Hi Steve8482,
My info came by email from a customer relation member at the airport, who said I could give the information as it is not a secret or anything like that.
As for the bus service I agree with you it makes more sense to use a taxi, I never knew the fares where so close for a single journey, although the bus was better value for a return at £6. I only found out because we want to be at the airport earlier than the bus sets off on the morning of our flight, we like to be at check in at least 3 hours before departure and the first bus only starts at 4am.

Alan

bmibaby is to pull out of Manchester at the end of this summer:
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2256&p=1524616#p1524616

David

WOW, this is a bit of a shocker David, BMI baby have always been well used at Manchester I think. Must be the landing fees etc that are to large for them at a big International airport, still, it gives the other airlines more custom.

Alan

Hi,
I was just wondering if anyone has used the new taxi firm Arrow cars at the airport, we have booked with them for the short journey between the airport and the premier inn and was wondering what they are like.
It seems that the airport have arranged to use this new taxi company instead of the airport shuttle buses which ceased operating in April.
Thanks.
Alan

Can somebody tell me please which is the nearest hotel to Manchester airport?

I'm just looking to book the Premier Inn but I've noticed it doesn't say if there's a shuttle service to take us from the hotel to the airport. Can someone confirm whether there is or not please before I hit the book button. Thanks

The hotel shuttle service bus was canceled last month by Manchester Airport as previously discussed on here here, there is a taxi service which can be booked the fare is now £8 each way, but when I booked it did not recognize the rail station at the airport and I had to call arrow cars who are now the airport taxi service. When I collected the in laws the other day I asked a couple of black cab drivers and other taxis of the fare and all said it is £8 each way.

Alan

Mdollar

The closest hotel is the Radisson Blu located on the airport between terminals 1 & 2. I've stayed there before and it's ok. No shuttles or taxis to wait for and you're two minutes walk from the check-ins. Easy access for the trains too for a night out before travelling in Manchester. This year I've booked direct with the hotel for one night on June 19th plus 15 days car parking for £129.00 - it was about £20.00 cheaper booking direct rather than going though booking agents.

Airport's own site map showing main hotels (in purpley blue). Don't be taken in by the small scale, it's a big place.

As said the Radisson is in the middle of the link bridge between T1 and T2.

depending on your luggage, Bewleys could be in walking distance but bear in mind that the Airport managers hate pedestrians and the walking route is a bit of a pain. They also aren't keen on bus/train passngers and only tolerate motorists because they can make money out of them! But I digress..

The Premier Inn and Travelodge are quiet a distance from the terminals because they are on the cargo centre side of the airfield so you have to go all the way round. Arriva run a fairly frequent bus (route 18 to Altrincham) from the airport transport interchange that stops close by these 2 (but not at the door, so again luggage to be considered). For 1 or 2 people this would be cheaper than taxi but for a family maybe not worth the hassle. Inadequate info is available from here http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/ServiceSearchResults.aspx?txt=18&stype=service&reg=North%20West - since this service is managed from Liverpool they don't realise how useful and potentially profitable it could be so don't bother to give a map or show the best stop in the basic timetable!! Allow about 5 minutes from the interchange and tell the driver where you want to be. Even better, this route goes past the Marriot but doesn't stop near!

The interchange is easy enough for T1 and T2 but T3 is a bit of a hike. They have scrapped the free shuttle and the walking route signposting gets a bit vague on the middle. But it goes through T1 (change of level inside) then outside in the rain and through an office building at one point!

If you are aiming for any of the 4 cargo side hotels and coming on a train that stops at Wilmslow don't even go to the airport station. Get off at Wilmslow and get a local taxi from there. It's faster and the taxi fare is about the same.

Sorry I had not seen mdollar's message asking for the nearest hotel just the one about the no longer existing hotel bus service, it really depends on peoples budgets as even though the Premier Inn is a taxi ride away it is still less than half the price of the Radisson hotel, but as is rightly stated the Radisson is only a five minute walk from T1 and ten minutes from T2.

Alan

First time flying through Manchester this July with Thomas Cook T1.

My dad is dropping us off before work early so will be there for about 3 or 4am for a 08am departure. Will there be anything open at this time in the morning to keep us entertained? or will it be a case of sit down and wait...

Also can anybody confirm if there is an airside smoking area after security in T1?

Cheers

Peter

peterb1203,

There won't be a lot open at that time of morning other than the main restaurant and the main duty free shop. The others don't tend to start opening until about 0530-6am. Airside smoking details for T1 are here.

Darren

Thanks everyone for your replies!

i have seen that manchester airport now has a smoking area in terminal 2 does anybody know when or if this is going to happen at terminal 1, i have always found it to be strange that they dont considering there is a a good chance of flight delays

i know its not a welcome subject to all but on long haul flights it could be 12 hours and for smokers this could lead to stress

shaper546,

Refer to my post to peterb1203 above. There's been a smoking area airside in T1 for over 12 months now.

Darren

thanks for that flew in july last year and didnt know about this

great stuff

am replies travelling to the airport on 1st august flying the following day with thomson stopping overnight in the raddison is there any where besides hotel based you can go for a pint , thank you for any

cpclarkes,

Welcome onboard
There's the Airport Pub at the end of runway 23R if you want to get a taxi down there (or about 45 mins walk). Other than that, it's just the hotel really.

Darren

It's also very cheap and easy to get into East Didsbury or the city centre in the evening, see the Evening Ranger part of http://www.gmpte.gov.uk/journey_planning/tickets_rail.cfm?submenuheader=1 - at £2.20 you could save that in a couple of pints compared to airport hotel prices!!