Over the years I have flown many times from Manchester airport. It has grown considerably since I experienced my first abroad holiday – back in the day! As a child I found the whole experience of flying very exciting and even now with my own children in tow, I see the whole airport experience as part of the holiday. Apart from experiencing a few flight delays over the years, flying from Manchester has been positive. Due to current security issues, checking in can take longer than it used to, but this is understandable and allowing plenty of time before flying allows more time to experience the shops and facilities Manchester airport has to offer.
The choice of destinations is astonishing, it would be very tempting to hop on a plane to warmer climes this Christmas or even visit somewhere cold, at least snow would be guaranteed!
Lets take a look at why you should choose to fly from Manchester.
Destinations
Manchester airport is vast and the size of the runway allows for flights to take off and land almost simultaneously. Lots of different airlines operate from the airport, including BMI airlines, Airblue, Air France, American airlines, Bangladesh Airlines and Etihad Airways to name a few. It is possible to fly to 177 destinations from Manchester airport, so there are a wide range of holiday options to choose from.
The Manchester airport website is your first point of call for reliable, detailed and friendly information when planning your trip. We have flown from Manchester on various occasions as the flights have worked out much cheaper than from our smaller regional airport. This is because the prices can be competitive due to the large range of flights and airline operators available.
So if you fancy a trip to Singapore next year, you could be there in 13 hours and 20 minutes direct from Manchester!
Shopping
My holiday starts as soon as I’ve checked my luggage in and passed through security. I love to browse the many shops at Manchester airport and normally buy perfume or makeup before my trip, as well as a book and magazine to read on the journey. There is certainly a lot of choice when it comes to shops, which again has more appeal than a smaller airport. There are too many shops to mention, so here is a short resume of the 30 different shops to choose from. Accessorize, FatFace, Jo Malone, WH Smith, Bobbi Brown, Clarins, Pandora, Timberland, JD Sports, Monsoon, Paperchase and Victoria’s secret. There’s is also a huge duty free shop.
Food and drink
There are plenty of airport lounges to relax in prior to your flight at Manchester. Many are ideal for families, as there is plenty of space making it easy to keep small children comfortable and entertained. There are options to upgrade your lounge experience for a small fee which will enable you to enjoy facilities such as free Wi-Fi, charging points, TV’s and complementary refreshments. There also adult only lounges where it’s possible to relax in peace and quiet. It is also possible to book security fast track!
In addition to the numerous lounges there are also plenty of food outlets, bars and restaurants to visit. It is more or less possible to find any kind of food you fancy, whether it’s a quick coffee and sandwich on the go or a more leisurely meal. Ensure you leave plenty of time to get to your gate when called, I nearly missed a plane many moons ago due to spending too much time enjoying the restaurants and bars!
Like the vast number of shops the number of restaurants and bars are too much to list completely so here’s a sample of what is available. Bar MCR, Brodericks, Cabin, Café Balzar, Costa, Frankie and Benny’s, Giraffe, The Grain Loft and many, many more!
Although you can book a meal on the plane when flying, I prefer to eat at the airport and buy snacks to take on-board as it’s usually the cheapest option as well as tasting nicer!
Hotels
If you are travelling to Manchester from a distance away or if you have a flight that is leaving particularly early, you may wish to start your holiday early by booking into a hotel the night before. There are many hotel options to choose from. There are four hotels actually onsite including The Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Radisson Blu and the Clayton Hotel. You can often get good parking deals when you book as a package. Most hotels offer transport to the airport. The hotels on site are also only 10 minutes away on foot.
In addition to the hotels on site, there are numerous hotels within a five mile radius of the airport, sometimes you can even park your car there for the duration of the holiday.
Parking
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| An empty carpark? Not a sight you will often see at Manchester Airport! |
Manchester airport is extremely busy, so plenty of time should be allowed to find suitable parking. To save time it is recommended to pre book, which has the benefit of being more convenient and stress free!
A short stay carpark is available for stays of 4 hours or less, these car parks are perfect for drop offs and collections of passengers. Long stay carparks are available for stays of a few days or more, you will save money by pre booking, so that you can take advantage of the many deals available. Manchester meet and greet parking and valet packages offer the most convenience of all.
For convenience, choice of destinations, facilities available and overall holiday experience, Manchester airport remains my first choice.
*collaborative post
