Airport coach travel: the best way to start your holiday

As the summer holiday season finally comes into view, it's important to bear in mind a number of things when planning your vacation. The most important issues are clearly the most obvious: book your flights and accommodation well in advance and make sure you take out sufficient travel insurance cover for your needs. However, in the flurry of organising your travel itinerary, you might have forgotten one crucial thing: how are you going to get to the airport to catch your flight in time?

If you live near the airport from which you're catching your flight, it can be tempting to drive there yourself - especially if you're only going away for a short while. Many people also choose to take the train to their chosen airport. For instance, if you live in Bolton and you're flying to Spain from Manchester, it seems like the easiest option to take the train directly to Manchester Airport.

However, if you're travelling with a lot of luggage, or a large family, it can be difficult to manoeuvre yourself and your bags through a crowded train. In fact, choosing to get to the airport via an airport coach could be an altogether more convenient option for you and your fellow travellers. Airport coaches are designed specifically with airport travellers in mind - hence, your most pressing needs will be fulfilled. Coaches provide plenty of space in which you can safely stow your heavy luggage, so you won't have to worry about your bags until you alight at your chosen airport destination. This can be a real load off your mind when you're travelling with a big group of children, or if your travel companion tends to be a worrier!

Airport coach travel is also more convenient because many airport coach travel providers offer 24/7 service on many popular routes. So if your flight is at 6am on Monday, you won't have to get the last train on Sunday night and loiter around the airport in the small hours of the morning. Instead, you'll be able to get the airport coach to your airport at the most suitable time for you, minimising the number of hours you spend waiting around.

What's more, the proliferation of budget airlines in the modern travel market means that many people will be opting for cheaper flights to their holiday destination from many of the UK's smaller, lesser-known airports. And while there'll be a variety of train services that holidaymakers can take direct to Manchester, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, it's less likely than trains will run to East Midlands, Coventry or Liverpool Airports. So if you live in Cambridge and are planning to catch a flight to Greece from East Midlands Airport, you might find that airport coach travel is not only your most effective travel option, but possibly your only travel option.

Whatever airport you're travelling to in the UK, airport coach travel could be the most efficient and convenient way to help you get to your airport destination - and it'll help you kick-start your holiday in comfort and style!

Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen amateur photographer from Scotland. His interests include travelling and hiking.