Gatwick with family

[junglie]

Good morning,

Flying on Sun 31 Jul 22 from Gatwick.

Flight 1030 to Croatia.

Live 90 mins away by car.

2 adults and 2 children.

Train was the best option but timings have now hugely altered so going to take over 3 hrs vice 1 hr!

Does anybody have any good ideas on what they have done that provides choice?

Hotels around £300 which does not sound good.
Carpark around £100 which seems best to me.
Stay further out (Redhill) and taxi in?

Loads of info online but wanted to know if anybody has a gem of knowledge which worked for them.

Thank you.

[Trevor555]

Travelled a couple of weeks ago and stayed in Croydon the night before after travelling by train.

East Croydon station to Gatwick airport is less than 20 mins by train.

Premier inn was £50 for one room, guess you might need two rooms.

How are the trains looking for the day before?

Edited by Trevor555 on Sunday 24th July 11:48

[HTP99]

Why wouldn't you just drive and park in the long stay car park, makes it far easier, particularly with kids in tow, especially when coming home as farting about with trains and taxis when you are knackered and just want to get home just sounds like hell.

[r159]

HTP99 said:

Why wouldn't you just drive and park in the long stay car park, makes it far easier, particularly with kids in tow, especially when coming home as farting about with trains and taxis when you are knackered and just want to get home just sounds like hell.

90 mins drive, wouldn’t bother with the messing about of hotel especially with a flight at that time. Meet and greet worth the extra though esp with kids.

Edited by r159 on Sunday 24th July 14:58

[Luke.]

r159 said:

90 mins drive, wouldn’t bother with the messing about of hotel especially with a flight at that time. Meet and greet worth the extra though esp with kids.

Edited by r159 on Sunday 24th July 14:58

This, basically. Just get up a little early and drive. It's not even that far away.

[joshcowin]

Recently had the same dilemma but without the kids.

We took a taxi, they are used to flight times changing so no stress. Cost us £100 each way and we live near Canterbury. Was very easy and stress free.

On the way out we stayed at a hotel but both said next time we would leave that and just get an early taxi.

[covmutley]

Have done aph off site parking with 3 kids in tow twice.

All very easy and no complaints from me

[ridds]

Just drive and park.

Also, worth looking at the short stay as it isn't "that" much more sometimes.

I wouldn't bother with the parking companies. Just use the cheapest Long Stay if cost is an issue.