Our family flights have been from Gatwick Airport at all sorts of departure times over the years. Our most recent trip to Ikos was a 6 AM flight, which meant arriving at the airport for 4 AM.
We weren’t exactly thrilled by the idea of a bleary-eyed motorway drive in the middle of the night, so we decided to book a hotel near the airport the evening before. I briefly considered the Bloc Hotel, but in the end, the Premier Inn won for comfort, convenience, and cost.
We parked with Maple Parking Meet & Greet, just three minutes from the hotel, and honestly, the whole experience couldn’t have been easier. The Premier Inn sits directly opposite the terminal entrance, so after a couple of escalators (or lifts if you prefer), we were right inside departures.
Checking in the night before completely changed the tone of the trip. No rushing. No motorway stress. No panicking about traffic or alarms. Just a calm evening, a decent sleep, breakfast, and a short stroll to the airport.
Why Staying Near the Airport Is Worth It
If you’ve got an early flight, staying overnight near the airport can genuinely be a game-changer — especially when travelling with children.
On-Airport Hotels
For ultimate convenience, Sofitel (North Terminal) and Hilton (South Terminal) connect directly to check-in, meaning no shuttle buses or transfers to worry about.
Budget-Friendly Options
Premier Inn and Bloc Hotel are both great family-friendly choices within walking distance of Gatwick’s terminals, offering a much more relaxed start to your holiday without the premium price tag.
Evening Bag Drop = A Stress-Free Morning
One of the best decisions we made was checking our bags in the evening before our flight.
It meant no heavy suitcases, no luggage chaos at 4 AM, and far less stress trying to organise everyone first thing in the morning. Instead, we only had hand luggage to manage, which instantly made the airport experience feel calmer and more enjoyable.
We kept dinner simple at the Premier Inn restaurant rather than heading elsewhere. Could we have explored nearby restaurants? Probably. But staying close to the airport meant more time to relax, get the kids settled, and actually enjoy the excitement of travelling.
Our Airport Morning Routine
There’s a Starbucks right at the terminal entrance, which was ideal for a much-needed before security. Drink in hand, we headed straight to Gatwick Premium Security — conveniently located directly opposite Starbucks.
Is Premium Security Worth It?
For me, absolutely.
Gatwick Premium Security
- Cost: From around £7 per person when booked online (price may differ to when this was published)
- Perks: Shorter queues, dedicated family lanes, less waiting around
- Best Part: Starting the holiday feeling calm rather than frazzled
When you’re travelling with children, bags, passports, and half-asleep family members, removing even one stressful part of the airport experience makes a huge difference. Honestly, the smoother start completely sets the tone for the rest of the trip.
Airport Lounge: Our Next Upgrade
After security, Gatwick quickly became busy.
The shops were packed, seating was limited, and at one point we ended up balancing drinks on sticky café tables while waiting to board — not exactly the relaxing airport experience I imagine.
Next time, we’ll definitely book an airport lounge. Premium Plaza is meant to be perfect for families.
Having access to quieter seating, complimentary drinks and snacks, charging points, and a calmer atmosphere feels well worth it when travelling as a family. Sometimes those extra little comforts make travelling feel significantly easier.
One Thing I’ll Always Book: Extra Legroom
If you’re travelling on a longer flight, or simply want a more comfortable experience, extra legroom seats are one upgrade I genuinely recommend booking in advance.
The biggest tip? Book them when you first reserve your flights because availability disappears quickly. And don’t forget to reserve them for both your outbound and inbound journeys. It’s surprisingly easy to remember one direction and forget the other.
Pre-Book Your Transfers
Another thing that removes unnecessary stress? Pre-booking your airport or hotel transfers before you travel.
Knowing exactly where you’re going after landing, especially with tired children and luggage, is one less thing to think about after a flight.
Pre-booked transfers also usually mean:
- No waiting in long taxi queues
- Fixed prices with no surprises
- A smoother arrival experience
- More time to relax and enjoy the start of your holiday
Hand Luggage Tips for Families
Over the years, we’ve learned that organised hand luggage can completely change the airport experience.
Let Kids Carry Their Own Backpack
If your children are old enough, giving them a small backpack with their own essentials works brilliantly. It gives them independence and responsibility while freeing up space in your own bag.
Keep One Main Parent Bag
Rather than juggling multiple bags, I prefer carrying one larger family bag with the main essentials so everything stays organised and easy to find.
Always Pack:
- Snacks
- Wipes
- A spare outfit
- Chargers
- Headphones
- Small travel games like Uno
- Any comfort items for children
Keep Travel Documents Together
Passports, boarding passes, travel insurance, and booking confirmations all stay together in one easy-access pouch. Trust me — being able to grab documents quickly at security makes life so much easier.
Final Thoughts
Airport travel with children will probably never be completely stress-free, but a little planning makes a huge difference.
For us, booking an airport hotel, using Premium Security, checking bags in early, and simplifying hand luggage transformed an exhausting early-morning flight into a much calmer experience.
Sometimes the small upgrades are the things that make travelling feel enjoyable again.
What’s your best airport hack? I’d love to hear in the comments. ✈️
