HOLIDAYMAKERS have been left stunned after discovering that they can save £400 on their holiday – and avoid parking cowboys by following an easy tip.
Drivers going on holiday abroad this summer should book their airport car park space in advance to save money.
Holidaymakers have been left stunned after discovering that they can save £400 on their holiday by following an easy tipGETTY_HUB
Airports such as Heathrow would charge you around £83 a day, meaning that a week’s parking, in short stay costs about £580.
But, if you book the same parking a month ahead, you would end up paying £183.
The long-stay car parks at the airport are way cheaper but are located further away from the terminal building.
And if you want to save £500, you should book a third-party parking service near the airport.
Booking a one-week stay from July 17 at Heathrow could cost £78 with Purple Parking and £148 with Blue Circle Parking Meet and Greet.
But drivers should always check the reviews of parking firms on Google Reviews or in Trustpilot to avoid leaving their car with a cowboy parking firm.
Also, you should ensure that the parking firm is a member of the police-approved Safer Parking Scheme with a Park Mark blue tick as this shows standards of security like lighting and surveillance cameras.
Consumer champion Martyn James claims that if you aren’t sure about which provider to pick, you should contact the airport for a list of approved car park operators.
He told The Mail: “Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous outfits out there that take your money — and possibly take your car for a ride while you are away.
“In some instances, holidaymakers have returned not just to find their vehicle has been used but has also been damaged — with the occasional bump or scratch.
“You should never simply book through a website you have just found — but phone the airport you are flying from and check the outfit is approved.
“If you are concerned about where the car may be parked, also ask if you can visit the compound before you go.
“You do not actually have to make the visit — just the request should flush out the rogues, as they will not want to show you.”
This comes after a bloke was advised to cut his losses after he racked up a £6,400 parking bill when leaving his car for a whopping 54 days.
Plus, a student claims that she left her car with an airport parking firm while she went on holiday – only to come back and find they’d crashed it.