When planning a holiday, one of the first considerations is how to get to the airport. Using transport (public or private) is not always practical due to schedules that are not compatible with flights, lack of direct connections or choice of airports that are too far away. In these cases, using airport parking is a convenient solution that can also prove to be cheaper. By using comparison platforms, it becomes really easy to evaluate the options and find the one that best suits your budget and convenience. In this post, we try to go through the factors to consider and how to go about saving on parking by choosing the best option.
Types of Airport Parking
There are mainly two types of car parks: those owned by the airport and those managed by private companies. Both have advantages and disadvantages that are worth considering before making a choice.
Airport car parks: these are located within the area and are closer to the terminals, sometimes within walking distance. They are generally the most expensive, but the price is due to the convenience of being closer. The weakness of these car parks is that although they are on ‘airport land’ the security is perhaps less than in private car parks. In fact, most airports do not have security fencing around the entire area, making the car parks furthest from the terminal potentially vulnerable.
Private car parks: these are further away from the airport and almost always require a shuttle to reach the terminals. They are, however, cheaper than the previous ones mainly due to competition between the various companies that tend to keep prices competitive. From a security point of view, however, they are generally better managed. They have fences, only one entrance and exit and 24-hour surveillance. In addition, they offer many additional services: covered parking, charging stations for electric cars, luggage assistance, vehicle cleaning and Car Valet service (you can leave your car at the entrance of the terminal with an attendant who takes it to the car park).
Price Comparator for Saving on Airport Parking
Booking parking in advance is always one of the most effective strategies for saving money: you have more choice and more available spaces, avoiding the inconvenience of having to look for parking at the last minute and having to make do.
Even for car parks, there are now online platforms that allow you to compare prices and services. This makes it possible to make an informed choice and find the best value for money, without having to go through a thousand different sites.
Parkos operates mainly in Europe with a lot of coverage in Italy, both for major airports such as Milan and Rome and for local ones. We use it often, and using it is very simple: just enter the airport of departure, the date and time of entry and exit, and the system will display a list of available options. Comparable features include the distance to the terminal, the type of parking space (covered or open-air) and extra services such as Car Valet or electric car charging. The booking can be completed online but in some cases payment can be made on site. An important note is that cancellation is free of charge up to 24 hours before access and changes in time or days can be managed independently from the customer area.
ParkVia is another globally known platform covering numerous airports, especially in Europe. When comparing prices, it allows you to view the details of parking facilities, such as shuttle availability, security and additional services.
Vologio is active in several European countries, including Italy, France, Germany and Austria. It offers a comprehensive overview of available options, including prices, extra services and user reviews.
Looking4Parking, also known as Looking4, is a global platform specialising in finding parking spaces not only at airports but also at railway stations and ports.
Parclick is a European platform and has extensive coverage in Italy, Spain, France and Germany. Parclick often offers discounts and special promotions.
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Choosing the right car park can make a big difference, with a little planning it is possible not only to find a convenient solution but also to optimise the travel budget.
Last modified: 7 April 2025
