The chances are that if you are reading this article you have just bought and paid for a holiday or are about to. I would imagine you have spent or are thinking about spending a considerable sum on this holiday and would appreciate any tips that would not only help you save money but also improve your holiday.

My advice to accomplish both of these seemingly contradictory aims is to book meet and greet parking book it in advance. Don't get caught out and have to pay full price for your parking because they will charge you 'top dollar' if you just turn up on the day. Be smart and book ahead to get the best deal.

Why meet and greet parking?
If you book meet and greet parking you will have purchased the most convenient and stress-free parking available. Off airport parking takes longer and is nowhere near as simple.

Let me explain a little bit about airport parking. Drive your own car to the airport when you travel on business or pleasure and you are going to need to park it somewhere whilst you are away. If you decide to park your own car you can choose from meet and greet parking or on or off-airport long-term parking.

These last two types of parking require you to find the car park, park your car and then make your way to the shuttle bus to get a ride to the airport all the while carrying your heavy luggage. You will need to load your own bags onto and off of the bus at either end of this journey and also on the return trip don't forget. I hope it's not raining and your children, if you have any with you, are well behaved and you don't strain your back before you've even got on the plane!

When you return you will need to find the shuttle bus stop and catch the bus to the car park to collect your car all the while dragging your bags with you. At busy times of the year many flights often land in quick succession late at night and it can take two or three busses to reduce the queue enough so that you can even get on the bus. I've been there and experienced it. You really don't need to.

Have your car parked for you – Meet and Greet Parking
Meet and Greet parking, sometimes called chauffeur parking or valet parking, is the most convenient form of parking. You are met at the terminal by a member of the parking company's staff usually with a trolley ready for your luggage and they will take your car and park it for you.

When you return your car will be brought back to you just outside the terminal and you will be free to continue your homeward journey with the minimum of delay.

The benefits are clear
• No delay getting to the check-in desk
• No carrying your own heavy luggage around
• No herding children onto busses
• No waiting for the shuttle service to and from the airport
• You stay dry, unflustered, on time and in good health ready to start your holiday.

Saving money on airport parking
This is really simple and reasonably quick to do. Just book in advance and shop around for the best deal. You should make an effort to book your parking in advance as most parking companies use a time sensitive pricing system. You are probably aware of the pricing model used by airlines where the price of the ticket rises as you get closer to the date of departure. Airport parking is the same so you will pay less in advance than if you just turn up on the day.

The other advantage of booking in advance is that you will secure your parking space. During the summer months many car parks become oversubscribed so it would be a shame to miss your flight whilst you were driving around looking for a space.

Of course you could always park in the short term car park, and I do know someone who did for two weeks, but the parking costs came to more than the cost of the flights!

It is possible to find many web sites that compare airport parking prices so a quick search through your preferred search engine should produce the desired results. Bear in mind that although that airport parking sector is very competitive and there are some great deals out there airport parking is like life - you get what you pay for!

If you spend a little extra on a meet and greet parking service you do not want to be delayed waiting around for your driver when all you want to do is check-in? Especially as you have probably arrived with less of a time cushion before the desk closes.

Then, when you return, you want your car waiting for you out side the terminal not the other way round or you may as well have bought the cheaper shuttle bus parking. Some parking companies do offer a money back guarantee if they keep you waiting but they are rare at the moment.

Now you have the knowledge get out there and book your meet and greet parking. Just make sure you do it in advance and you will have a great hassle-free start to your holiday without breaking the bank.

Sean McCarthy

Sean McCarthy is the Marketing Director of Help-Me-Park.com Ltd a leading provider of Meet and Greet parking at Gatwick Airport and the only company to offer a money-back guarantee if they keep the customer waiting at the airport.