Category : Latest News

We are proud to announce the winners for our coveted gosimply award – presented to those airport parking companies that demonstrate a high rate of customer satisfaction and product excellence. Winners for October 2008 are:

Belfast Airport

• Red Cent Parking again beat out 3 other car parks for November’s award, and consistently receive praise from customers for their service.

Birmingham Airport

• An efficient service and great security has ensured Birmingham APH receipt of this month’s award.

Bristol Airport

• Their frequent transfers and convenient location mean the Bristol Silverzone Car Park are in our winner’s list this month.

Cardiff Airport

• As the only independent car parking facility for Cardiff Airport, Highwayman Parking‘s commitment to providing top-notch service and security has resulted in another award.

Dover Port

• Relyon Cruise & Ferry Parking continue to offer award-winning service for the Port of Dover.

Durham Tees Valley Airport

• The Long Stay Carpark, located on-airport, has again proven a popular choice for parking at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

East Midlands Airport

• Good value-for-money and quick transfers result in another award for Long Stay Car Park 7.

Edinburgh Airport

• Secure Airparks remains popular for its efficient parking and transfer procedures.
• A value-for-money Meet and Greet service means another gosimply Award for Park And Fly Personal Parking.

Gatwick Airport

• Congratulations to APH Parking at Gatwick, who end up top of the table in November 2008 for their great security and value-for-money service.

Glasgow Airport

• Flying Scot Car Parking beat out 8 other Glasgow Airport parking services to win the award this month, thanks to providing customers with value for money and receiving great reviews.

Heathrow Airport

• Formerly known as Heathrow Q-Park, Quality Airport Parking continues to be popular with our customers.
• MBW Valet Parking remains our customers’ favourite Meet and Greet parking service at Heathrow due to the excellent security of their car parking compound and their value-for-money service.

Leeds Bradford Airport

• Once again, Sentinel Security receives kudos for their value-for-money service, efficient transfers and great security features.

Liverpool Airport

• Great security features and efficient transfers have resulted in Liverpool’s Sky Park receiving their second gosimply Quality Service Award.

Luton Airport

• Close proximity to the airport and five-minute transfers help Central Car Parking secure the gosimply Quality Service Award for November 2008.

Manchester Airport

• Manchester APH has once again received our award because of their excellent security, quick transfers and high customer rating.
• Customers are impressed by the value of Meteor’s Meet and Greet Parking service, plus they offer great security at their parking compound.

Newcastle Airport

• Excellent security and 24-hour on-demand transfers helped Park And Fly earn this month’s award.

Prestwick Airport

• Consistently popular with gosimply’s customers, great security features and efficient transfers have secured Watson’s Ayr Park their second Quality Service Award.

Stansted Airport

• Of five meet and greet parking services at Stansted, Comstrad Meet & Greet Parking have come out on top this month thanks to the efficiency of their service and our customers’ favourable reviews.

A reward of £1000 has been offered for information leading to the conviction of arsonists responsible for a blaze which destroyed 19 travellers cars parked in a car park serving Gatwick Airport.

The fire occurred last Monday night at the Forgewood Industrial Estate near Gatwick Airport. The fire began in the early hours at around 02:30 and quickly spread amongst the tightly parked vehicles. Several cars exploded in the blaze which was attended by four appliances from West Sussex Fire and Rescue service who’d been called by a passer by.

The company responsible for parking the cars on behalf of travellers have issued a statement expressing their disgust with this mindless arson attack and offering their apologies to those whose cars may have been damaged. Gatwick Airport parking customers affected by this attack were assured that they would be provided with free car hire to get them home.

Using Gosimply.com has been recommended as one of 10 ways to find good-value, reliable airport parking in the October 5 2008 edition of The Sunday Telegraph.

In her Expert Travel Advice column, Sophie Butler notes that searching for your airport parking through comparison sites such as gosimply.com, “can be a good way of finding the cheapest deals”.

In addition to price, she also highlights the importance of making sure your vehicle is properly looked after while your away. You can rest assured that every car park we offer is safe, and we let you know which ones participate in the Park Mark® Safer Parking Scheme for added peace of mind.

Be sure to note, also, which car parks have received the Gosimply.com Award for Customer Satisfaction. These car parks not only provide safe, secure airport parking, but have been rated highly by previous customers for providing top-notch service.

Recent research, conducted by Travelrobe, has found that using public transport, when travelling to Gatwick airport, is far more expensive than using airport parking.

This research flies in the face of advice to travellers that they should use public transport as it is cheaper and better for the environment. The facts are that public transport is actually much more expensive and far less convenient when travelling with heavy luggage and children.

The cost for a family of four travelling on the Gatwick Express train from London would be £86.40 return. If they chose to use a private cab the cost would be around £95 return to central London. When compared with the current cost of a Gatwick Airport Parking space of around £42 for one week or £55 for two, the airport parking option is clearly the winner.

