I did say I would never fly from Gatwick for just a weeks holiday but I have found a lovely looking holiday, new this year, to Calabria, which actually has one date right at the start of my school holiday as we break up a couple of days earlier than most schools.

Any suggestions/advice about getting to Gatwick from Manchester would be appreciated - using coaches is not an option after some very scary long distance coach journeys in the past when the drivers were falling asleep and all over the road, texting while driving or even writing in their log books while driving!!

sofitel.gatwick-hotels.uk.com/

This hotel is actually on the airport it is expensive I know.. but you are right on site so you dont need a cab or a shuttle bus to get into the airport if you have to catch a flight.

There are many cheaper hotels I am sure, try putting hotels near LGW in the search engine and see what comes up. I have stayed at a few so if I can help anymore just ask..

I realize I am very lucky to live right near LHR and LGW is just 30-40 min drive away.

GOOD LUCK

CIndy

I always use Premier Inn. There are 3 or 4 of them around Gatwick. There are shuttle buses to all of them. They have had a Meal Deal on for a few years now at £22.00 which covers Breakfast and Dinner with a selection of Drinks from Wine to Beer and soft drinks. 3 course evening meal and as much as you want at breakfast.

They have special offers on all the time and the trick is to keep checking

their website and when they cut the price on a date that suits you BOOK IT

Peter

Didnt know about the Premier Inn though. That is VERY reasonable!

It did cover the Premier Inns near Gatwick airport, but you need to check with the hotel exactly what the situation is now. As Bonuscat said above there are a lot of cheap offers with the Premier Inn chain down to £29/night, but it presumably depends on exactly when you want to stay - worth looking at their website for the dates you're interesting in.

Stuart

Hi Shy Anne,

I've done 2 Just You holidays from Gatwick (the most recent one 5 weeks ago) and both times have used the Holiday Inn Gatwick. It's a 4 star hotel and prices even with car parking are quite reasonable, especially if you book with Holiday Extras. It's a nice hotel, very good breakfast (extra charge) and is close to the airport with regular shuttle bus.

best regards

Lynda

I am interested in a holiday which goes from Gatwick - only because there are so few holidays in my school holidays from Manchester! Has anyone got any advice on the best way to get to Gatwick? I think I can fly down on the day of the holiday as the flight at at 2.30pm but will need somewhere to stay when we het back at 10.30pm as the next flight is the next morning. I would consider getting the train but again, would need to stay overnight as I do not fancy travelling on a train overnight. Can anyone recommend a hotel or B&B? I do not think I will drive as it is a long way from Manchester and I tend to get sleepy when driving long distances on the motorway.

I did say I would never fly from Gatwick for just a weeks holiday but I have found a lovely looking holiday, new this year, to Calabria, which actually has one date right at the start of my school holiday as we break up a couple of days earlier than most schools.

Any suggestions/advice about getting to Gatwick from Manchester would be appreciated - using coaches is not an option after some very scary long distance coach journeys in the past when the drivers were falling asleep and all over the road, texting while driving or even writing in their log books while driving!!

I could recommend the Springwood Guest House in Horley. Used it a few times.

I am really sorry I didnt pick up on your last paragraph. If that is National Express you were using then that is SHOCKING behaviour from the drivers. I use them a lot and have never come across behaviour like that. I suppose there are bad apples in every bunch though!

I have looked at the Calabria holiday too but the thing that put me off was in the brochure it states that return landing in Gatwick is late night. Now I know of bigger hotels down in Gatwick I may take another look.

Have you considered travelling by train? Trainline.com do good deals as long as you can be fairly flexible with your travel times.

Just had a look at the Train Line website and found a return second class ticket for £82.00 from Manchester Piccadilly to Gatwick. The journey involved 2 changes at Euston then the tube to Victoria then to Gatwick. The journey took 3hrs 20minutes. I looked at travel on a Wednesday for reference. Could be cheaper if you have a rail card. Looked good value to me.

Peter

Look at the Train Line website. I found a second class return from Manchester Piccadilly to Gatwick for just under £82.00. Change at Euston on to the Underground to Victoria then main line to Gatwick. Journey took 3hrs 20minutes. Would be cheaper if you have a rail card.

Looked good value to me.

