BRITISH holidaymakers have been urged to rent garages and driveways as airport parking charges have soared.
Consumer experts at Which? said that “unconventional options” should be taken into consideration to minimise expense amid the cost of living crisis.
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The charity’s research discovered that parking at airports tripled in cost when paid for on the day rather than month in advance.
Their study discovered that travel-mad Brits were paying up to £400 extra for on-site car parks.
For example, at Heathrow the cost of one week’s parking leapt from £190 a few months ahead to £583 on the day of departure.
At Manchester Airport, the price rocketed from £95 to £406.
On the other hand, local driveways could be rented out online for as little as £29 a day (£203 for the week) on the same day.
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: “It can…be worth considering some more unconventional options like renting someone’s driveway or garage for the duration of your trip – though with less guarantee of your vehicle’s security, this option may not be for everyone.”
A lack of CCTV, alarms or car park guards can detract from the appeal of a driveway compared to the on-site option, but it’s hard to beat it for cost.
Meanwhile, reports of customer issues with third-party parking providers at airports have left some motorists wondering if they are getting their money’s worth.
For example, one Heathrow firm that promised “safe and secure” parking was found to be dumping customers’ cars on the side of the road.
Even worse, shocking videos emerged of cars being raced around a car park at Bristol Airport at 80mph, after one driver revealed his BMW had been left with a massive bill.
However, there are many legitimate parking firms out there that provide an excellent service.
And they won’t all break the bank, as one woman saved £600 on fees thanks to a handy Martin Lewis tip.
