To be worried about driving with no sleep

[Imustbemad00]

So we have a 6:15am flight. I’m driving, airport is about an hour away so no point staying in a nearby hotel or anything, and can’t really afford the extra cost.
Will probably have to leave home around 2am. I never really drive at night so that makes me slightly nervous although this shouldn’t be too much of an issue as roads will be quiet and I’ll have sat nav.
The main issue is that I’m not going to be able to sleep and will be knackered by 2am. I’m quite worried.
I suppose if I’m super organised and everything is completely packed in the car and ready to go I could probably get a couple of hours. Although the organised part is unlikely as I’ll have been at work all day. By the time the kids fall asleep ect I’d have to get up again at 1ish.

Any suggestions? Does this sound safe?

What’s the cost difference between getting an airport car and the long stay parking? It doesn’t sound like much fun.

If you are two hpurs away book a cheap hotel airport hotel.
Arrive evening before. Bed early up at 4 .00 and quick dressing and to departures.

Your way you will be running on no sleep unless you can go to bed early e.g. 7 pm. So yet driving 2 hpurs on no sleep is risky.

Get a taxi or hotel?

And driving at night does feel different so if you nervous not a good idea.
How much is a tax i?

What time do you need to check in? Could you check in early & snooze at the airport?
You really need to get organised to get home from work, pack the car & get to bed by about 8pm, that would give you 5 hrs sleep - don’t plan to faff in he morning, be very organised!

You will be fine then for a one hour's drive on an empty road.You will be so awake by the time you have the kids in the car.
The time after you arrive will be the tiring bit as the adrenalin rush will be gone .
Hope you have a lovely time and have sometime to unwind.

Only you know the answer.

The fact you have posted this suggests that you are not comfortable.

I would be ok with this but I am a shift worker and a confident driver.

Is there anyone you can beg to drive you there? I would, for a good friend (but the payback would be mahoosive and involve a steak meal and wine).

If you absolutely have to do it....
Prepare. Get some serious sleep the days before. Get everything in the car.
Big girl pants. Big deep breath. Get your mantra that you will be fine and pootle on with some tunes. Get the sat nav on....and if you feel in any way tired or weird get an Uber. Life is precious.

As pp said, don't risk it - go to the airport hotel the evening before.

That Jaguar driver several years ago who got no sleep the night before went to jail for driving under those conditions,
because he accidently caused derailment of a train, killing some people and it was judged that lack of sleep caused his poor driving.

How old are the kids?
Is another adult going so you can sleep when you get there?

If you can't do that, then at least go to bed early evening and get a few hours sleep.

It’s an hour drive not 2 hours and a hotel is unfortunately not an option. It’s just not workable for because we would likely need 2 rooms and it cost quite a bit. It would only save me just over an hour in time because it’s only an hours drive (probably 1.5 by the time I get the car parked and get transfers)

I’m thinking the earliest I could get to sleep is 10pm but would probably feel worse if I had to wake up at 1am. Probably unrealistic anyway as there’s bound to be last minute packing.

Uber is £60-80 each way so not an option.

Only you know how much of an evening person you are. I'm a night owl, a drive from eg 2 to 330 am would be no big deal for me.

Pack the day before if possible. Eg if flight Saturday morning, finish packing Thursday night.

You could drive earlier on the evening and hang around the airport for longer. I've had long airport waits before, it's not so bad of you've got a book or a gadget.

I did this a few months ago, just myself and DD were travelling. Due to my bad planning I was working the night before departure until 10pm!!

I got home at 11pm, loaded mine and DD’s luggage into the car, had a coffee and painted my nails, before just relaxing on the sofa for an hour or so. I then got washed and changed, woke DD and made sure she was up, dressed and organised. Made a coffee for the journey and we left a bit after 2am.

Stayed awake on the journey as DD talked non stop all the way to the airport. Roads were incredibly quiet which was lovely. It wasn’t the most fun I’ve ever had but managed ok. We just sat and relaxed once we were checked in and through security etc. Good luck

@taxiforme that’s what I thought. Alter my routine a bit in the week or 2 leading up so I’m able to fall asleep earlier. Get EVERYTHING already and in the car somehow between sorting kids out and being at work. Hope the kids don’t play up going to sleep and then I can maybe get 4 hours 9-1. I think that’s optimistic though.

