Heathrow/Gatwick Travel

laurentian

Mid March, Mrs Laurentian and I are going to cycle from Hanoi Vietnam to somewhere in Laos.

We are flying out of Gatwick on 13/3 and landing back at Heathrow on 1/4.

As we are in the Midlands and journey being M1/M25 to either, Heathrow is much closer than Gatwick and so leaving the car at Gatwick and having to schlep back there from Heathrow after landing only to drive back past it on our way home adds about 70 miles and seems logistically illogical.

Leaving car at Heathrow then getting a shuttle seems possible but has anyone got any ideas on the best way to do this? Flight out is early morning (6.20am)

Cheers

MountainMonster

Interesting question. Why didn't you book the tickets to leave from the same airport? It seems to me the added journey between the 2 airports is the illogical part, as opposed to deciding where to leave the car.

For me, having the car at the Heathrow would make much more sense, as I would rather have the easy journey on the return leg. Perhaps go down the night before you are set to fly away, leave the car there, and book yourself into a hotel, or wait at the airport and do a midnight transfer? Either way, it's going to be much more cumbersome than needed.

laurentian

MountainMonster wrote:

Interesting question. Why didn't you book the tickets to leave from the same airport? It seems to me the added journey between the 2 airports is the illogical part, as opposed to deciding where to leave the car.

The reason is that Hanoi is in the north of Vietnam and accessible via Gatwick, after going to Laos and travelling around a bit after that, we fly out of Ho Chi Minh in the South which only goes back to Heathrow.

MountainMonster

OK, that makes sense. Best of luck with the journey!

slowmart

Take the pain on the outbound journey.

Flâneur

Have the car handy for your arrival home, or just consider trains to and from each of them.

t4tomo

laurentian wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

Interesting question. Why didn't you book the tickets to leave from the same airport? It seems to me the added journey between the 2 airports is the illogical part, as opposed to deciding where to leave the car.

The reason is that Hanoi is in the north of Vietnam and accessible via Gatwick, after going to Laos and travelling around a bit after that, we fly out of Ho Chi Minh in the South which only goes back to Heathrow.

You can fly to Hanoi from Heathrow very easily, trust me, I've done it loads of times from Heathrow for work. gatwick might be cheaper but more flights go from Heathrow. Direct flights with Vietnam Airlines only go from Gatwick at the moment, 3 days a week, although they are moving to Heathrow in the summer and going to a daily service.

Enjoy the trip it's sounds great, hope you have a mountain bike or tough touring bike though, a lot of the roads out there aren't very road bike friendly.

fat_cat

I would vote for taking the pain on the outward trip.

A coach shuttle operates between Heathrow and Gatwick, but given the time of your flight, I'm not sure what time the coach runs from in the morning. Might be worth dropping the car of a Heathrow the night before, getting the coach to Gatwick and booking a hotel at Gatwick for the night.

Other issue is the cost of parking at Heathrow which isn't cheap.

Whatever you decide, have a great trip.

VTech

Get a limo to pick you up from the arrival airport and take you to the original airport, will cost around £150.
Reason I say Limo is a cab will cost you around £100 and the extra is worth it as landing back in the Uk is always an anti climax and this would cheer you both up.

VTech

Just checked and companies are offering this for around £100 for a Business Class Merc.
Bargain.

Monkeypump

Another vote for doing all the faff on the outward journey and making it easier on the return. Parking at Heathrow is a bit more expensive, but I assume people like Purple Parking do deals.

VTech's idea might soften the blow a little, but it'll still be a pain schlepping all the way to Gatwick after a long-haul flight. I'd just want to head home.

pinno

I don't know where you are in the midlands but for example, you can get a coach all the way from Wolverhampton, Digbeth, Banbury, Coventry, Warwick all the way to Gatwick. No parking fees, shuttle buses, no stress. Coaches all the way through the night:

Click here

laurentian

Gents

Thank you for all of the suggestions - all of which have been given due heed and investigation. In a huge stroke of luck (well, for me at least) my brother finds himself between jobs and is able to offer a "taxi service" for us both to Gatwick and from Heathrow - paying for his fuel and a substantial "drink" in it for him is a win/win.

Thanks once again, your help is appreciated. The bikes are some kind of Trek Hybrids I think . . . a bit different to what we're used to but we should manage and thanks for the kind wishes.

Will report back when done.

pinno

laurentian wrote:

Gents

Thank you for all of the suggestions - all of which have been given due heed and investigation. In a huge stroke of luck (well, for me at least) my brother finds himself between jobs and is able to offer a "taxi service" for us both to Gatwick and from Heathrow - paying for his fuel and a substantial "drink" in it for him is a win/win.

Thanks once again, your help is appreciated. The bikes are some kind of Trek Hybrids I think . . . a bit different to what we're used to but we should manage and thanks for the kind wishes.

Will report to the Royal Marsden with malaria and amoebic dysentery when done.

FTFY.

Have a good holiday.

laurentian

Cheers!