valet parking sector.

There is no doubt that the Approved Operator Scheme will go a long way to reducing the number of rogue activities within the valet parking industry at Gatwick. This has given a kick to some operators to get their house in order and will no doubt serve to improve the credibility of the industry which in recent years has been somewhat soured by those operators who have less than desirable practices.

If you are going to use a valet parking company at Gatwick then it is wise to use someone you know or you have used before. For new Customers to the world of Gatwick valet parking there are a few golden rules.

• Use a company that has been established for a long time.
• Use a company that has close proximity to Gatwick North and South Terminal.
• Company number and VAT number should be declared on their web site.
• Company should have a landline telephone number that should be in operation during office hours.
• You vehicle is collected by the valet company at the airport but do you know where your car is being taken? All valet parking companies should publish the location of their car park or storage area on their web site.
• Web site photos should portray true facts and images of a valet parking company's operation and not images downloaded from the internet displaying false information.
• Beware false claims on web sites. It is a fact that more than 75% of  web sites offering valet parking services at Gatwick are making false claims of CCTV, barrier Control, perimeter fencing and so on.

Finally, you should know that out of 40+ operators at Gatwick Airport offering meet and greet parking services only 8 received the Approved Operator Status. All others failed to meet the criteria as laid down by Gatwick Airport, Trading Standards, ParkMark and West Sussex County Council.

To find out who the Approved Operators are just go to the Gatwick Airport web site, click on 'Parking' then 'Useful Links' and then 'Approved Operator Scheme'.

Approved Operator Scheme at Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL)commenced a consultation on its proposals for an Approved
Operator Scheme at Gatwick Airport in February 2013. The proposals were set out in a document
entitled Consultation Paper for Approved Operator Scheme at Gatwick Airport (the Initial
Proposals).The consultation exercise invited comment from all stakeholders, including all meet
and greet operators (MGOs)currently operating at Gatwick Airport.

Objectives of Scheme
As set out in the Initial Proposals the Scheme has three objectives, namely:
• to reduce forecourt congestion by limiting MGO operations to specific and controlled areas,
enabling effective enforcement of the forecourt ‘drop -off ’ only policy
• to ensure that operators using the airport ’s infrastructure comply with the ‘user pays ’ principle
• to afford recognition to the operations of MGOs at the airport that meet minimum customer
service standards, and to ensure that passengers can identify these operators.

Final Proposals for Approved operator scheme and membership criteria
Gatwick is proposing to establish an ‘Approved Operator ’ scheme, which will be open to all MGOs
who:
• have the British Parking Association ParkMark award for all operational sites serving Gatwick
• attain Buy with Confidence accreditation from Trading Standards
• sign and operate within the terms of a licence agreement with the airport

The scheme has been developed by Gatwick Airport Limited in partnership with West Sussex
County Council and Surrey County Council Trading Standards and stakeholders from associations
of Meet and Greet operators at Gatwick.

Proposed charging structure
The charging structure has been put in place to offer flexibility for operators, and to balance the
expressed preference of MGOs to operate on the forecourt with the need to reduce forecourt
congestion. As such the charging structure explicitly aims to incentivise use of the MSCPs for both
drop-off and pick-up transactions.

Forecourt usage (drop-off only):
£4.00 per movement
Transactions on the forecourt are limited to a 5 minute period.

MSCP usage
£1.30 per movement (0-10 minutes)
£2.00 per movement (10-20 minutes)
Above 20 minutes the regular tariff applies
All charges are inclusive of VAT.
Operational process in the MSCPs

For drop-offs, the passenger takes a ticket on entry to MSCPs and hands it to the jockey driver.
After taking possession of the customer ’s car,t he jockey driver will insert the customer ’s ticket into
the pay on foot (POF) machine, and use the proximity card issued to them under the scheme as
form of payment. The jockey driver then has the standard 5 minutes to exit the car park.
For pick-ups, the jockey driver takes a ticket on entry back into the MSCP, returns the car to the
customer, the jockey driver then pays at the POF machine using the proximity card as form of
payment, then gives the passenger back the ticket for exit. The customer then has five minutes to
leave the MSCP.

All Valet Parking (Meet and Greet) contractors at Gatwick Airport are due to receive Approved or Non-Approved status for trading at Gatwick Airport.
For Approved Contractors certain criteria will have to be achieved. This will include the Safer Parking Award (ParkMark) from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Brittish Parking Association (BPA) and the Buy with Confidence Award from the Trading Standards Office.

Tudor Rose is proud to announce that they have acchieved both of these Awards and look forward to co-operating with Gatwick Airport within the Approved Operator Scheme.

Gatwick Airport is in the final stage of creating it's Approved Operator Scheme for Valet Parking Contractors. Implementation of the scheme is not known at this time. However, it is a apparent that from the date of implementation Airport Surface Access Charges will apply.

Horse Riding Holidays

When the summer starts we try to find new adventures and one of the most exciting adventures is horse riding in the sun.

Enjoy Fabulous Riding Holidays in Andalucia, Spain.  Ride the ancient mule tracks among the olive groves in the Sierras, explore the natural parks or take the trails overlooking the sparkling blue seas while riding well trained Spanish horses.

Horse riding holidays in France vary enormously, but all will show you the real essence of France. The country is the largest in Western Europe and has a huge diversity of landscapes, cultures and climates waiting to be discovered.

All agents will work closely with you to check both your ability and aspirations in order to match your groups riding abilities as well as selecting your perfect mount for your riding holiday.  Personal attention all week, with dedicated airport transfers, welcome meeting and evening meal with drinks and much more.

All our accommodation choices are within a very short walk of the beaches & old town. No driving needed!

Below is an example of a recent hotel stay in Spain. There are other options on offer including Villas to rent and Farmhouse Rooms. All prices are excluding flights.

Hotel Arrayanes Playa.

A well situated three star hotel just along the paseo heading towards Cotobro - right on the front with superb views overlooking the sea and just a 15 min stroll into the heart of the old town either along the promenade or beach.
Lovely swimming pool & sun terraces, with fantastic views across the bay to the Peñon and the Castillo de San Miguel.  In the evenings the pool side ambiance gets more intimate, ideal for drinks with friends or just chilling out in the warm evenings, watching the fishing boats working under the stars.
Friendly 24 hour reception with 33 spacious comfortable double rooms plus triple and family (4px) rooms.  Air conditioning is standard, as well as satellite TV, phones and fully fitted on suite bathrooms with hairdryers.
Restaurant with a great selection of Mediterranean dishes with international touches and also paellas and other local rice dishes as well as fresh fish.  In addition the restaurant offers a bar, an outdoor barbecue and a terrace with a spectacular view of the Mediterranean where you can enjoy cocktails or a wonderful meal.
Optional full laundry & ironing service, nice cafeteria and TV lounge.  Some rooms adapted for physically impaired guests.
Prices starts from £700 -£1125
Available at: riding-holidays-in-spain.com
Casa Delfin –fantastic casa for 2-6px with super view.
Prices from £700-£1145
Available at : riding-holiday-in-spain.com
Los Laureles Rooms -2-3px, breakfast included.
Prices starts from £700-£1185
Available at : riding-holidays-in-spain.com

French Riding Holidays

If you are travelling from elsewhere in Europe then France will be almost on your doorstep and you will be spoilt for choice with many airlines, including the low cost budget carriers, competing for your custom.

Ride along the trails of past Kings. Starting at Blois we visit its superb castle before discovering the castles of Chaumont sur Loire, the residence of Catherine of Medici, of Chenonceau, called the castle of the Ladies, of Cheverny at the start of the Sologne region, and of Chambord, the most immense of them all. You will overnight one night in the castle of Chemery. This castle, dating from the 12th century, has a medieval atmosphere, and there you will enjoy a candlelit dinner washed down with wines from the Loire Valley. Along with faster than average riding on fit Anglos Arab horses, this is a journey of discovery not to be missed.

Prices starts from £1295 pp -8days/6days riding excluding flights.
Available at:unicorntrails.com

If you are travelling with lots of kit and you are flying from Gatwick Airport, why not try Valet Parking. Have your car picked up right outside the airport terminal and delivered to you on your return.

If you want to guarantee catching your flight then an overnight stay before you fly is a great idea. Park, sleep and fly packages are available at all Gatwick Hotels and all at reasonable prices.

Airport Valet Parking

Meeting and Greeting your airport parking provider.

There are many articles written on the advantages of Airport Valet Parking or Airport Meet and Greet Parking which are the same only different in name.

