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Airport Basics.....
Getting to Stansted is reasonably simple, seeing as there are no complications about which terminal to go to, (there is only one) so all you need to do is follow signs for the airport once you have exited at Junction 8 or 8a off the M11 (depending which direction you are coming from). If you’re looking for free parking, you may want to consider riding your motorbike to Stansted and leaving it there. However, this option is probably only feasible if you actually own a motorbike or if you only have a small bag with you!
If the train is more your way of traveling, the Stansted Express service operates from various stations in the UK, and depending on where you are traveling from, this may be the more convenient option.
Rental Car Companies at the Stansted.....
Here is a rundown of the car rental companies that occupy desks at the Stansted:
Hertz
Avis
Europcar
Budget
National
Alamo
Enterprise
Sixt
Each and every one of these companies offer great car hire at great prices. You could do a LOT worse.
Getting out of the airport is not difficult. Use Bassingbourn Rd to Thremhall Avenue, then ramp to A120 and then exit to M11. Make sure that when you return the car, you go the same way. There is a petrol station situated at the junction at the exit to the Stansted Airport. I believe you'll have to get off M11 on the A120 ramp, and then get back on. The fueling station is located about 6 km from the airport car rental drop-off.
Stansted Airport Amenities.....
Like many airports, Stansted lures you in by interspersing their cheaper shops with their more high-end shops. The Kurt Geiger store at Stansted is great for any shoe-lover but it probably isn’t the most sensible thing to purchase a £400 pair of stilettos before you go on a messy hen weekend with the girls. My tip is to shop at the airport for small things you need for entertainment on a flight, and save the extravagant purchases for when you are back home. If you are still desperate to buy those shoes from Stansted however, they do have a ‘Shop and Collect’ system where you buy then collect your goods on your return.
The Caviar House at Stansted is something everyone should try once. Rather than your usual airport-dining experience, this seafood bar serves some amazing fish dishes. It can be well worth getting to Stansted a little earlier to sit and have a meal at this delightful place. Don’t worry if caviar is too expensive; their salmon is delicious too. The Starbucks at Stansted is also a popular choice for travelers who just need a caffeine boost before their flight.
Similarly to other airports, Stansted has Wi-Fi access for those who should wish to use it. All you need to do is connect your device to the airport’s network and surf away. Unfortunately the service isn’t free and you may have to pay as you go, so just check before clicking ‘Yes’ to connect to any networks.
A rather surprising facility that Stansted possesses is the showers; for such a small airport this is a very luxurious amenity. The showers are kept clean too, so hygiene doesn’t need to be a worry. In fact, taking advantage of a shower facility can be quite a novelty!
Car Rental Distances From the Stansted Airport.....
We have take the liberty of compiling a list of car rental distances to local areas, out of the Standsted airport. By the way, you will take the Bassingbourn Road to get out of the facility. Back to the distances. These are estimates, so rely on them as such.
Stansted Airport to Bishop's Stortford town Centre, 7 km
Stansted Airport to Saffron Walden, 20 km.
Stansted Airport to Cambridge, 41 km.
Stansted Airport to Royston, 32 km.
Stansted Airport to Harlow, 16 km.
Stansted Airport to Downtown London, 50 km.
Stansted Airport to Stevenage, 40 km.
Stansted Airport to Buntingford, 24 km.
Types of Cars Available for Hire.....
The above mentioned car hire companies offer the usual suspects when it comes to the types of vehicles available. Mini's, compacts, standards, luxury cars (think Mercedes), and minivans and minibuses are all available. Usually, however, it is a good idea to book further in advance for the more expensive vehicles, as these are usually kept on hand in smaller quantities by the car rental companies.