British travellers waste more than £43 million each year on airport parking, according to travel specialists Essential Travel.

In 2007, holidaymakers and business travellers parked an estimated five million vehicles at the major UK airport car parks, with charges varying according to the airport.

However, Essential Travel says around 50% of these drivers made their bookings within one week of travelling, costing them an extra £43 million than if they had pre-booked three weeks earlier.

Simon Purnell, commercial director of Essential Travel, says that unnecessary parking fees currently add up to over £119,000 a day.

“Booking airport parking has to be the least exciting part of anyone’s holiday, but pre-booking a week’s parking at - say - Heathrow a month before you go, will cost £47.95 plus,” he adds. “Book a couple of days before you leave however, and that price jumps to £79.95. That’s a difference of £30 – a significant saving ... or waste.”

Tips on reducing airport parking costs:

* Book ahead. Not only will pre-booking a parking space save you money, it will also ensure you are guaranteed a parking space.

* If you are happy to pay a bit more, then consider the different services on offer. For example, many airports have a valet service where you meet a driver at the airport who will take your car to the car park – eliminating the need for a transfer.

* Find out about other local car parks. Spend some time researching other parking facilities in the area of your airport, bearing in mind how regular airport transfers are especially if you have a very late or early inbound or outbound flight. Off-airport parking tends to work out cheaper, although transfer times will probably take longer. To find alternative car parks, try airport-parking.co.uk.

* Most airport parking facilities allow you to purchase a cancellation waiver for as little as £1, which will ensure you get all your money back if you decide to terminate your trip.

* Car hire could work out cheaper for travellers heading off on longer trips. The benefit is that you can pick up a car at a local depot, drop it off at the airport and then vice versa on your way home. Or, get some quotes from local taxi firms and see if letting someone else drive you might work out cheaper.

* Unreliable, dirty and expensive as it is often considered to be, public transport can often be the easiest way to catch your flight. Work out exactly how much return tickets will cost you (and your family) door-to-door and compare this with the cost of parking your car, plus petrol.

* If you have an early flight, don’t want the hassle of travelling to the airport on the day of your flight, or are worried public transport might let you down, then consider booking a local hotel room and heading up the night before. This won’t be the cheapest option, but at least it will give you the chance to rest before your flight and potentially save you the stress of transport delays. And, if you are determined to drive, some hotels may offer a parking package meaning you can leave your car parked for the duration of your trip.

* Don’t forget to find out which terminal you are flying from, and either book the nearest car park or take the transfer times into account.

Read our other articles on cutting the cost of your holiday:

The top 10 holiday rip-offs

Enjoy your holiday without breaking the bank

Holiday for free with a home swap

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