There is no doubt that the companies offering a meet and greet parking service at the UK's major airports carry a distinct advantage over their park and ride competitors. Any service that offers the modern traveller a reduction in their travelling time will undoubtedly secure their custom. Meet and Greet parking can reduce your travelling time from door to destination by as much as an hour and in many cases by over 2 hours.

Booking Meet and Greet Parking is easy. There are many web sites that represent these companies at all the major UK airports. The major search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo will all give you results if you type in key words like Gatwick Valet Parking or Gatwick Meet and Greet Parking.

However, finding the right company to suit your needs and pocket is more difficult. Since the introduction of Valet Parking in the 80's and 90's, its popularity has grown, not only with the increase of airport passenger numbers but also taking a significant slice of the park & ride sector. This increase in demand has introduced a plethora of Valet Parking companies to the market place most of which use the search engines to advertise their wares. 

Most of these companies have been established for a number of years and have invested heavily in parking compounds which meet the criteria of local planning officers. Liveried vehicles, uniforms, police vetted staff and proper insurance cover are just some of the essential items that bona fide companies invest in every year. This costs money and is reflected in the charges made by these good companies. A good and reliable meet and greet company will charge anything between £50 and £80 for a weeks parking and £80 to £110 for 2 weeks including VAT at summer rates. These rates are pretty much set in stone if you consider all the overall costs of running a bona fide Meet and Greet Parking Company. If you were to find a company advertising rates at lower that the above guide then you will probably find they are somewhat lacking in those essential requirements of running a fit and secure operation.

These are some points you should look out for when selecting your Airport Valet Parking Company.

Make sure you know the exact location of the place your car will be stored BEFORE you make that booking. It is not enough for the web site to state 'your car will be stored in a secure compound close to the airport'. Your own insurance company will need to know this information in the event something happened. 

Make sure you have the full registered address of the company you use (not just the storage location), the company number and the VAT number which should all be displayed on the web site.

Make sure you have a landline telephone number NOT a mobile number.

Make sure your vehicle is parked reasonably close to the airport just in case you have to retrieve that teddy bear left in the car. Do not allow your vehicle to be taken miles from the airport as this will increase the road risk and reduce your petrol tank. Always ensure the mileage is recorded when passing your vehicle over.

A reliable indicator for a good company will be the length of time is has been in operation. Most companies will advertise the number of years they have been established.

Fully comprehensive road insurance is imperative. Most companies will state on their web site the Insurance Company they use for road risks.

All good companies will have uniformed staff with appropriate ID's and all of a mature age. After all, you would not expect to pass your vehicle to a boy racer!

This article has been written to throw a bit of caution your way when choosing a Valet Parking Company at a UK Airport. All too often we hear of bad press regarding airport meet and greet companies. These antics are connected directly to poorly run, newly formed companies and should not be associated with long established companies that invest strongly in their enterprises year on year.

 Written by Trevor Bryan a director and owner of an Airport Valet Parking Company established over 20 years.

Red Sea Diving Holidays

We see so many people going abroad and coming back telling tales of their experiences abroad, we though we would compile some of these tales into a blog for everybody to enjoy.  We have taken the important information and condensed it below into information that Customers could use if they are thinking of taking holidays at the destinations discussed.

If you are thinking of going away and exploring marine life there is a variety of destinations

The most popular place for UK divers all year round is The Red Sea offering a range of diving experiences including reefs, wrecks and varied fish life.

Diving at the Red Sea offers a variety of underwater experiences and is only 5 hours away from the UK. Prices start from around £350 but with some late deals you can get offers under £300.

Each region offers a unique set of diving opportunities as well as a discovery of some of the worlds best Ancient Monuments. The Red Sea is one of the world’s best diving destinations with over 1000 species of fish and 200 types of coral. Above the water the Pyramids, temples of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, where the tomb of Tutankhamen is located enables a fun packed holiday full of culture and diving adventures.

Here are few destination and Hotels package deals that may interested you:

Sharm El Sheikh – Cleopatra Tsokkos Hotel/Prices from £238 including flights and transfers/Diving from £30pd/10 days diving.

Great value resort                                              Suitable for all types of diver

132 standard rooms                                          Shuttle bus to Naama Bay

Pool/Bar/Room Service/Massage                       Special rates with Elite Diving

Available at UltimateDiving.co.uk

Red Sea – Dahab – Inmo Divers Home/Prices starts £264 including flights and transfers/Diving from £25pd/10days diving.

