Rail strikes: Stansted dropoff, hotel, taxi compare

 

With rail strikes in the UK this weekend and next I was looking online for a friend who has to travel from Stansted in the UK overseas.

Coaches go from central London several other cities. 

Coaches go from Liverpool Street and other places in London, including Watford, depending on your ultimate destination.

How do you get to the departure point of the coach? Stay nearby overnight. Try uber. Phone your favourite taxi company. If its nearby and they are on the phone you can walk round.

I booked a pickup at Heathrow last month. I could not get through later when diver, "The the passenger phoned to tell me, 'My plane's landed earlier.'

I got a message from them saying when I called they were on the phone (taking another booking). They knew about the early arrival and told me, 'The driver knows. He's on his way.' 

The fare was higher than expected. 

I had asked for the taxi number and phone when booking the day before, but was told, 'We don't yet know who will be available'.

We used to wait until the day to book a taxi, because we once booked the day before and they came a day early.

However, with all the current problems, you might want to book i n advance.

Stop location

We looked up the Stansted dropoffs online. 

You can get a paid for place in the short stay. But free in Midstay. You need to take the ticket from the machine for exit. I was wondering if you need a car park exit ticket from, for example, having a sandwich at Marks & Spencers. (At busy times, like musical chairs, seating in the indoor forecourt outside).

If you were leaving your car there for a week, as we did when we went to Cyprus, you book in advance and give them your car number from the number plate. On arrival at the car park entrance, they have automatic numberplate recognition and the gate swings open. Have your paperwork printed and in the passenger's hand. Did you book short stay, midstay or longstay? The prices are different. 

FREE in midstay. Why? Maybe because you will be eating and shopping.

Feeder Bus

You need to catch a bus to the terminal. Allow time. A marchall might direct you to the nearest spot. If you have pushchairs or wheelchairs ask for a nearer spot to the bus. The bus is a loop.Bus pickup and drop off points  are different. We once waited at drop off and when we tried to board the driver would not let us on. He pointed to the pickup stop.

You can get a street view which shows you exactly what street signs you will be seeing. 

The same goes for driving to unfamiliar places. You can do a complete street  view of your journey from a hotel or home to a railway station or motorway exit or entry point. When you are told, turn off at the roundabout, you can see the exact road name, and the houses or shops or church to look out for. Even if the streetview shows the motorway sign partly obscured by trees. Very helpful. Relieves mishaps, midirections, and stress.

Stansted Hotels

Radisson Blu

Useful Websites

https://www.stanstedexpress.com/travel-information/rail-strike-advice/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Stansted_Airport

https://www.instantstreetview.com/

https://www.uber.com/gb/en/ride/?

https://www.taxipricecompare.co.uk/

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