I may receive a commission if you purchase something mentioned in this post. See more details here.
Can you believe we are already upon our 2nd big Summer holiday? The 4th of July is one of those holidays that is both great and awful. Traditionally it signifies the midway point of summer. For many, a few more weeks and it’s back to school. No matter your travel type, business or pleasure, let’s make the airport experience stress-free!
Of course, there is still plenty of time to travel and have fun, especially if you are going to fly to your destination. Think about the time you save flying rather than driving. Once you are in the airport, and through TSA, you are on your way to fun in the sun, adventures, and wherever else vacation takes you.
Today, before you travel, eat, adventure and repeat, I am going to share 7 ways to make your airport experience stress-free. Since I live out of the airport with my job, I have some great hints for you! Let’s travel!
7 Ways to Make Your Airport Experience Stress-Free
There’s nothing like going on a trip to revive your life. While you might think you are really on the move in your daily life and feel like you are out and about, you are not! Travel allows you to recapture you.
In fact, travel lets you gather your thoughts, have composed moments to think before you speak and get a little extra sleep in. You are all set to travel, but before you packed and got ready to hop on a plane, what did you have to do?
Did you plan your trip? All travel starts with some form of planning. Regardless of how little or how much planning occurred, your decision to go somewhere. With ticket in hand, you leave your house, in your car but what comes next is everything.
By chance did you remember to think about where you are going to park your car? Everything that stresses you out actually happens BEFORE you get to the airport, so let’s be a cowboy at the rodeo and lasso it all in before stressful, unnecessary situations release themselves on you!
A Reserved Parking Spot on Departure Day = Stress-Free (1)
Meet The Parking Spot
The Parking Spot “makes long-term near-airport parking a superior experience. Pre-pay to reserve your affordable and comfortable spot!” Located throughout the USA, 39 Near Airport Parking Locations, Serving 23 Airports! The Parking Spot is always open and some markets offer Car Care services, including car washes and oil changes!
Now, you somewhere along the lines of your planning stages, you had to remember that you will need to get to the airport in your car and then park the car right? Consider where you are parking it.
To be honest, you better have a parking spot reserved because the airports are really busy.
Just like a hotel reservation is made, you can make a parking spot reservation. The Parking Spot will save you a SPOT!
While you are reserving your parking spot, make sure to sign up for a Spot Club account to waive your reservation fee.
Did I mention that is free? Membership has its perks and free is fabulous and stress-free!
To help you, even more, the day before your trip, you will receive an email from The Parking Spot with all of your details (time, address, etc).
Download The Parking Spot App – You will Love This App (2)
Everything you need to manage your parked car, to tracking your shuttle is right in the palm of your hand.
Things will flow so much easier for you without chaos happening. One of my favorite things to do with the app is to track my shuttle.
Once you sign into the helpful Parking Spot App, you can see your reservation, where your car is parked, and create other reservations while you are on the road.
Making reservations while you are already traveling is easy, you just pick your date, time, and what type of parking you want (covered, covered valet, or uncovered).
Also, some Parking Spots offer car cleaning services.
Tip: The Process that Makes Or Breaks Your Airport Travel (3)
Naturally, this leads me to my next discussion tip for enjoying a stress-free airport experience. Before you can even think about a parking spot, you really need to look at your flight times and decipher how much time you need to get to the gate.
If you don’t have TSA PreCheck, I always will suggest 2 hours. There might be no crowds or the crowds might be vast.
Whichever it is, you want to allow yourself plenty of time, so 2 hours ahead of boarding time is appropriate for domestic flights.
However, 3 hours ahead of boarding is suggested for international flights. Now let’s make that parking reservation.
Hassle Free Arrival At The Parking Spot. (4)
Never worry that you will have to guess where to park or if a shuttle will find you in the lot. When you arrive at The Parking Spot, scan that app with your reservation code.
A very friendly staff member from The Parking Spot will tell you which aisle to park in (they are lettered).
Mark Your Spot (5)
Once parked, open your App and ‘Mark’ where you are parked!
There’s not much more to explain, except that when you arrive back to your home base airport, you will know where your car is.
Really that is as stress-free as it gets.
All Aboard The Shuttle (6)
What happens next is magical. Literally, you will pull into your parking spot and behind you, The Parking Spot shuttle shows up.
Drivers of the Parking Spot shuttles always help you with your bags, so you can concentrate on locking your car, and making sure you brought your phone and keys along.
Did I mention that the drivers actually reminds everyone getting on the shuttle to check for their phones, wallets, and keys?
They are your wingman (or lady)! Love this! Just show up for your reservation and The Parking Spot helps with everything else.
Your next stop is the airport curb and your luggage will be placed on the curb at the airline carrier you indicate you need.
No sweat, no frustration, just a drop-off, on time! Do note that shuttles run every 15 minutes so you are sure to get on one!
Your Back So Soon?
Isn’t that how it feels at the end of a vacation? How crazy is it that when we are home, time can pass so slow, but when on a vacation, those days just slip by faster than a blink of an eye! After you get off the plane and claim your bags, open your App.
Track your shuttle in real time, and the drivers know you are there. You basically Ping’d them. Read the app which will provide pickup door instructions (which doors they are picking up at) instructs you to which doors you will find a shuttle at.
As a small gift to yourself, look around at all the other people GUESSING when and where their shuttle might meet them. See, my 7 way to make your airport experience stress free, really has nothing to do with the airport itself, rather the time getting to and from the airport. Get Spot On with travel and drop the stress level out of your vacation that is ahead of you! ~ DANA XO
Dana Vento is a travel writer and brand partner of The Parking Spot. Since discovering them, my whole pre-flight stress has dissipated. It is possible to travel to and from the airport stress-free. She is helping every airport traveler, one SPOT at a time!