Great value divers resort                                    48 rooms with a choice of room types

House reef diving                                              Pool/WIFI/Billiards/Inmo divers on-site

A favourite with our customers                           Great place to learn to dive

Available at Ultimate Diving.

Red Sea – Sharm El Sheikh-Bay View Hotel/Prices starts from £282 including flights and transfers/Diving from £32pd/5days diving.

Located in the centre of Naama bay                   Emperor Divers on-site

78 standard and 12 superior rooms                    BB or HB board basis

Pool/Jacuzzi/Pool Table/Bar                              Great value resort for all

Available at Ultimate Diving.

Red Sea – Dahab – Nesima Resorts/Prices starts £390 including flights and transfers/Diving from £25pd/10days diving.

High quality boutique hotel                                51 standard and 5 superior rooms

Great restaurant on-site                                      5 minutes walk to Dahab Town

Pool/Pool Bar/Choice of diving centres              Bed and breakfast board basis

Available at Ultimate Diving

Dahab-Bedouin Moon. Situated just 2km north of Dahab Bay, near to the Blue Hole, the Bedouin Moon is nestled at the foot of a mountain range, and enjoys spectacular views of the Red Sea and mountains.  BB Hotel/Prices from £589 per person(7 nights flights from Gatwick) with 5 days shore diving.

Available at LongwoodHolidays.co.uk

Hurghada-Marriott Beach BB/Prices starts from £545 per person(7 nights flights from Gatwick) with 5 days boat diving.

Available at Longwood Holidays.

Sharm El Sheikh-Bay View Hotel BB/ Prices starts from £629 per person(7 nights flights from Gatwick) with 5 days boat diving.

Available at Longwood Holidays.

All flights are from Gatwick so if you need to park your car why not use Valet Parking at Gatwick. Ideal for people with lots of luggage or equipment.

We would also like to introduce our overnight park and fly packages at competitive prices. If you have that early flight be assured of being at the airport on time by sleeping over the night before. Hookwood Lodge Hotel is only minutes from both Gatwick North and South Terminal. We offer excellent accommodation with free fast transfers to Gatwick Airport.

Comfortable and spotlessly clean bedrooms en suite with coffee/tea and free internet connection.

GATWICK AIRPORT PARKING

In this day and age most of us will find ourselves at an airport at some time or another. Whether we are going on holiday or a business trip, international travel is a way of life and at the very least, a means by which we can reach out and arrive at some exotic destination.

We do of course, have to get to an airport in order to get away although it would be great if we could fly from our back garden. That is not likely to happen for a couple of hundred years so we are stuck with the grind of getting all the family to the nearest airport that will fly us to our chosen destination at the most affordable price.

This means that the travelling distance may be considerable as although we may live only a few miles from an airport, we could end up travelling to one that is much further away.

Public transport is an option of course. However, the downside to this is that you have a considerable amount of luggage and you don't want to lug this on and off trains. You still have to find your way to the train station and the same on the return so scheduling your journey with train time tables is also a bit of a hassle. Compare this to jumping in your car and driving direct to the airport and its a bit of a no-brainer.

Naturally, when you get to the airport you will have to leave your car somewhere. There are a number of options for this, the most popular being the on-airport car parks. You park your car, take your keys, go to a bus or shuttle pick-up point and take the short (or long) trip to the terminal. This sounds pretty straight forward but lets look at the negatives. You have lots of luggage, its raining cats and dogs, its very cold and you wait 20 minutes for the bus that then takes 20 minutes to get to your terminal after doing the rounds. After waiting for all the passenger luggage to be off-loaded the transfer time is nearly an hour. The same happens on return so your journey time actually ends up adding around 2 hours to your overall journey time.

Having finally returned to your vehicle you note with horror that the front bumper has been damaged. You look around in expectation of seeing something like a note but there is nothing.  The bumper damage costs you £275 as your insurance excess is £500.

There are alternatives. Gatwick Airport is the biggest airport in the UK behind Heathrow and serves some 35 million passengers a year. Some parking companies at Gatwick has been in the Airport Parking business for over 20 years. They have recognised the need for an easier and more effective way of parking your car at Gatwick Airport and created a service that meets the demands of the modern traveller. Just drive direct to their car park at Gatwick located only minutes from Gatwick North and Gatwick South Terminal.

