Does your heart start to do a little backflip at the thought of booking a trip away? New places to see, new foods to try, new cultures to experience, new knowledge to gain. Whether it is a family holiday, a romantic getaway, or a business conference, planning a trip is exciting.
Every little detail is planned out. Which airline you will fly with, where you will stay, the activities you will complete, the must see restaurants, the travel insurance… but have you thought about how you are going to get to the airport?
What seems to be the most mundane of decisions can actually turn into a nightmare if you don’t plan it right. There can be stress, the potential for missing your flight, traffic jams, timetables to abide by, and many other unforeseen issues.
So let’s look into how you can start your trip on the right foot by picking the right transport option for you.
Which Transport Option Is Right For You?
There are a lot of different choices when it comes to airport transport options. Some you can exclude right away as there aren’t too many places to put your suitcase when travelling by horseback, or on a bicycle!
But there are a lot of viable options that have their pros and cons. Let’s explore each in greater detail.
Public Transport
Throughout the world, the bus, train, underground or monorail drops you right at the door of the airport. Unfortunately, in New Zealand, we are not quite so lucky.
Pros…
- It is a cost effective method
- You can use a combination of train and bus travel to get from almost every part of Auckland
Cons…
- They work to a strict timetable that will not always work with your travel plans
- Dare we say it, Auckland public transport can be unreliable
- It is not as practical for people living outside of Auckland
- Travel can take a long time, especially if you have to transfer between services and wait
- There is not much space for luggage storage
The wrap up: Probably not the most practical of transport options to get to the airport, but still cost effective and possible to use.
Shuttle Service
Shuttle services provide a door to door transport from your home to the airport, and back again.
Pros…
- Door to door service within Auckland
- Transport in vehicles that are regularly serviced and maintained
- An experienced driver
- Plenty of space for luggage
- Cost effective
Cons…
- You have to pre-book the service so cannot call up on the day of your flights
- Shuttles can collect multiple travellers from different addresses, so you may have to share the space with others
- They work to a set timetable to get all travellers to the airport on time, so you may need to be ready to leave home earlier than normal to accommodate multiple pickups
- You have to specifically request car seats for your children which may not be the brand they are used to travelling in
- Extra costs may apply for child seats, out of area pickups, or extra luggage
- Only service the Auckland area
The wrap up: Shuttle services are the most cost effective door to door service available, but you might have to share the space and leave your home well before required to accommodate other pickups.
Taxi
A private door to door service from your home to the airport and back again.
Pros…
- You can pre-book a taxi or call at any time to be picked up
- The taxi will be a private service only for you
- Experienced drivers that know their way around Auckland
- Drivers are bound by the regulations of the company they drive for so safety is assured
Cons…
- Taxis are an exceptionally expensive way to travel
- There are no child car seats in a taxi
- Limited space for luggage as you don’t know what kind of vehicle you will receive
- There may be a long wait time if the taxi company is receiving a lot of bookings at once
The wrap up: Taxis are a convenient way to travel to and from the airport, but you certainly pay for that convenience. They are not so great for travelling with small children unless you bring your own car seat.
Uber
All the benefits of a door to door taxi service, but at a lower price point.
Pros…
- Door to door service from your home to the airport and back again.
- Cheaper rates than a taxi
- Incredibly easy to book and pay via their app
Cons…
- Drivers use their own vehicles so there is not much regulation on the kind of car you will get
- Difficult to transport odd sized luggage like bikes or surfboards in a private vehicle
- May be difficult to book in areas where there aren’t many Uber drivers
The wrap up: Uber is a more cost effective door to door option than a taxi, but availability could be an issue and the drivers are less regulated.
Aeroparks
Drive your own car to and from the airport and leave it parked in our care while you are travelling.
Pros…
- Drive at your leisure in your own vehicle
- Keep your kids safe in their own car seats
- Leave at the time you want, not on someone else’s schedule
- Know that you have your vehicle available to use at any time of the day or night
- Cost effective method as you only pay a low nightly fee to park your vehicle in a safe, secure facility
- Regular shuttles from the Aeroparks facility to the airport and back again
- Friendly and helpful team members to answer any questions you have
- Drive from anywhere in the country
Cons…
- You have to drive yourself to the airport, no one will chauffeur you!
The wrap up: Aeroparks offers you the safety and convenience of driving your own vehicle. Your car is parked in a secure facility and is accessible at any time.
There are many different transport options when it comes to getting to the airport. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. But, if you enjoy the safety and convenience of having your own vehicle on hand at all hours of the day and night for only a small fee, then Aeroparks is the option for you.
Give us a call to book your car into our facility for your next domestic or international adventure.