Ref:
Airport Parking Trumps Public Transport at Gatwick Airport

Continuing our effort to provide a completely transparent service on all of the products we offer, gosimply.com is proud to announce the recipients of our gosimply Awards for the month of September 2008.

Our winners continue to provide a great all-round car parking service and have consistently received praise for their service by our customers. Congratulations to all those car parks that have achieved the gosimply award.

On and off-airport parking winners:

• Airparks – rated 85% – the ever popular Airpark provides off-airport parking at Aberdeen Airport and continues to offer great value for money.
• Red Cent Parking – continues to receive excellent customer feedback and has been rated at 89%, beating 3 other car parks to the top spot for Belfast Airport Parking.
• APH Parking at Birmingham Airport – rated 88% is a clear winner for our customers, and comes highly praised for its efficiency and security.
• Silverzone Car Park at Bristol Airport – is located on-airport, provides frequent transfers, and has received an 81% rating.
• Highwayman Parking – is the only independent car parking facility for Cardiff Airport. They take great pride in their levels of service and security, and have achieved an 83% rating with 109 customer reviews.
• Relyon Cruise and Ferry Parking – serving the Port of Dover, has achieved an 86% rating this month; a reflection of their excellent customer service and great security.
• Durham Tees Valley On-Airport Parking – lets you park within sight of the terminal building. Providing the security you’d expect from an on-airport car park, they’ve received an 84% rating for October 2008.
• Long Stay Car Park 7 – at East Midlands Airport is another consistently well-rated car park that provides efficient transfers and offers good value-for-money.
• Secure Airparks – with a 88% rating, this Edinburgh Airport car park is a very popular choice with our customers due to their efficient parking and transfer procedures, and their excellent security.
• Cophall Farm Parking – at Gatwick Airport serves both the South and North terminals, offers excellent value-for-money, and has a rating of 88% this month.
• Parksafe Car Parking – is conveniently located just over a mile from Glasgow Airport, provides quick 5-minute transfers, and has received an 84% rating.
• Heathrow Q-Park – with a rating of 89%, this car park serves all of the terminals and remains a very popular option for parking at Heathrow Airport.
• Humberside Long Term Parking – has a rating of 82% for October. There’s no need for transfers at this car park, as the terminal is within walking distance, and their good security will give you peace of mind whilst you’re away.
• Sentinel Security Car Park – at Leeds Bradford Airport is once again one of our highest-rated car parks with a score this month of 89%. Customers consistently rate them highly for their efficient transfers, excellent customer service, and great value-for-money.
• Sky Park – is located just a short distance from Liverpool Airport, and the security and value they provide, along with their quick transfers, has resulted in a rating this month of 83%.
• Long Stay Parking – for London City Airport is another winner this month, boasting an 83% rating. A covered walkway provides access to the terminal building from the car park and their security features ensure your vehicle is safe.
• Central Car Parking – is a Luton Airport car park that rates very highly with our customers, thanks to their 5-minute transfers and close proximity to the airport.
• APH Manchester – is a consistent favourite with our customers. Their rating of 90% proves that travellers are looking for friendly service, excellent security and superb value, which APH provides to travellers who need Manchester Airport parking.
• Park and Fly – is yet another car park that our customers have recognised as a great option for parking at Newcastle Airport. Holiday-makers and business travellers alike value their speedy 24-hour transfers and first-class customer service, which is evident by their rating of 90%.
• Watson’s Ayr Park – is a firm customer favourite and with good reason. Excellent security, quick transfers and great value mean that this Prestwick Airport car park fully deserves its 92% rating.
• Long Stay Parking – at Robin Hood Airport has received an 84% rating for October. You can park your car yourself, keep your keys, and fly away safe in the knowledge that the top-notch security features, including CCTV and regular security patrols, are keeping your vehicle safe.

Meet & Greet Parking Winners

All of our Meet & Greet Parking award winners this month offer a convenient, hassle-free service to travellers.

• Stansted Easy Parking
• Meteor Meet & Greet Parking Birmingham
• Park and Fly Personal Parking Edinburgh
• MBW Valet Parking Heathrow
• Luton Airport Meet & Greet Parking
• Meteor Meet & Greet Parking Manchester
• Newcastle Airport Meet & Greet Car Parking

gosimply.com only awards those services that consistently excel in customer satisfaction and product excellence. By reviewing the awards every month, we ensure every product has a fair chance of achieving this status and, if it has already been given an award, continues to offer the same high level of service as previous months.

Around 300 people a year, in the UK, are losing their lives as a result of fatigued drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

Being tired adversely affects driver performance as much as being drunk. Several studies, conducted by road safety experts, have confirmed that inadequate rest, driving for too long and driving at times when you would normally be asleep can all result in a degradation of driver performance which is similar to that caused by alcohol in the blood stream.