Once you arrive your vehicle is checked in, photographs are taken of each side of your vehicle, your mileage recorded and away you go to your chosen Gatwick Terminal. On your return you ring the company from the arrivals hall and your car is brought to you right outside the terminal building. You then check the state of your vehicle and mileage . Very straight forward, no hassle and peace of mind with the knowledge that your precious car is being looked after properly and who take responsibility for your vehicle.

Written by Tred who is an author and writer on travel.

Meet and Greet Parking at Gatwick Airport

14th March 2013

Just a quick round up of news for Tudor Rose at Gatwick. We are pleased to announce that Gatwick Airport, Surrey and West Sussex County Councils and Trading Standards are stepping in to regulate the Meet and Greet Parking Operators at Gatwick Airport.

There has been considerable number of new start ups in the last few years making false claims on their web sites. This has led to a number of incidences with these operators and their Customers having disputes, with the ultimate intervention of  Gatwick Police.

So its a new dawn for the industry and hopefully we can all sit down and get it sorted. Gatwick Airport are hoping to implement the new regulations by mid-May.

I will write a new post in a couple of weeks with further updates.

Trevor Bryan

Director

Tudor Rose

Gatwick Airport Parking

Please book with us at www.tudorrose.co.uk. The nearest and the oldest parking at Gatwick Airport.

Gatwick Hotels

Airport hotels become in the recent years a MUST.

With those early morning flights or late returns we look more and more at a place where we can lay our head down for a few hours before that flight in the morning or had a rest after that ‘red eye’ flight.

Hotel industry around airports had improved considerably over the years; bring more options to its clients.

From the room only for the business travellers - with a straight forward service to its more flexible and manageable services for families.

Needless to say that the packages for Airport Hotels are improved; given you the opportunity to tailor you’re booking to your needs.

Gatwick being the second busiest airport in UK it comes as no surprise the large number of Hotels and Guest Houses at Gatwick.

Nowadays an overnight accommodation with parking included- on a Gatwick Hotel- can be cheaper than the parking itself.

With the rainy fall and winter just around the corner (with the heavy snow of its last 3 years) an overnight stay in a Gatwick Hotel or Guest House sounds very tempting.

Driving all night to catch an early flight or to head back home do sounds dreadful, and if you have to face heavy rain or snow even more. The prospect of a warm, cosy room to spend the night wins us over.

If you are one of the many that is stuck on a early or late flight don’t dwell on choosing to stay overnight. In most of the case is cheaper than parking itself and a lot more convenient and comfortable.

Don’t get caught up in traffic or drive home after a long tiring flight. Be wise, have a look on Gatwick Hotels and choose the one that suits your needs, there is an array of hotels to choose from.

I personally, I’ll stay overnight in a hotel close to the airport, have my morning coffee relaxed, without worrying about the traffic or that I may miss my flight.

Looking for Gatwick Parking

Always on impasse when we want to book our airport parking, especially if you fly from Gatwick Airport.


Booking your Gatwick Parking can be very ‘trying’ for your nerves. If you don’t have friends or relatives to recommend you a reputable and reliable car park you’ve got to go through the tedious search online.

Not the search itself is what gets you but how do you chose the right Gatwick Parking ,the one that offers you the peace of mind that your car is safe and to be good value for money as well.

A lot of companies just flourished overnight at Gatwick. If you browse the internet for Gatwick Parking you get a lot of companies who offer you ‘the best deal’ then others.

A lot of them will enchant you with their well structured website, to the point content and REALY good prices. But in this day and age almost anyone could make a good website but what lies behind the ‘SO GOOD WEBSITE’ will make you wonder.

We tend to take at face value all that is said to us, either over the phone or online when we make a booking, but who checks all this car parks at Gatwick to assure you that they are true to their word?!


Airport Valet Parking Contractors Association will do that for you. AVPCA is an Association of valet parking contractors that have come together to protect their industry from the increasing number of rogue operators and bad practices.

In particular, the Association has been formed as a result of the increase in professional looking web sites, offering discounted services but regretfully lacking in solid investment into premises, insurance, staff training or have little call for Customer Relations.

Their aim - Protecting customers against rogue airport parking firms and bad practices in airport parking.


