Airport parking and Hotels (APH), the long stay airport parking and travel extras specialist, has turned the spotlight on its own industry by highlighting the extra charges imposed by airport parking booking companies. The research compares the extra charges imposed by the top, airport parking booking agencies offering services at all major UK airports, including credit card charges, debit card charges, cancellation fees and refunds. The table is available in the ‘Know Before You Go’ section of the website at www.aph.com/charges.

Cancellation and amendment fees were found to be the highest charge added to the booking with all the companies charging cancellation fees if a booking is cancelled close to the travel date, however some charge hefty fees even if customers cancel well in advance. Airparks, BCP and Holiday Extras (all part of the same company group) charge £9.50 for each cancellation if not done within 24 hours of making the booking, whereas Airport parking and Hotels (APH) and Purple parking have no charges for cancelling at least a day in advance of the departure date.

Nick Caunter, managing director of Airport parking and Hotels (APH) says: “The good news is that compared to the no frills airlines where the extra charges often occur, the airport parking industry has many fewer “extras”. However, customers really need to be savvy about who they book with because there are significant differences between companies.”

Airport parking and Hotels Ltd is one of the UK’s leading booking agencies and this year celebrates its 30th year as a retailer and operator of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports, ports and Eurotunnel terminals plus airport hotels packaged with parking, airport lounges, travel insurance, car hire and holiday taxis. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has, through the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of Belize rainforest.

For further information visit www.aph.com or call 01342 859515.

Save up to £161.58 on Single-Trip Winter Sport Insurance

Airport parking and Hotels (APH), the long stay airport parking and travel extras specialist, is helping skiers and snowboarders this winter by highlighting the best and worst winter sport insurance policies. The information compares the cost of 20 travel insurance providers for a single and annual multi-trip for a family of four in Europe and worldwide. Visit the ‘Know Before You Go’ section of the APH website, www.aph.com/skiinsurance, for further details.

The research found that skiers and snowboarders looking for a single trip to Europe should swerve away from HSBC with the family single trip policy reaching as high as £106.02, compared to OUL Classic at only £25.00 and APH at only £29.95. APH also offers the most competitive family annual multi-trip insurance in Europe at £49.95 and Insure & Go offering worldwide at £64, both including up to 17 days cover. However Lloyds TSB proved to be the most costly provider for worldwide annual multi-trip insurance and single trip insurance at a whopping £200.14 and £210.01 for a family of four.

Many of the travel insurance providers were also found to offer additional benefits on policies with children covered for free with Complete Ski and AA. Halifax, Sainsbury’s and Complete Ski also offer up to 24 days of annual winter sports cover on annual multi-trip policies, and nearly all the insurers include off-piste skiing and snowboarding with a qualified guide.

Nick Caunter, managing director of APH, says “winter sports insurance is a vital purchase for snowboarders and skiers, but it is important to compare levels of cover and the premium to get the best value for money so we felt it was important to provide a useful guideline in the Know Before You Go section of the website for travellers heading to the slopes this season”.

Airport parking and Hotels Ltd is one of the UK’s leading booking agencies and has over 29 years’ experience as a retailer of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports, ports and Eurotunnel terminals plus airport hotels packaged with parking, airport lounges, travel insurance, car hire and holiday taxis. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has through the World Land Trust helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of Belize rainforest.

The table compares the kids club facilities at hotels in ski resorts available with five of the largest UK tour operators; Mark warner, Thomson Ski, Club Med, Crystal Holidays and Neilson, highlighting information on the various childcare age groups, staff qualifications, babysitting services, daytime activities and safety information.

The research found that three of the five tour operators offer childcare for infants under six months, however Crystal Holidays and Thomson Ski only offer care for children aged six months and above. All the kids clubs provide daytime activities, lunch and some form of evening childcare. Neilson offer an extensive range of childcare facilities at the Hotel Aalborg in Les Deux Alpes, France. However, parents will need to organise childcare arrangements themselves at other Neilson ski resorts. Parents should also be aware that they will need to fill in a Child Health Form when they arrive at their destination. All the tours operators recommend that kids clubs should be booked at the time of making a holiday reservation.

Nick Caunter, managing director of APH, says “With the ski holiday season fast approaching, and many families leaving their booking much later than previous years, we chose now to highlight the options for families this winter”.

Airport parking and Hotels Ltd is one of the UK’s leading booking agencies and has over 29 years’ experience as a retailer of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports, ports and Eurotunnel terminals plus airport hotels packaged with parking, airport lounges, travel insurance, car hire and holiday taxis. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has through the World Land Trust helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of Belize rainforest.