When you plan a holiday, one practical question keeps coming back — one that few people think about in advance: what do you do with the car? Leave it at the airport for the whole trip, or not take it out of the drive at all? Below we break both options down to the essentials.
The dilemma before every holiday: what about the car
If you drive to the airport in your own car, you have to leave it somewhere — usually in a car park by the terminal, for the whole time you are away. If you do not, the question comes back of who will drop you off and pick you up. A return transfer solves it differently: the car does not leave home at all.
Your car in an airport car park for a week or two
A car park by the airport is a convenient 'for now', but for a longer holiday it is worth counting the consequences:
- The cost grows by the day — the daily rate multiplied by 7 or 14 days can catch you off guard.
- The car sits unattended — a week or two in an open car park is a real risk and a nagging worry throughout the holiday.
- Coming back to a cold car — after a night flight you climb, tired, into a car that has stood for a fortnight, and only then set off home.
A return transfer — the car stays at home
In the transfer option the car stays safely parked where it usually is — outside your home. The driver takes you to the airport and, on your return, picks you up and brings you home. The cost is worked out in advance for both directions, with no surcharges for traffic and no counting parking days. You do not worry about the car for a single moment.
The calmest holiday is the one where you never think about where your car is standing, or what state it is in.
Which works out better?
The answer depends mainly on the length of the trip and the number of people. For a short getaway on your own a car park can be cheaper; for a week- or two-week holiday with the family the cost of parking mounts up, and a return transfer starts to win on money too — never mind the comfort. We laid out a detailed cost comparison in a separate post: parking at Ławica vs a private transfer.
And if you come back at night
The biggest difference shows on the way back. Instead of hunting for your car in the dark in a car park and setting off tired, you get into a car brought to you and drive straight home. We described what such a pickup looks like here: returning from holiday and airport pickup. You will find the whole calm departure scenario in our post on an airport transfer for your holiday.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to leave the car in a car park?
For a short one-day or weekend trip a car park can be cheaper. For a week or two the daily charges add up and a return transfer often works out better — especially for a family or a group.
What about the car on a longer holiday?
The longer the trip, the less it pays to keep the car at the airport. In the transfer option the car simply stays at home — safe and ready for your return.
And if I get back very late?
It makes no difference — we track your flight and the driver waits at the right time, at night and in the event of a delay too. You get in and drive home.
Would you rather not leave your car at the airport for the holiday? Book a return transfer through the contact form or call: +48 728 978 399.
Premium chauffeur service based in Poznań, Poland. We provide luxury chauffeured transport for private, business and corporate clients across Poland and Europe.