Peter

I am interested in a holiday which goes from Gatwick - only because there are so few holidays in my school holidays from Manchester! Has anyone got any advice on the best way to get to Gatwick? I think I can fly down on the day of the holiday as the flight at at 2.30pm but will need somewhere to stay when we het back at 10.30pm as the next flight is the next morning. I would consider getting the train but again, would need to stay overnight as I do not fancy travelling on a train overnight. Can anyone recommend a hotel or B&B? I do not think I will drive as it is a long way from Manchester and I tend to get sleepy when driving long distances on the motorway.

I did say I would never fly from Gatwick for just a weeks holiday but I have found a lovely looking holiday, new this year, to Calabria, which actually has one date right at the start of my school holiday as we break up a couple of days earlier than most schools.

Any suggestions/advice about getting to Gatwick from Manchester would be appreciated - using coaches is not an option after some very scary long distance coach journeys in the past when the drivers were falling asleep and all over the road, texting while driving or even writing in their log books while driving!!

I have looked at the Premier Inn site and spotted that they are opening a new one in November which looks as if it is right near one of the terminals.

Also, I think there are fewer trains on a Saturday and Sunday which mean a longer journey on a stopping train but I will certainly be looking - as far as I can tell, you cannot actually book train tickets that far ahead but I will do some research.

Thanks for all your help, I think I will book the holiday this week and worry about how to get to Gatwick later.

And yes, it was a National Express driver who was texting and writing in his log book while on the motorway, I did report him but never heard anymore form them - but needless to say, I no longer feel safe on a coach.

When I do this i use my AA membership as you get discount for hotels & parking (through their website), if you are a member and decide to fly or train down you can still use it to book hotel only. Alternatively use Holiday Extras where you will find good deals.

I tend to go for the "undercover hotel" option as you make big savings, you don't know which hotel you are booking until confirmation but you do know the star rating and I've yet to get a bad one. (eg my upcoming hol from heathrow at christmas/New Year i've got the Radisson 4star (night before) and 2 weeks parking for £69.

If you take the train option best deals are available between 11 & 12 weeks before your journey on sites like train line, its often cheaper to book 2 single tickets than a return.

Mick

Customer Services are quoting me £41 for a room. That's a good price, but I only paid £29 at Stansted.

I am sure the holiday will be worth it once I get there but I am not going to use Gatwick again for a one week holiday so due to being a teacher and having restricted holiday dates, this will probably be my last JY holiday for a few years until I retire - mind you, I might not have enough money then anyway!!

If you use companies like trainline you will get the best price deal if you get two singles and book 12 weeks before you travel, cheap tickets come online then (not before) and prices rise as you get nearer the date.

Mick

RM

I may use the train coming back in October. Because of flight arrival times I cannot get a straight through to Nottingham on National Express until nearly 6pm and wouldn't get home until nearly midnight so the train really is the only option. Will keep checking Trainline.com for prices on that one.

I've just been on the Tuscany trip and had to fly to Gatwick from Newcastle the day before departure. I stayed at the Premier Inn - North Terminal (make sure you book the North Terminal one though, as there is another Premier Inn close by).

I can't rate this hotel highly enough. I landed at South Terminal, got my suitcase, etc, and got the monorail to the North Terminal which was much easier than I thought it was going to be. Then walked out of the door and there was the Premier Inn - no taxis/buses, just took about 5 minutes to walk there. It's the most conveniently situated hotel I've ever stayed in when I've stayed overnight. I also took advantage of the deals in the restaurant, 2 meals for about £12 odd and had steak and chips for my main, followed by a lovely pudding and a glass of wine. The restaurant is lovely, quite plush, and not all open plan, it's partitioned so you've not too many tables in each section, and the service is brilliant. I didn't get the breakfast deal as I was leaving too early the next day to benefit from it-so I can't comment on that.

Each room is lovely, and has the normal comforts, kettle (with tea/coffee, etc), and was very clean. The card you are given on arrival is used to operate the lift (swipe it over the sensor), to get into your room, and also to get the lights/tv/kettle working.

Overall it's a lovely hotel, reasonably priced, nice helpful staff, and so close to the airport it's unbelieveable. I'd definately stay there again.

Hope this helps.