Melbourne airport is a long way from the CBD. I live in the inner-east and travel through MEL for leisure monthly. I use various methods of transport, but mainly:
- tram to Southern Cross then Skybus to MEL (takes about an hour door to door non-peak).
- drive and park in long-term car park (takes about 40 minutes door to door - 20 minutes to drive then 20 minutes stuffing around finding a park and waiting for that stupid bus).
- taxi - at least $50 each way.
My trips are of varying length - usually around 48 hours, some as short as 8 hours, some a week or longer. I usually leave Friday night after work or Saturday morning and often back late afternoon/early evening Sunday.
Im getting pretty frustrated with all 3 of the above options.
- the tram + Skybus is painfully slow, particularly coming home on a Sunday night (it's the last thing I feel like doing) and Skybus prices are rapidly increasing
- while the drive to the LTCP is a breeze non-peak, it takes ages to find a park (although the new entrance makes it quicker) and the buses are not frequent or comfortable. Waiting 10 plus minutes in the middle of winter is miserable. Wherever you park, you're either going to have a long bus trip there or back. With the new exit there are now a whole 2 exits for, what, 10,000 cars? I also think its very expensive if you're outside the sweet spot of 12 - 23 hours or 3 - 5 days.
- taxis are too expensive - it's well over $100 for a round trip.
Any suggestions/recommendations? I realise there are other private parking options not run by Melbourne airport - can anyone suggest one that is cheaper than long term (esp for 2-3-4 days) and has easy ways to get to and from the terminal?
Someone also mentioned to be a sky-bus type thing that drops you at your door if you pre-book (Sun Bus? Star Bus?) I cant remember the name - apparently its not quick but its extremely convenient.
Thanks for your help - I'm a gun at finding cheap flights and it's a breeze once Im in the terminal with my VA SG but I feel I waste a lot of time and money getting there and back!
- tram to Southern Cross then Skybus to MEL (takes about an hour door to door non-peak).
- drive and park in long-term car park (takes about 40 minutes door to door - 20 minutes to drive then 20 minutes stuffing around finding a park and waiting for that stupid bus).
- taxi - at least $50 each way.
My trips are of varying length - usually around 48 hours, some as short as 8 hours, some a week or longer. I usually leave Friday night after work or Saturday morning and often back late afternoon/early evening Sunday.
Im getting pretty frustrated with all 3 of the above options.
- the tram + Skybus is painfully slow, particularly coming home on a Sunday night (it's the last thing I feel like doing) and Skybus prices are rapidly increasing
- while the drive to the LTCP is a breeze non-peak, it takes ages to find a park (although the new entrance makes it quicker) and the buses are not frequent or comfortable. Waiting 10 plus minutes in the middle of winter is miserable. Wherever you park, you're either going to have a long bus trip there or back. With the new exit there are now a whole 2 exits for, what, 10,000 cars? I also think its very expensive if you're outside the sweet spot of 12 - 23 hours or 3 - 5 days.
- taxis are too expensive - it's well over $100 for a round trip.
Any suggestions/recommendations? I realise there are other private parking options not run by Melbourne airport - can anyone suggest one that is cheaper than long term (esp for 2-3-4 days) and has easy ways to get to and from the terminal?
Someone also mentioned to be a sky-bus type thing that drops you at your door if you pre-book (Sun Bus? Star Bus?) I cant remember the name - apparently its not quick but its extremely convenient.
Thanks for your help - I'm a gun at finding cheap flights and it's a breeze once Im in the terminal with my VA SG but I feel I waste a lot of time and money getting there and back!
