Things to do at Manchester Airport

[kev kendall]

We're travelling down to MAN day before. Our chn will then be 3 and 9. Has anyone got any good ideas of best tme to get there and things to do. We wont have a car becuase we are prob going to get a taxi. I've emailed the plane park and they say they're an hours walk away from the Raddisson! Bit far then. There's only so long we can look at planes from the terminal i guess. ANy ideas would be lovely Thanks!!!!:goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes

[Steve and Sarah]

Kev

IMHO best time of the day to get there would be mid-afternoon as the M56 can get very busy around 5/6pm with traffic going in and out of Manchester.

Unfortunately there isn't a great deal to do at the airport and i would suggest you get a taxi and visit The Trafford Centre. It is an undercover shoppping, eating and entertainment place. It will take about 10/15 minutes in a taxi and there are planty of eating places (couter service and full service restaurants) as well as a multi-screen cinema and of course plenty of shops.

www.traffordcentre.co.uk

Hope this helps.

Sarah :)

[kev kendall]

That's a good idea. We like the trafford centre. Didn't realise it as that close to the airport!

Any other ideas anyone?

[Rain]

We always stay at the Radisson and somehow find plenty to do but we tend to get there around 6 pm. We ask for a runway view and spend some time just watching the planes. The pool is also great for unwinding before going to bed and perhaps watching a movie. Somewhere in between this we also have a light meal.

[disneydopey]

We always stay at the radisson too. make sure you ask for a runway view as that makes the time pass really quickly. We usually arrive at about 4pm and then go for a walk down the skylink to T1. Have a wander back to the hotel and have something to eat there. Had a lovely pizza there last time and a few families with kids around which helps. We usually check in the next morn, with Virgin, then go back to the room to have another coffee and fill in the green forms. easier to do when you're not sat on the plane!

We even watch the plane land which is great as then we can tell if its on time or not!:yay:

[1andrea]

How much does it cost to stay at the raddison?

[disneydopey]

In the summer it was £180 for one night. Its not cheap but so worth it. We see it as part of the holiday. We are a family of 4 and you end up with 2 massive rooms with 2 bathrooms and big interconnecting doors. Its a great way to start the holiday!:thumbsup2

[1andrea]

That is a lot! We normally stay at the travelodge the night before but never seem to get a good nights sleep there! So am considering somewhere else this year.

[disneydopey]

It is expensive but you do get a good nights sleep and you can get to check in really easily, no taxi's or hotel transport to wait for. They do have complentary coffee and pastries which is nice. Keeps you going until you go through to departures.:yay:

[Dimplenose]

but never seem to get a good nights sleep there!

I'm sorry, are you meant to be able to sleep the night before a trip to WDW? As the advert said "I'm too excited!"

Libby

[1andrea]

I'm sorry, are you meant to be able to sleep the night before a trip to WDW? As the advert said "I'm too excited!"

Libby



Ha ha

I was thinking that when I wrote it! But I usually sleep well anywhere but the plane and Travelodge I have visited 4 times and never even slept ok! The beds seem tiny, the pillows flat and the covers thin!

[Dimplenose]

I think you get what you pay for. Travel Lodge can be a real bargain especially for a family but if you're not sleeping it might be worth paying extra and staying elsewhere.

As for me I don't sleep anywhere for a couple of nights before a holiday, be it Disney or elsewhere. It's probably not so much excitement as worry that everything will be OK, as all the planning falls on my shoulders!

Libby

[disneydopey]

If you can't sleep at least you will be comfy. There is a massive double bed for mum and dad and the kids het a proper single bed each! Although it could be the other way round if you're having a bad day! stress of packing etc...:yay:

[kev kendall]

Hi

We're paying £180 for two interconnecting rooms and for £10 they're throwing in breakfast. So we plan to check in early in morning and then go back to hotel for breakfast!

It's just the night before I need something to keep the troops entertained.

I'm not expecting any of us to sleep however!

[traceycooper]

Have i been charged too much??
paying £233 for 1 room (2 adults 1 teen) although this does include 15 nights parking!
Where is the complimentory coffee & pastries?

[kev kendall]

I think that's reasonable for parking - the £180 i'm paying does not include parking. They only charged £10 for breakfast for the four of us!!!

[disneydopey]

The pastries and coffee are on the ground floor on your left when you come out of the lifts. They are very nice for something that's free!:coffee:

[dux783]

We're going to the T Centre on friday, having dinner at Pesto there, getting an early ish night at the Hilton at the airport, then going to the airport on Saturday morning for 7.30am

We're flying with Virgin, is 7.30 an ok time what with security checks etc, etc?
I've always allowed 3 hours before.

Thanks

[disneydopey]

We are usually on the 10.30 Virgin flight when we go. We get to check in for 6.30 get rid of the cases then go back to the room to watch the plane land and fill in the horrible green forms. We usually check out of the hotel at around 8.30-9am which was plenty of time. We stayed at the radisson though so easy to nip back to the room. So jelous your hols are so near...have a great time!:yay: