7:30am flight - no need for a hotel room

[Manyindigowings]

Would need to leave for the airport at 4:30 to check in 5:30 for a European flight.,

Flying from Gatwick. I could get a train that arrives at Gatwick at 3:30am.

AIBU thar arriving at this time is a false economy?

Airport hotel all the way i would atleast get some sleep

be on safe side, if booked into a hotel at the airport, plan to leave hotel for the airport at 4:30.

Surely the whole point of staying at the hotel is so you don't need to leave an hour before you want to be there?

This .

Used to be very proud of my super cheap deals. However never could sleep as aware I had to be up at 4am (airport hotel or travel from home), airport feels wrong, arrive at destination knackered, hotel room not available until afternoon. Have an overly busy " first day, make the most of it" usual with a headache. Bed feels like a blessing.

Now I get a cheap afternoon flight. Sleep well night before, stress free journey in the light, enjoy the airport, arrive happy and make the most of an evening meal and whatever else is on offer until I'm funned out.

If you are staying at an airport hotel it shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to get to the airport

I'm honestly confused about why you're saying you'd leave the hotel at 0430 for a 0530 check-in OP. Why would you go to the expense of a hotel that's an hour away from the airport? I know some of the ones that are right on airport grounds are very expensive, but surely there's a happy medium?

I drive to Crawley, park car there for £2.50 a night and get bus to airport that run 24 hours

That sounds slightly bonkers. Where do you live?

I only ever stayed in an airport hotel once for an early flight, it was so noisy, just as we got to sleep the people next door started having sex, walls were paper thin. I had the worst night's sleep, so much noise all night. From then on we got up early so at least we could get some decent sleep in our own bed.

Where do you live - the Hebrides? I can't think of anywhere in England more than 3 hours drive from LGW!

I feel like this is so nuanced and you’ll get various answers depending on people’s age/distance from airport/whether they have young kids/if they travel regularly. My own answer to this varies depending on what stage of my life I’m currently in 😂

Only you know if you have the budget and it’s worth it for you time and stress wise to get a hotel or make your own way there.

Actually of course there are places more than 3 hours away, but wouldn't someone use a closer airport if you're more than 3 hours from Gatwick.

I would stay at the hotel on site (we usually do Premier Inn) and check bags in the night before. I would then leave the hotel at about 5.55am to arrive at 6am for a 7.30am flight on the basis that I don't need to factor in 30 mins to check in and drop bags.

I've always found the premier inn at lgw very quiet.

We always get early flights like that even with small children. We would probably only save about an hour's sleep, but have the pleasure of a shit night's sleep in a strange bed beforehand rather than getting up a tad earlier at home in our own comfy beds!
For us though it's only an hour to the airport. So not worth it! (We always drive and park in the airport)

If you stay in the Premier INn at North Terminal it is literally 5 min from hotel to check in desk and only ten minutes if you have to get the monorail back to South Terminal. I like going the day before and staying in the hotel - the holiday starts earlier.

Not sure you can check bags the night before for an EU flight. You will need to check with your carrier

If it's an airport hotel surely you won't need to allow a whole hour to get there?

We stayed in a family run b&b which you could see Gatwick airport flight control tower from. You park your car in the field behind the house and they drive you there and pick you up (5 minute drive) and for an early flight they pack you a breakfast to take with you.

For Heathrow or Bristol we get a car to take us but with 5 of us it’s worth it. Totally stress free. He’s getting older and I’m worried he might retire and we’ll have to find someone else as reliable.

Also, lots of places in the UK are further than 3 hours from Gatwick. What a bizarre comment 😂 Cornwall, Devon and most of Somerset for a start.

Yes, complete false economy. You will be so shattered on day 1 of your holiday that it will be a write-off.
Premier Inn Gatwick is a short walk into the terminal - no need to allow an hour to get there. And if you don't have bags to drop off (or if you've done it the night before) you really don't need to get to check in 2 hrs before for a european flight. So you can get something approaching a decent nights sleep.

We did it last month for a two night city break. Got up early and just went to the airport and it was absolutely fine.
( I was cabin crew for years and regularly flew at this time of day with no hotel)

I'd stay in a hotel, the thought of being one train cancellation away from missing my flight would stress me out

If you're already choosing to stay at a hotel, why choose one a whole hour away? Where is this hotel? Are you staying in Barking? Are you staying in Horley and walking with your suitcase? I don't understand these options.

You can’t think of anywhere in England more than 3 hours’ drive from Gatwick? 😬

Sorry, what? Anywhere north of Derby/Notts is 3+ hours to Gatwick..

That's the entirety of the north of England plus some of the midlands!

You've then got anywhere close to Exeter and west is 3.5+ hours.

Thanks all.

Will book into a Premier at Gatwick. Check with airline if I check in luggage night before, which will clarify what time to leave hotel, which looks like about 5:15 earliest. 5:15 would mean 5:00am wake-up and get up, earliest … and safest.

All makes sense.