Gatwick Airport parking not only boasts over a dozen car parks, but offers a wide range of parking facilities to help improve the overall experience of departing or arriving at one of the busiest airports in the country. Flying can be stressful at the best of times, and you cut the stress by parking near Gatwick, or at the airport itself.

In total the traveler choosing to fly from Gatwick has a choice of over thirty different parking facilities, and these provide a range of solutions to fit particular needs, preferences and pockets. The first option, and the one which will need least preparation or planning, is parking your car at the airport with no prior booking arrangement in place. This is referred to as either the airport drive on price of airport gate price, and will be rather expensive compared to the wide range of bookable facilities which could be arranged before you even leave home or the office.

With airports, including Gatwick, continually expanding, the available land for providing parking near Gatwick is becoming increasingly under pressure, and with space a premium, prices have risen to reflect this. As far as general Gatwick Airport parking provision is concerned, you have a choice between three main facilities: off-airport parking, on-airport parking and a 'Meet and Greet' service.

The off-airport services, which include APH Gatwick, Courtlands and Cophall Farm, are secure compound areas which provide a level of security that is significantly higher than those found within the airport itself. Typically you will be asked to leave your keys at reception, and your car will then be parked for you. This provides peace of mind in terms of security and convenience, but with a greater distance to the airport itself, this may be less convenient if you have a large amount of luggage.

On-airport parking includes the Summer Special facility, NCP Flightpath and Parking Express South. These facilities are quite large, and when you arrive you will be given a designated area in which to park. It is wise to make a note of this area in order to help locate the car at the end of your trip. You will need to park your car yourself, and then use a transfer coach to the airport terminal itself. A good tip is to drop off family and luggage at one of these bus stops, and to then park the car.

The Meet and Greet services available take parking your car at Gatwick Airport to a new level of comfort, convenience and peace of mind. These services reflect a growing demand amongst both business passengers and holidaymakers for a service which delivers maximum convenience.

The Meteor Meet and Greet and Cophall Farm are just two examples of this service, and in all cases you will simply need to drive straight to the terminal, and hand the keys over to a driver who will park your car for you. At the end of the trip the driver will return your car directly to the terminal again.

These Gatwick airport parking services come at a price which is higher than the standard services, but if you have a good deal of luggage, or are in a hurry, have young children or find the whole experience of airports quite stressful, then they are certainly worth every penny. More on this service later.

It is worth being aware that a growing number of car parks at Gatwick are charging for a minimum of three days' parking. If you are only going away for a day or two you may find it cheaper to use the long stay car park which is closest to the terminal itself.

The long term car park facilities are best booked in advance in order to make significant cost savings. During the summer months the airport is, quite naturally, very much busier than during the winter, and using the long term car park or a Meet and Greet or Valet service is beneficial.

The short stay car park prices, for both Gatwick North and South Terminals, vary from ?1 for the first 15 minutes to ?8.80 for 3-4 hours. Between 18-24 hours expect to pay ?17.90, with a charge of ?21 for every additional 24 hours.

There is also an option known as the fast track parking facility which is useful if you are in a hurry. This is a more expensive option, but highly valuable if you are late or simply need to reach the terminal quickly. Expect to pay ?14.60 for a stay of up to 3 hours, and ?22.40 for a stay of up to 12 hours. Each 24 hour period after the first day is charged at ?27.80.

Clearly these prices reflect the need to consider pre-booking your parking, and this can easily be done online. If you're spending time looking at online booking facilities for car parking at Gatwick Airport, you might be interested to review the Meet and Greet services, sometimes referred to as either Valet Parking or Chauffeured Parking. Imagine arriving directly outside the terminal, and being met by a driver who will help you with your luggage, then drive your car to a secure compound. If you are parking near Gatwick, you generally don't have to pre-book.

After your trip, your driver will meet you, with your car, directly outside the terminal again, and will assist you with any luggage. If you travel very frequently, are in a hurry, have children, elderly passengers of anyone with any form of disability, having a lot of luggage or simply want to be pampered right from the start, this is certainly one of the finest Gatwick Airport parking services offered. Searching for your car amongst seemingly endless car parks at the end of a holiday is not much fun, and at less than ?80 for a week, it's well worth considering.