Gatwick Hilton

[mrsminniemouse]

Our flight to MCO leaves Gatwick on a Friday morning and we dont want to risk the M25 so we are staying at the Gatwick Hilton on the Thursday night. We hope to do Virgin's Twilight check in to get rid of the cases.

We have 15 days parking (Summer Special) included but we have been told that once we leave our car on Thursday night we cannot get access to it again.

If anyone has experienced this could they give me tips on how to deal with your overnight stuff (toiletries, clothes from previous day etc) Do you queue up again and check it in or carry it as hand luggage?

Also is there a decent place to get breakfast at the Gatwick Hilton?

Many thanks!

Mandy

 

[SEVANS2208]

We were able to get back to the car the following morning to drop off our overnight bag. It may have changed though but if you phone them they'll be able to tell you.

You might be better getting breakfast in the airport - it's only a short walk and the Hilton is quite expensive for food.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks for your reply. I booked through FHR (Frequent Virgins get a discount) and they said it is a summer special parking arrangement. You have to leave your keys and the car is parked for you. I guess they cram them in and get them out ready for your return.

We have previously taken our bags back to the car but were told we couldn't this time! Quite inconvenient really especially with a baby.

We generally eat at the airport too but have found Garfunkels to be getting worse and worse. We have had terrible service, messed up orders and basic stuff was off the menu last few times we went. We were thinking that if we do Twilight check in we might be able to have a decent, relaxing breakfast at the hotel on the morning of our flight.

Thanks for replying!
Mandy

 

[keith&carol]

Hi Mandy
We always stay at the Hilton or Meridian before flying out of Gatwick.
The Hotels provide some free toiletries, from memory they are shampoo, shower gel, soap and moisturiser.
I have a holiday drawer at home and put in almost empty toiletries, sample bottles of aftershave and perfume (or get free sprays in duty free) and DH takes a disposable razor.
I also hang on to underwear, socks etc that are getting past it and we travel to the airport in these then bin them the next morning.
The only things we have left to put in hand luggage are a couple of t-shirts and my make-up.

We usually eat after going thru security so we know how much time we have but sometimes we've taken bananas and croissants to eat in the room and milk which you can keep fresh in the ice bucket.

The food at both hotels is nice but expensive so we prefer to spend the money elsewhere.
Carol

 

[mandymouse]

Hi Mandy

We stopped at the Hilton Gatwick last year, and the parking was with Parking Express which is right opposite the Hilton. This worked out well as we were able to walk over to get rid of our overnight stuff. Now this year to cut down on costs we stayed the night at the Travelodge, and got rid of the car the morning of our flight and the parking was with a Summer Special company which was over at the North Terminal. We handed the keys over, they parked our car, and we caught a shuttle bus over to the South Terminal. We would probably use them again.

mandymouse

 

[KayleeUK]

We did exactly the same as Carol Worked well for us.

 

[scousemouse36]

Please can you tell me what is the twighlight check in???

Cheers

 

[marv]

Were staying at Gatwick, there is no twighlight checkin for us as we are flying with brittannic. I have placed all flight clothes in a ruck sack and will put the ruck sack in the suit case on the morning of our flight. The extra bag will come in handy to take into the parks, to carry extra clothes and things.

 

[KayleeUK]

Scousemouse

Twilight Check-in is a perk with Virgin where you can check in the night before your flight to avoid the queues in the morning

 

[tyke]

Scousemouse - I have pasted below a copy of the e-mail I recieved from Virgin relating to twilight check-in -

Twilight Check-In is available to ALL Virgin Atlantic passengers on ALL services out of London Gatwick.
It operates as follows:
* Passengers can check in for their next day flight from Gatwick the night before
* Continental codeshare passengers are permitted to use this facility
* Twilight Check-In is open from 2.30pm - 9pm daily, at the Virgin Atlantic desks, in Zone A of Gatwick's South Terminal
* As usual with check in, you'll need your passport/s, ticket/s and any luggage that is not being taken into the cabin
* To use it, all party members must be present with the required documents
* You'll be issued with your boarding card which you'll need to bring along with your passport for the flight
* Passengers must leave an address and telephone contact number with the check-in staff in case there is a need to contact them overnight
* The following day, passengers need to be at their assigned gate no later than 50 minutes prior to departure
* If any passengers decide to check in more luggage on the day of the flight, they will need to queue up in the normal way
* Passengers who want to check in either surfboards or windsurfers with the rest of their baggage, will NOT be able to use Twilight Check-In. This is because we do not have a secure place to store them overnight
* Some bulkhead seats may be available, though many will be held back for the day of departure. Any passengers assigned bulkhead seats are advised that if on the day of departure there is a medical or infant /bassinet requirement, they may be repositioned.

Hope this clears it up for you !

tyke

 

[scousemouse36]

Fantasmic

We are flying with Virgin and staying in the gatwick hilton the night before, I am so happy.

To be able to check in the nite before and lose all that luggage and just walk upto the gate 50 mins b4 the flight, we will feel like royalty.

do they still have early checkin at DTD aswell, because we used that last time.

Cheers guys

 

[Bekki]

Mandymouse,

Who did you book your hotel through to get parking in the express parking? Most companies I have looked at are with Summer Special.

Thx
Bekki

 

[mandymouse]

Hi Bekki

We found the number in the Virgin brochure 01342 717372 and we had to quote 'Virgin Holidays' (as this was who we had booked our holiday with).

mandymouse

 

[keith&carol]

Hi Scousemouse,
DTD check-in is open again. If you book with Virgin Hols it's free , if you booked with anyone else I think it's $5 per adult.