I'm off to help younger daughter find accommodation in Lyon next month and I've booked a FlyBe flight from Birmingham to get there.

I thought public transport would be an easy option, but guess what?

It isn't.

So, I'll be driving and needing to park. Does anyone have any clever tips on good locations? Some airport park-and-ride car parks are almost further away than where I live.

I'm not far from Brum airport in Coventry Jim. The car parks nearby are darn expensive as well. Berkswell station is a local one about 10 mins on the train from the airport.
Its free to park for train users and is only a couple of quid return on the train. There is a local train that stops there every 30 mins or so. Its on the Birmingham to Euston line. IIRC it stops at Hampton in Arden then the Airport/NEC. Theres a free monorail thing that transfers you to the airport terminal from the station.
How long are you planning on staying?

That's good info, Nello. I'm only going for 2 nights, so that might be a good solution.

We've used the NCP car park 5 at Birmingham Airport before. That has usually been for a 14 night stay. It's a 5 minute shuttle bus ride to Departures. Probably find short stay is the same price as a long stay.

Is a train up to the Birmingham International not doable? Or a coach from Gloucester/Cheltenham to the airport?

Failing that, park on Nello's drive and get the train from Coventry

I can get a train or coach from Cheltenham or Gloucester to New Street or Brum Coach station, but then there is a sizeable wait for a connection to the airport. Added to that, getting to either Cheltenham or Gloucester then requires either buses with more waiting or driving, in which case, I might as well just drive the whole way.
Car Park 5 was going to be £41, whilst Car Park 1 is £49. If I was going to do any of the on-airport places, I'd just go for the closest. The park-and-go ones are about £20.
The Berkswell station ruse looks good - seems to be £3.30 return with free parking. A bit more changing, but not too difficult.

No more room on my drive but you're welcome to park outside ours Jim. We're only about a 20 min. walk to Coventry Station which is the same line - Brum to London. The Virgin London (non-local) trains stop at the Airport/NEC only between Cov and Birmingham - so its only about 10 mins. I think its about a fiver return. I work shifts but if I'm around I'd be happy to drop off/pick up to and from Cov.....

That's a very kind offer! I need to be at the airport by 10.00am (24th May) and the return gets in around 16.30 on 26th.

However, I'm leaning toward your Berkswell solution, as long as the car park isn't too grim to leave an unattended coupé in for a couple of days...

Arghh - Sorry Jim bad timing - just checked my rota and I'm on days all that week so I'll have left by 0730 - and I'm in work until 8pm . Berkswell station is fairly leafy. Its actually in Balsall Common rather than Berkswell which is a village (we lived there until fairly recently) a few miles away. IIRC it is unmanned so there is no-one patrolling the car park.
It can get quite busy with communters to Brum but there is a road just up from the car park where you will see loads of train users parking if the car park is full as there are no parking restrictions. If you are early though you should be OK but watch the traffic in the morning - its not far from M42/M6 interchanges and the NEC so can get busy.
Gutted I'm working - I would've probably dropped you there - its not far. I can drive past at night to check your car if you like Ohh FYI - the car park is right next to Carstins dealership - they were for years a big Fiat dealer - but the franchise was lost years ago when Fiat decided they wanted all their dealers in a city central location. They are still Fiat service agents now but have Subaru/Jeep/SSangyong franchises.
Still welcome to park outside ours though - Coupes always welcome and I can keep an eye on her

Might be worth a PM to BrumJim

Thanks chaps. I'm a bit concerned I'll arrive too late and may miss out on a space...

if the car's not safe at Berkswell, its not safe anywhere !

Do the airport drop off. It's about £10 more than for one of the car parks you've looked at. Drive straight in to the short stay. Bung your keys at them (well sign some paperwork as well) and it's a 1 minute walk to departures. It's the only way we do it now.

The cheapest I can see for any kind of Meet & Greet is over £45 (unless I'm doing it wrong). Convenience, yes, but quite a cost...

Drop your car off at Motormech for some work, catch the train from New Street to Birmingham International - no charge for parking

That is, without doubt, a genius idea. Assuming that Motormech accepts payment in buttons!

New thread looming..

"What work should I get done on my coupe this weekend?"

A very short thread...!

Shorter in fact than the title

You could use the thread to sew the button on. Or have I misunderstood something?

Not all all, you're cottoning on fast

We've had a chat in the office recently, and think that parking in Birmingham International Station Car Park and catching the shuttle (cable railway, not monorail any more) to the Airport is the cheaper option for a couple of days.

£27, as calculated here:
https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/stations-destinations/regions/west-midlands/birmingham-international

Hi Jim! Thanks for that advice; I'll look into it...

I followed BrumJim's advice. I would have tried the Berkswell station idea, but was worried that arriving at 9.30 might mean I'd miss out on a space without a plan B. In the event, I found a space in the multi-storey and hopped on the shuttle.

Fantastic time in Lyon (beautiful city), with my lovely younger daughter and a great first AirBnB experience too.

Only fly in the ointment was spraining my right ankle badly on the Thursday (final) morning, doing nothing more foolish than walking across the road. Bandaged it tightly and hopped around the city until I headed back to the airport, finally making it home after an agonising hour and a half in stop-start M42/M5 traffic!
Still looks dreadful, but the doc says to keep using it and it doesn't hurt to walk on it. Ho hum...!

Glad to have been of some use to me, after you have been so much help to me in buying I Am Kloot music.

If I can return the favour, try "Rooks Music" on Youtube.

Thanks, Jim, I'll have a look. I guess you've stumbled across Dave Fidler whilst taking in John's "never-ending tour"?!

I'm afraid not. Don't get out much any more, being a Dad to a 3-year-old. Tell me more.

This is Dave's website. He and John have been touring together for the last couple of years. Dave is a singer/songwriter/guitarist - like John - but with a very different style.

http://www.davefidler.com/