There are plenty of ways to get to the airport on departure day; whether you persuade a friend to drive you, take a taxi or brave public transport but the very best way is to drive yourself. People often shy away from driving to the airport for fear of huge parking charges and nightmare transfers, but this simply isn’t the case. There are a fantastic range of Heathrow airport parking options. Here are five reasons to opt for a self-drive start to your holiday...

1. It’s cheap

No longer does the cost of parking your car have to rival the cost of flying to the Costa del Sol because websites like holidayextras.co.uk offer great prices. Pre-book a parking space and you could pay as little as £7.10 a day or £56.80 for eight days; with such low parking prices driving to the airport makes sense. If you don’t book ahead it is expensive though, the same space will be up to £20 a day and that’s far too much to pay for the pleasure of parking your car. So book ahead and enjoy your drive to the airport.

2. It’s reliable

When you’ve got a check-in time to make the last thing you need is to be at the mercy of someone else’s timetable. Much better is to take your own car so you can leave when you want to, plan your journey so you have plenty of time and generally be in control so you know you’ll get there on time. Some companies offer a Traffic Assistant upgrade to your parking package. You’ll get texts about traffic conditions on your route so you won’t get bogged down in queues. So there’s no need to rely on a favour from a friend or worse still the famously delay-prone public transport. Drive and you’re in control.

3. It’s comfortable

Unless there is the option of a chauffeur, everyone prefers driving themselves. There’s no struggling with bags as a bus or train wants to depart, your car’s comfortable, you can take a toilet stop if you like and you’ve probably got a little stash of delicious travel sweets in the glove box. It’s just nice to be in your own car, a little home from home before you leave. Taking your own car is the best option wherever you’re going and even more so when you’re off on holiday.

4. It’s convenient

There’s more to the joy of working to your own schedule when you drive your car to the airport than simply being in control. The Heathrow airport parking sites are really close to the terminal and with regular 24-hour transfer buses getting to the terminal is quick and totally stress-free. The best part is that when you get back from your holiday and you’re eager to get home, you can set off straightaway, no waiting around and with the Meet and Greet service your lovely vehicle could be waiting for you at the terminal.

5. It’s a great way to start your holiday

­ Combine your parking with a night in a Heathrow airport hotel and you’ll have the perfect start to your holiday. If you combine your Heathrow airport parking and hotel you can get amazing deals, so driving could even save you money on a wonderful experience. Enjoy a relaxing night in comfortable surroundings and get a head start on your holiday.