#planningatrip

Park and Fly Tips

Airport parking tips are pretty much standard and same for most cities. If travelers follow them (and give themselves enough time to follow them) they should be able to save money and go through the flying process effortless. Parking can be one of the most stressful parts of travelling; navigating the process efficiently is a huge bonus and will leave individuals free to focus on other areas of preparation.

Getting to the airport on time or even early is obviously a key aspect of smoothly finding a place for the car or truck. When people are rushed for time, they often crisscross around parking lots looking for spots, and potentially causing accidents in the process.

Being late will tack on stress that is not needed and not wanted. It is better to be early than late, especially when catching a plane. 

Parking close to shuttles and buses to save time is another Airport parking tip. It doesn’t necessarily save money, but it will certainly save time, especially for those that might be disabled and struggle to walk long distances. Shuttles generally pick people up from certain specific areas of the lot, and grabbing a spot in this area is convenient and energy saving.

Many people are confused by the different lot options at many of the major airports. Indoor lots, usually located in parking garages, offer protection against rain and snow while the traveler is away. 

They are also generally more secure from damage by vagrants or criminals. They cost a bit more, however, so those that are looking into such lots should know there is a trade off.

Outdoor lots are usually large in scope and located further out from the terminals than the indoor lots. They cost less, but this is to be expected since they are generally unprotected from rain, snow, and other weather events. Most people still find them viable, however, and it is at these lots the majority of people park their vehicles when traveling.

Many major airports require that travelers reserve Airport parking spots in advance. If a traveler knows the exact dates they will be on vacation or business, they can book their spot months in advance. This will lead to great discounts and will free up a lot of money to be spent in other areas. This should be part of the planning process and should not be forgotten.

Other private parking i.e. not at the airport but at an off-site area is another way to go. These areas are usually independently owned, and can be as secure as airport lots. They are also frequently cheaper. Individuals who are looking into using such a lot should ask around a bit to see which businesses are reputable and which are not. Friends and family should be able to help.

Airport parking tips can vary in scope, but they are based generally on organization.

If travelers are organized and arrive when they are supposed to, and also are aware of where to go and how much they will be spending, they’ll have a pretty calm experience.

Parking your car at the airport need not be stressful.

It’s definitely not an easy task to be planning an overseas trip right now. With Government changes in both New Zealand and Canada throughout the several months of planning has meant we’ve needed to adjust and create contingency plans, though we’d take this roller coaster of requirements over the inability to travel at all and we recognise our privilege in being able to take this trip. 

We’ve been fortunate that several weeks prior to departure, BC cases have dropped significantly and mask and vaccine mandates have now been removed. We might be able to experience the Vancouver that Martin remembers and not the masked up ghost town that it has been in recent years. 

Two weeks before our flight, Canada have now dropped the need for a negative COVID test prior to boarding the flight for qualified fully vaccinated passengers. This change has been the most significant for us, taking off that enormous stress of missing our flight due to catching COVID at the most inconvenient time, not that I can imagine there is ever a convenient time. 

With New Zealand cases rising, especially in Ōtautahi, we were able to retreat from our home of twenty people (a story for another day) to a small bach in Diamond Harbour, kindly offered to us by my parents neighbours, where we could pre-isolate, taking a lot of stress off our already stressful pre-departure list. 

We’ve been in Diamond Harbour for a week, enjoying the sun soaked living room and ocean views, working remotely, reading and doing plenty of walks including walking up Mt Herbert, the tallest peak on Banks Peninsula over the weekend and tomorrow afternoon; we board our flight to Vancouver.