Planning Permission
To ensure that all their members have principal places of business that has the correct planning permissions for the operation of airport parking.

Arbitration Services
If a dispute does arise all the members have signed up to their arbitration and dispute resolution charter giving a complete peace of mind.

VAT Registered Businesses
Making sure that all members are correctly registered for VAT ensuring that you receive correct bills & invoices, assisting you in your accounting processes.

Land Line Telephone Number
It is a requirement that all members have registered telephone landlines. They don't accept those operators who only use mobile phones.

Registered Business Offices
As part of their due diligences to protect you, the customer, they check that all their members have registered offices at companies’ house and they visit those offices.

Up-To-Date Financial Accounts
To ensure you are not dealing with a "fly by night" firm all members are required to supply audited financial accounts showing they are solvent.

Certified Accountants
In addition to checking the solvency of their members they also check out their accountants to ensure that accounts are provided by reputable companies.


Criminal Records Bureau
To protect consumers AVPCA runs checks on all our members to ensure that they are in turn checking the CRB records of all of their staff.

Interaction With Local Police
In order to best protect our customers, their members interact with Local & Airport Police wherever possible. History shows that Rogue Traders cannot afford to embrace the Local Police and use the help and advice available to protect our customers.

Full Liability Insurance
In the event of an accident you need to know that all our members have the required amount of insurance cover. They run these checks an all their members for your peace of mind.

The truth about car parks at Gatwick Airport

The truth about Gatwick Car Parks

We all heard the horrible stories about Car parks that operate at Gatwick Airport. There are Car Parks at Gatwick that employ inexperienced drivers, park cars on industrial estates, supermarkets etc

Unfortunately - yes, there are such car parks that see the opportunity for an easy buck and go to great lengths for it.

All that I can say is don’t tarnish them all with the same brush.

There are a lot of factors to look for when you book your Gatwick Parking.

What is the first question we ask - Where is my car parked?

We all ask this question and more often then not we get ‘Our car park is minutes a way from the airport’.

How far ‘minutes a way’ is most of the cases? I tell you - a lot. Always check if the company that you park with has their CAR PARK location published; not the company address or head office.
And don’t believe the story that will not be safe if the car park location is published. Why will not be safe to be published you have to ask yourself. That could only mean that they don’t have an authorised car park, no security measures in place etc

Always check where your car will be parked.

Are your drivers insured to drive my car?

We know, by law YOU HAVE TO BE INSURED to drive a vehicle. Why ask about the drivers if the company should have the insurance?
For the …….duuuh reason which we all should think of it. The DRIVER is the one who will drive your car.

By law, a car park MUST have insurance for their drivers. The criteria’s for insurance on car parking companies are not far from what you know. They look on the company’s drivers age, mature drivers = experienced drivers, if they have points or other penalties, points = more likely your driver may take your car for a joyride, especially if you own a sport car etc

When you sum up all the factors, the insurance may go sky roof high if they employed the neighbour’s son that want some extra pocket money. Will they pay such a high insurance? very unlikely.

Ask with whom have the insurance, on reputable companies you’ll find it published on their web site.

Why you charge considerable less than other companies?

We are draw by the low price that some companies quote us. Here is a double sword, if you see a price that is way below the average cost for Gatwick Parking think twice before you book. It may be a special offer or introductory price on their service but always check with them before you book.

Very small prices are questionable in the Gatwick Parking industry, and for Airport parking in general. To afford to pay the rent for your car park space, add the taxes, the insurance and all other expenses, when you draw the line and do the math you’ll see for yourself that £20.00 - £30.00 for one week parking doesn’t cover the cost for an authorised car park at any airport.

But as I said, not all are the same. You’ll find authorised car parks off site Gatwick Airport, which have all the measures in place.

Take Tudor Rose Valet Parking for example (or meet and greet – as many of you refer to as). You can see where their car park is, you can visit their car park any time. Just take the postcode and go on Google Earth, you’ll find it there exactly as described.

Their drivers are uniformed and all mature; confident and experienced with all type of cars. Insured and cheeked by the police. Members of AVPCA, an organisation which collaborates with Gatwick Police and Gatwick Airport to ensure that companies such as the ones we hear about are sanctioned or closed and stopped to give Gatwick Parking such a bad name.

Check, check and double check again the car parks you want to book your Gatwick Parking.