OP be very organised. Everything in the car that can be and locked. Last minute packing by the door. Especially car keys, tickets, passports, charger and phones. Hot coffee made up ready to go the night before and stuff to eat in car.

But as previous peeps have said, you should never drive while stressed and tired. I don't know where you're parking, but what it would cost for an uber one way (and coach or whatever on the way back) is often a better deal than airport parking.

If it wasn’t for the kids I’d probably do as pp suggested and go earlier and hang around the airport. Would rather the 6 year old got some sleep though. Planning to just transfer him to car in pyjamas.

Where are you flying to and which airport?
Aiming to get to the airport at 3 for a 6.15 flight sounds too early to me, especially when minutes of sleep are so precious...

If this was me I would get everything packed the night before, bags of clothes for kids to wear travelling to hand in the car and picnic breakfast things.

Wake up at 2, drink coffee, quick shower, bundle kids into car. Eat apple ( good wake up food I find, always have one to hand on long/late journeys)
Leave home at 2.30
Arrive airport car park 3.30
In departures easily by 4, giving masses of time for flight, get kids dressed just before check in so can stuff pjs in the suitcase.

(Tbh, I always cut flights fine, would probably leave a bit later)
You'll be fine op, have a great holiday!!

Well hotel at airport you would sleep 10 pm to 4 am (quick get up and leave)
If it s Europe you only need two hours before flight.
So 1.5 hours drive you only need to leave at 2.45 am ....
Get everything ready and everyone sleep in leggings or joggers night to day wear (change at airport after security if you need to) it s feasible.

But your worries about driving could lead to am accident. If you are a nervous driver at night that isn't good.
160£ uber or £ 180 for both ways is worth paying.... what price your lives?

Also look into valet parking
At Gatwick and stanstead it is an extra tenner on top of long term parking fee.
Drive right up to the terminal and hand the keys over, same on return the car is just waiting for you.
Saves precious sleep time and not of the stress of faffing about getting busses etc
Worth every penny!

What is price of airport parking ?
Versus uber 3 each way?

I would leave at 3am too

Check how much it's costs for a stay and park hotel package - we paid less than the long term airport car park! Otherwise coffee is your friend

I’ve checked hotel prices. £150 minimum, possibly double because we might need 2 rooms. I can’t afford it. Parking is around £50.
Flying from stanstead. It says to allow 2 hours to get through security ect. Not including checking bags in. So I’m thinking I need to allow time to get parked, 10 min transfer, check bags ect.
I might do meet and greet parking though if that’ll save half hour.

I can’t afford £150ish taxi fares.

I wouldn’t say I’m a nervous driver but not super confident. Not used to the dark but that aspect doesn’t really bother me. It’s more being tired but I suppose coffee and excitement will keep me going.
Going to be super tired by the time we get there!

@Imustbemad00 I get what you mean OP, aside from feeling tired at that time I'm sure you'll most likely be stressed too about getting there on time/checking in etc.

I can assure you the roads will definitely not be busy at those hours and it'll 99.9% be smooth sailing for you so don't worry about the driving at night aspect.

Maybe look at it as an adventure instead? Get yourself and your family (not sure who you're going with!) excited and that usually helps with the tiredness for me.

How long is the flight? Where are you going? Are you able to sleep on the plane?

Maybe next time if poss go for a 10/11am flight- it's so much less stressful and you get a full nights sleep before the early morning ones just aren't worth it IMO!

Well i think Ive sorted it. Going to do the parking meet or greet (extra £20) so £72 total. Saves me time with finding the car park and waiting for transfers ect. This means I should be able to leave home around 2:45am which means getting up just after 2am so if I can get sleep for 10pm should get 4 hours sleep. Of course I will still wake up exhausted but much better than staying awake.

The only other option is £145 in a family room at a hotel which I can’t afford and probably wouldn’t work. From what I’ve read it consists of a double and a very small sofa and we (me and 2 kids) are travelling with an elder family member who can’t share a bed with us as that would be extremely weird!

If cost wasn’t an issue I’d definetly do a hotel, even book 2 single rooms. But it is a huge issue. Struggling to pay off holiday and then then to save spending money ect.

If you book in advance premier inn Stansted is £35 a family room...in case next time...book in advance!