You’ve booked a trip, you’re excited to get away, but there are some logistics to think about before you can really settle into holiday mode. The first consideration: how are you going to get to and from the airport? In most cases, there are multiple options, but not all of these options are created equal. That’s why we’re sharing the best travel options for some of the busiest airports.
London Heathrow Airport
As one of the major world airports, Heathrow has great connection links with Central London. There are several options and they all vary by price, convenience and duration.
The cheapest:
If booked well in advance easyBus service is the cheapest way of transport. Buses depart from Heathrow Airport Central Bus Station located between Terminals 2 and 3 and terminate either in Shepherd’s Bush or Waterloo Station.
The most convenient:
When it comes to convenience, the London Underground comes to the rescue. With regular service from all terminals to Central London, you can get to the very heart of London (or any destination within the London transport network) for £5 with a prepaid Oyster Card while a one-way ticket costs £5.70. The duration is between 60 and 80 minutes, depending on the destination.
Alternatively you can get the Heathrow Express train. Within 20 minutes, you will reach London’s Paddington Station. Tickets booked 90 days in advance can cost as little as £6.99 one way and £21.50 when purchased on the day of travel.
London Gatwick Airport
With Gatwick being the second busiest airport in the UK, it has several transfer options, including a rail and bus service.
The cheapest:
EasyJet’s own transfer bus service easyBus is the cheapest option with tickets costing as little as £2 each way (if booked in advance). The service is regular running every 15 minutes from 4 am till 1 am, every day except public holidays. If your plane is delayed or arrives early the ticket can be used on the next available bus or up to 90 minutes before or after the booked time.
The most convenient:
The non-stop train service operating between Gatwick and London Victoria takes approximately 30 minutes. The service runs every 15 minutes. The price of the ticket varies, however if purchased on the day of travel, one way costs approximately £19.90 and if booked in advance it can be considerably less.
Buy an off-peak one-day travelcard from Gatwick Airport specifying “not Gatwick Express” this costs approximately £15.80 with journey time being only 35 minutes, (5 minutes longer than the Gatwick Express). You can get further 34% discount if booked as a group of four or more.
Manchester International Airport
North England’s main transport hub and the third busiest airport in the UK has an integrated transport hub known as the Station, linking the airport with Manchester and the region.
The cheapest:
National Express runs regular service linking the airport with Manchester but also with other major towns and cities such as Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and even as far as Scotland. If booked in advance tickets can be cheap, costing as little as £4 each way. There are also options such as a “Flexible Add-On” for £5 which lets you board any coach 12hours before or after your original departure. It also lets you amend the ticket or get a full refund 24 hours before departure. If travelling as a group, you can get 25% discount.
The most convenient:
The train service runs every 10 minutes to Manchester Piccadilly and takes approximately 20 minutes. It’s often faster than getting a taxi.
Edinburgh Airport
Scotland’s biggest airport has a great connection with Edinburgh city centre. It is linked via tram and city bus, both can get you to the very centre of Edinburgh where you can get trains and coaches for the rest of Scotland and the UK.
The cheapest:
Edinburgh tram line takes about 5 minutes longer than the city bus option and costs only £2.50 each way.
The most convenient:
City bus Airlink 100 and the night bus N22 both get you to the very centre of Edinburgh in just over 25 minutes. Surprisingly taking the city bus is the quickest option too. The single adult fare is £4.50.
London Stanstead Airport
Stanstead airport serves the London area as well as East England and the Midlands. It’s well connected with London and the surrounding counties.
The cheapest:
EasyJet’s own transfer bus service easyBus is the cheapest option with tickets costing as little as £2 each way (if booked in advance). The service is regular running every 15 minutes from 4 am till 1 am, every day except public holidays. If your plane is delayed or arrives early the ticket can be used on the next available bus or up to 90 minutes before or after your booked time.
The most convenient:
Stanstead Express is the fastest route. It takes you directly to London Liverpool Street Station in approximately 47 minutes and if booked 30 days in advance it costs as little as £8 each way.
Barcelona-El Prat Airport
Barcelona Airport has great connection links with Barcelona city centre as well as the surrounding area also known as Costa Brava and Costa Daurada. Other Spanish cities can be reached by rail services from the airport.
The cheapest:
Express bus service also known as Aerobus Express costs €5.90 each way and you can catch it from outside terminals 1 and 2. You can also get a city bus to the centre of Barcelona, bus route 46 or night bus N17 costing €2.15 for a single journey.
The most convenient:
RENFE train is a convenient way to get to the centre of Barcelona within 30 minutes. You can catch the train from T2B, and if travelling from T1 you can get a free shuttle bus. It is highly advisable to get a T10 Metro ticket or Barcelona Card which enables you to unlimited travel in Barcelona.
If your destination is somewhere in Costa Brava or Costa Daurada, the best way to travel would be via a shuttle bus such as hoppa or suntransfer. Not only will these shuttle bus services drop you off right in front of your hotel, they are also cheaper than getting a taxi. Shuttle bus services in Spain are very reliable and cost effective.
Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris
Paris airport is one of the largest by area in the world so it is highly advisable to use CDGVAL train shuttle service, this way you can move around the airport for free.
The cheapest:
The easyBus service also runs in Paris and it is the cheapest option with one-way tickets costing as little as £2 each way if booked well in advance. The journey takes approximately 60 minutes and takes you right in the heart of Paris.
The most convenient:
RER B is the fastest way. A single ticket costs €9.75 and takes 35 minutes to Central Paris. There are two stations where you can get the RER B train from. Terminal 1 station serves terminals 1 and 3, while Terminal 2 Station serves all Terminal 2 stations apart from Terminal 2-G. Terminal T-G has a free shuttle bus service which takes you to T2.
An alternative to a taxi service is a shuttle bus service such as hoppa which takes you straight to your hotel. The prices vary depending on the location but expect to pay around €25 each way.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Amsterdam Airport has one of the most sophisticated public transport links in Europe connecting the airport with the city centre.
The cheapest:
Amsterdam Airport Express bus number 197 takes you to the centre of Amsterdam in just 35 minutes for €5 each way.
The most convenient:
Amsterdam Airport Train is the easiest way. You can catch the trains from the main arrival terminal. The service runs every 10 minutes and links the airport with Amsterdam’s Central Station. A one-way ticket costs €17.
Alternatively you can use the Conexxion Shuttle Bus service which will take you to more than 100 hotels. A single ticket costs €17, return costs €27.
John F. Kennedy International Airport
There are a few ways to get yourself to and from JFK.
The cheapest and the most convenient:
AirTrain is an efficient and affordable option. The airport train connects with MTA New York City Transit subways and buses and the Long Island Rail Road. The convenient service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and reaches many connecting public transit services at two off-airport locations, Jamaica Station and Howard Beach Station. This option will set you back $7.50 and get you to the airport in about an hour.
Another option for getting to and from JFK is NYY Airporter, the official bus operator for NYC area airports. The bus travels between Penn Station, Port Authority and Grand Central and JFK seven days a week from 5am to 11:30pm daily. A one way trip is $17.
Orlando International Airport
If you are looking to avoid driving or a taxi when travelling via the airport in Orlando, your best options are local bus or by a train and bus combo.
LYNX, the local transportation system, can easily whisk back and forth from the airport via routes 11, 42, 51, 111 and 436S. The fee is just $2.
The most convenient:
Another good option is the SunRail train, which also connects downtown Orlando and the airport via the Th Sand Lake Road station. Catch the 11, 111 and 42 bus for travel between the airport and the SunRail station. One-way fares are $2 and there are transfers between the train and bus.
