Renting a car not only gives you independence from public transport, but it can be a very economic choice if you’re travelling as a group or family. When it’s time to fly home, just return the car at the airport and get on your flight. No need to worry about getting a bus or train which will get you to check-in on time.
When you land at London Stansted Airport, it’s easy to find the car rental desks which are situated between the Arrivals and Departures areas. Among the companies represented are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Europcar, National and Hertz. Naturally, you can rent a car when you arrive, but it’s quite possible that the type of vehicle you want is already booked out or that the rate you had hoped for has gone up. This is where online booking comes in.
There are a myriad of travel services which offer online booking for car rentals, with websites like www.uk-car-hire.net providing quick and easy selection and confirmation. You can see and choose the vehicle model, whether you want manual or automatic, a mini or sedan. You will also get a quote instantly and can book any extra equipment you may need, including roof racks and baby seats. Once you’ve made your selection, you’ll get immediate confirmation and a voucher.
In order to rent a vehicle, you must be 21 years or older, hold a valid driving licence and a credit card. The credit card is needed to block a safety deposit in case of any accidents or damage to the car. The block is then cancelled when you return the car.
When you arrive at the airport, contact the staff at the rental desk and show them your confirmation voucher. They will ask you to confirm your details and give you the keys and detailed directions on how to find the car at the airport. The car will be parked in a parking lot which is easily reached on foot from the terminal or in one of the lots linked by a free shuttle service. Stansted Airport is conveniently located at Junction 8 of the M11, which links to London via the M25 (Junction 27). The trip to central London takes about 60 to 80 minutes.
When you want to return the car, just drop it off at the rental returns office found in the short-stay car park next to Zone G, just a short walk away from Stansted Airport’s main terminal building. Here a company staff member will collect the keys and confirm that the car is in good condition before cancelling the safety deposit block. If you wish, you can return the car at another airport or at a location in the city however this may mean an additional charge.
Travellers also have the convenient option to pre-book Stansted airport lounges as well as car parking at the airport complex. Booking your Stansted airport parking in advance through the internet will save you some money as the parking rates online are discounted. Relaxing in an airport lounge is highly recommendable for every passenger who has to wait long. Avoid uncomfortably hanging around at the airport. You can book your Stansted airport lounge online as well.
Stansted airport is currently the fourth busiest in the country, although if the proposed development plans go ahead it is likely that this position will be improved. Any development is likely to include an expansion of accompanying services such as shops, car hire desks, and eateries as these are all an efficient method for Stansted Airport to earn extra revenue.
The expansion of the site however is not without its critics, as Stansted Airport sits in one of the most beautiful rural settings anywhere within the UK, local residents are understandably up in arms over these development plans. Currently the site handles around twenty million passengers annually, making it one of the major airports in Britain, but what is the history of the site, what has been involved in the development Stansted?
Stansted Airport takes its name from the nearby town of Stansted Mountfitchet, a sleepy Essex town that sits on the border with Hertfordshire. The site was earmarked for development at the outset of the Second World War although instead of a major RAF presence, the USAAF were the predominant force in building the site up. The engineers of the USAAF laid the runways and put in place a number of hangars. The purpose of the airfield was to house bombers of the 344th bombardment group.
As the home of the 344th, a squadron that utilised the massive B26 bomber a number of sorties were flown to sites on the continent including France, Germany and the Netherlands. Stansted played a particularly important role during the Normandy landings, bombing bridges and strategic positions behind the German lines to hold up their withdrawal. An action worthy of note was the role played by the 344th in restricting the German retreat through the Falaise Gap, a pivotal moment during the war.
Stansted airport especially benefited from the growth in budget air travel during the eighties and nineties due to the fact that the rates it offered airlines were cheaper than those at Heathrow or Gatwick. It is not however purely budget travel that is catered for at the site, in recent years the prestigious department store Harrods has started operating flights from Stansted; allowing passengers to charter a private jet to almost anywhere in the world.
This service is accompanied by the opportunity to utilise helicopter transfers from London as well as chauffeur driven car hire services. The Harrods operations however are only a small part of the operations of the site, with so many passengers passing through daily, a number of services offering coach travel, rail and car hire provisions have been built up to accommodate the needs of passengers heading out on an onward journey.
The road links that service Stansted Airport are fantastic, in the past few years a major link has been constructed to the M11 Motorway providing fast and efficient travel not only to London but to destinations all around the country. For those utilising car hire services however there is another option before jumping onto the motorway, this is to tour the wondrous countryside that surrounds the site. With a wealth of quant and picturesque villages and towns literally five minutes drive away; those who want to experience the real England will find an attractive travel proposition.
While the arguments over the expansion of the site may be continuing it is likely that Stansted will receive a second runway and will subsequently increase its passenger numbers. This can only be good for the auxiliary services such as car hire desks, restaurants and shops as revenues will subsequently increase. The history of the site is rich, in the coming years it is likely that this development will only continue.
Both Andrew Burrows & Thomas Pretty are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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