I DID NOT. so I thought I'd pass this along. I was googling Charlotte airport to get the long term parking rates to determine if parking 18 days could be cheaper than taking the shuttle from Columbia to Charlotte and then back, plus the inconvenience of getting picked up at 0400. I just happened on a link to a website where you enter your airport & departure date (or your cruise port)and it returns a list of hotels where if you book one night, you can leave your car - free parking for up to 21 days (# days varies by hotel), and they provide shuttle service to the airport. SO - I can stay at the Quality Inn near the Charlotte airport for 69.00+ tax, get a shuttle ride to the terminal, and leave my car in their lot for the 18 days I am gone. Looks like a win-win situation for me. I don't have to spend $120 on 2 airport shuttles; or, I don't have to ask friends to drive me to the airport at 4 am, or pick me up there on New Year's Day (with all the bowl games this could be problematic). Best of all, my kids can't drive my car while I'm gone!!! The website is STAY123.com.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Elaine, that's my little secret, too! I park my car at a hotel near O'Hare when I fly out of there. And when we went to China we had a noon flight out, so we stayed the night before and left our car for two weeks. It's the best deal around!
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2185 posts
That's a great thing to know! The website is actually www.stay123.com. I just looked up Denver and they only offer 10 or 14 nights free parking ... but still, I can see where this would be very handy. Thanks for posting it.
Posted by
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
1446 posts
We do that every year when we fly out of San Francisco. Usually stay at the LaQuinta close to the airport - free car parking plus they shuttle us both ways for free. Great deal!
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
2404 posts
Recently did this in san francisco. it's called park, sleep, and fly. stayed at la quinta in millbrae, free shuttle (4:30am) to airport, car parked under hotel in locked garage, after 14 days were charged $5 a day, plus a good night's rest. didn't have to bother anyone to wake up early to drive us or stay up late to pick us up. Would have no second thoughts to do this again.
Posted by
OP
Columbia, SC
989 posts
Charlene - Thank you for correcting the website name, and Nancy - thank you for the heads up on that too. I am an awful typist and I do apologize for that mixup. It's nice to hear that others have tried it before and that it is what it says. It will be especially nice to be at the airport the night before. 7 am flights are so awful when the airport is 80 miles away.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33784 posts
There are also a number of hotels near Gatwick and Heathrow that do the same, and I found folk helpful that way near Venice. Its great for them and great for us.
Posted by
Kirn, Germany
331 posts
It is not my intention to pour cold water on this, but a recent report on the BBC was about some companies that offer car parking at British airports using customer's cars as hire cars whilst they were away. Always check your mileage before you leave your car.
Posted by
Houston, Texas, USA
158 posts
they can't use your car for hire if you don't leave the keys...
Posted by
Kirn, Germany
331 posts
I should have been more specific - it's companies that collect your car from the airport to take to carparks some distance from the airport hence their cheaper rates and/or offer valetting services. Some well known names in Britain were used I just forget which!
Posted by
OP
Columbia, SC
989 posts
At these hotels, you drive your car to the hotel and you park the car yourself in their lot. They shuttle you to and from the airport in their van.
Posted by
Kirn, Germany
331 posts
To be clear I wasn't talking about hotel car parks in case I've got any of you worried. I should imagine them pretty safe, especially if you take your keys with you.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1600 posts
One other option which I use all the time is to do one-way car rentals. Rent a car from a Hertz or Avis local edition and drop it off at the airport. This normally costs less than $30 one way. The return trip is normally more expensive since you get hit with the high airport taxes and fees. Also, if the return is during the week, the rental may get pricey - this normally works well on the weekends. This may be an option for folks to consider instead of leaving their cars at a hotel.