Those who drive for a living, including truck drivers and delivery drivers, are at the highest risk of being involved in fatigue related accidents. Around 4 in 10 tiredness related accidents involve a commercial vehicle. But people involved in other demanding roles, such as doctors who work long shifts and business people returning from overseas meetings, are also high on the tiredness risk list.

It is recommended that, if you are feeling even slightly fatigued, you should stop for a 15 minute break. Drink an energy drink or a couple of cups of coffee and then take a cat knap for no more than 15 minutes. When you wake the caffeine will have begun to take effect. Don’t snooze for any longer as you will enter a different sleep phase.

If returning from a business trip, maybe flying into Heathrow in the early hours, it is advisable to take a room at a Heathrow Hotel and rest properly before driving.

Always remember that safety is more important than sticking to a schedule.

References:

Driver Tiredness Advice from Brake, the Road Safety Charity

It is estimated that over 100 homeless people are living at Heathrow airport much like the Tom Hanks character in the Spielberg film ‘The Terminal’.

In recent months it has been discovered that over 100 homeless people are permanently residing at the airport and this number is on the increase. As one homeless person has said, Heathrow is like a hotel. It is warm, clean, reasonably safe and has excellent facilities.

Many of these seasoned airport dwellers have developed techniques to avoid detection by airport security staff. They dress like holidaymakers and carry their belongings in suitcases that make them look like travellers using the airport.

Some of the homeless people receive a Giro cheque payment of £60 each week which they must collect from the Samaritans headquarters in central London. This doesn’t go very far being used to buy food and essentials from various airport outlets.

Occasional security sweeps result in many homeless people being ejected, only to return to the warmth and safety of the airport terminals once security is out of the way.

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We have a great selection of heathrow airport hotels with impartial reviews and the best prices.

Thinking of travelling over the Bank holiday?

We have been informed that there could be severe disruption if you are flying from Gatwick or Stansted Airport. Unions have said that baggage handlers and check-in staff at Gatwick and Stansted Airport are going on strike on Bank Holiday Monday 25th 2008 for 24 hours in a row over pay.

At Gatwick Airport, 318 Swissport workers will walk out, halting services at some airlines. A second strike is planned for Friday 29 August 2008 also.

After staff were offered a 3% pay offer it was rejected by Unite Union due to being below inflation – they said it was “an insult”. Workers from two unions at Stansted Airport also have voted to strike as well. Unite have hinted that industrial action could spread to other airports in the forth coming weeks.

Unite members working for Swissport at Stansted Airport will be joined by 30 members of the GMB union when they walk out on Monday 25th August 2008 and possibly Friday 29th August 2008.

If delays are imminent, it does not mean you have to completely cancel your plans, just check that you have a decent level of travel insurance that covers baggage delays and airport disruption.

UPDATE ON BAGGAGE STRIKE…

The strikes planned by airport workers that would have caused Bank Holiday travel misery have finally been called off. The dispute involved airport services business Swissport, and cabin staff and baggage handlers who are members of the Unite and GMB unions.

It would have affected Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester airports.

After hours of talks at conciliation service Acas, both unions suspended the planned strikes.

How Super Saver Hotel rooms save you a bundle of cash…

By not specifying any “named details” such as hotel name, restaurant name and directions, hotel operators can provide their hotel rooms at much lower rates, in some cases up to 35% cheaper. You can still view details of the hotel before you book (by viewing more info) to confirm that the hotel meets your requirements and what to expect.

In a nutshell, a Super saver hotel is:

• A discounted hotel
• The hotel name and facilities are only confirmed AFTER booking
• The hotel is guaranteed to match the star rating shown

Complete details including the hotel name, directions and details of the facilities on offer are confirmed immediately after booking.

It’s a great way to save even more as Mr Wilson recently found out:

“My wife and self wanted accommodation as close to the terminal as we were flying early in the morning. The Holiday Inn suited us perfectly, and very reasonable in price when booked as your super saver hotel. We only had to walk out the door, cross the road, and we were at the terminal.”

Mr Wilson managed to save 26% this time around, I wonder how much you could save? If you have any comments on the Super saver hotel offer let us know.

One thing the gosimply team noticed when developing the new website was that other comparison websites only show products side by side at the final page. Why not allow products to be compared before searching?

This is where our handy “at a glance” facility comes in.

It makes sense to give you the information you need to make an informed choice without having to search for it. Providing you with the facts you need, quickly and easily, will make your booking decision much simpler.

By providing a full selection of products for side-by-side comparison at the outset it’s easy to make an informed choice. If your favoured selection in not available when you search you will already know what your next best choice is going to be.

To see our “At a Glance” facility in action try visiting our Gatwick Airport Parking page and click the “Compare car parks side by side” link for a quick comparison of all te Gatwick Airport car parks. As an alternative visit our Heathrow Airport Hotels page to see how hotels compare side by side.