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Original poster

What is your cut off for getting an airport hotel?

113 replies

joycomesinthemornings · 23/10/2026 07:44

I’m going to Rome next month.

My flight is at 15:40 so I need to be at the airport by 12:40.

I live a five hour coach journey from the airport, or about three hours by train and then bus. But of course if travelling by public transport you have to factor in time for delays etc.

I’m really tempted to go up the day before and stay either in the city centre or at the airport. But that also feels a bit silly for a 3pm flight!

What’s the general consensus on this sort of thing?

OP posts:
dustfromadistantsun · 23/10/2026 14:57

I’m from Okehampton and I had a teacher once who told me they got to Bristol in an hour - while I think they have exaggerated a little bit, I don’t know how the bus can take 5 hours? What are they DOING?

Original poster
joycomesinthemornings · 23/10/2026 21:00

dustfromadistantsun · 23/10/2026 14:57

I’m from Okehampton and I had a teacher once who told me they got to Bristol in an hour - while I think they have exaggerated a little bit, I don’t know how the bus can take 5 hours? What are they DOING?

Ask national express!

OP posts:
WhistPie · 23/10/2026 21:32

Monty36 · 23/10/2026 09:34

Sometimes for a short haul the desk won’t open until two hours beforehand.
Unless I lived on top of an airport I would always stay overnight.

Yes, London City only lets you drop bags 2 hours beforehand

LoveofAvalon · 23/10/2026 21:34

Definitely the night before. The M5 is awful and has been for months. Unless you live in Devon/Somerset/North Somerset you have no idea just how bad it’s been/is

newrubylane · 23/10/2026 21:54

WhosGotTheKeysToMyBimma · 23/10/2026 08:37

How does it take 4 hours 55 to get to Bristol airport from rural Devon?

Is it a bus from where you live to connect to a coach to pick up the falcon service? That's an insane journey, I'm so sorry! I've used the falcon before, it's a great service but I'll get someone to drop me at the stop.

Can you get a taxi or a lift part of the way?

By the time you've faffed around with public transport or a coach and hotels it'd be cheaper just to book a taxi, I'm sure. I appreciate that there are multiple stops etc., but 5 hours on a coach to do a journey that surely could be driven direct in 2.5 hours tops is bonkers.

avignon1234 · Yesterday 00:21

Tiptopflipflop · 23/10/2026 08:04

I often stay at an airport hotel the night before because I enjoy it.

I live 20 minutes from the airport and have a 2pm flight coming up. But I'll stay over because I find it more relaxing than leaving home on the morning of the flight. Once I get to the hotel I feel like I'm on holiday. Nice dinner, early night, lie in and a hotel breakfast before I mooch over to the terminal. Lovely.

Absolutely this. Just get an airport hotel booked, travel at your leisure, and have a good night's sleep, then stroll over to the airport. It is not particularly cheap, but I have had too many trains going wrong to contemplate otherwise, I travel a lot. x

Hoppymclimpy · Yesterday 03:06

I'd say do what makes your travelling as stress free as possible, funds allowing. I'm speaking from current experience after landing in the US 4 hrs ago with my 77 yr old Dad and 15 yr old DD. Seeing family who very kindly paid our flights so I felt more than happy to pay for hotel rooms at LHR then an arm & a leg for 7 days parking at T2!
I'm also a 3+ he's before flight type of person 😃

menopausequeen · Yesterday 07:22

Just stay and relax.

CeeJay81 · Yesterday 08:32

Id stay overnight. We live in very rural. 2 hrs 45 direct train to bham International but on a train line that has regular cancellations and trains are not very often. If I fly before 4pm, I just stay overnight. I'd stress too much otherwise.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · Yesterday 09:13

In your case, I’d go the day before.

IndieRocknRoll · Yesterday 22:54

Forton26 · 23/10/2026 08:50

I agree! Traffic and Manchester Airport itself can be a nightmare. I’m 30 mins ish away and have stayed at the Raddison for early flights and it was so much easier!

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I can only assume previous posters have never travelled from Manchester airport with checked in luggage - we queued for almost 2 hours last time to check in & get through security! If I’d arrived 90 mins before, I’d have missed my plane! Birmingham can be similar.

Bjorkdidit · Today 01:52

But we know the OP is going from Bristol, which is probably much smaller and less chaotic than Manchester so doesn't need the same time allowance.

I travel regularly from Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester and allow more time at the latter. I would treat Bristol he same as I would Leeds and Liverpool, where 90 mins is plenty.

Calliopespa · Today 01:10

joycomesinthemornings · 23/10/2026 07:49

The guidance is three hours therefore I will stick to that.

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I thought that was for long haul flights? I'm pretty sure Europe is 2 hours?

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