Faro Airport Parking for Families: Travelling with Children and Luggage

Why Airport Parking Is Different When Travelling with Children

Travelling alone with one suitcase is very different from travelling as a family.

A family journey may involve:

• Several suitcases.
• Cabin bags and backpacks.
• Pushchairs or buggies.
• Baby changing bags.
• Food, drinks or children's travel items.
• Car seats or other child equipment.
• Young children who need supervision throughout the journey.

Even before reaching airport security, parents may already have spent considerable time loading the car, checking passports, making sure nothing has been forgotten and driving to Faro.

This is why the parking stage should be as simple and predictable as possible.

Allow More Time When Travelling as a Family

One of the most important pieces of advice for families is simple: do not plan your journey using the same timetable you would use when travelling alone.

Children and additional luggage usually mean that everything takes slightly longer.

You may need extra time to:

• Unload several pieces of luggage.
• Take children safely out of the vehicle.
• Organise pushchairs or other equipment.
• Check that passports and boarding passes are easily accessible.
• Make sure nothing important has been left inside the car.
• Use toilets or change a baby before continuing the journey.
• Move through the airport at a comfortable pace.

Faro Park and Travel normally recommends arriving at our parking facility at least 20 minutes before the time you want to reach the airport terminal.

Families with young children or significant amounts of luggage should consider allowing a little more time.

For detailed departure planning, read our guide How Early Should You Arrive at Faro Airport?.

Use the Shuttle Instead of Walking with Children and Luggage

Faro Park and Travel is approximately 1,100 metres from Faro Airport Terminal. For an adult travelling alone with light luggage, that may sound like a manageable distance.

With two children, several suitcases and a pushchair, it is a very different journey.

Our complimentary shuttle service allows parking customers to travel between the parking area and Faro Airport without completing that distance on foot with the whole family and their luggage.

The airport transfer service currently operates every day from 04:00 until 00:00.

This is particularly useful for families because it allows everyone to remain together during the final stage of the journey to the airport.

You can find full details on our free shuttle service to Faro Airport page.

Early-Morning Flights with Children

Early flights can be particularly demanding for families.

Children may have been woken several hours earlier than usual, parents may be travelling on very little sleep, and the entire journey often takes place before sunrise.

Faro Park and Travel extended its airport transfer timetable so that transfers now begin at 04:00.

This makes the parking service suitable for a wider range of early departures from Faro Airport.

For example, if your family needs to be inside the terminal at 05:00, you should normally aim to arrive at Faro Park and Travel by around 04:40, or slightly earlier if you have several children and a large amount of luggage.

Always calculate your timetable backwards from the time you need to be at the airport, rather than from the scheduled departure time of the aircraft.

Our article Faro Airport Transfers from 4:00 AM to Midnight explains why the transfer hours were extended and how the new timetable helps customers travelling early or returning late.

Late Arrivals Can Be Tiring for the Whole Family

The return journey deserves just as much planning as the departure.

After a flight, children may be tired, hungry or asleep. Parents may also be carrying cabin bags, coats, toys and suitcases while trying to keep the family together.

Walking from the airport to an external parking area at the end of a long travel day is rarely the part of the holiday that families look forward to.

Faro Park and Travel provides airport collections during the shuttle operating timetable until 00:00.

After landing, collect your luggage and contact the team according to the instructions supplied with your reservation. Your transfer back to the parking area can then be organised within the operating timetable.

If your flight is delayed and you may arrive outside the normal transfer hours, contact the team as soon as possible so that your particular situation can be discussed.

You can also check current information through our Faro Airport arrivals page.

Travelling with Pushchairs and Baby Equipment

Young children often mean additional equipment.

Depending on the age of your child, you may be travelling with:

• A pushchair or buggy.
• A baby carrier.
• A changing bag.
• A child car seat.
• Travel cots or other equipment.
• Additional food or essential supplies.

Before leaving home, check your airline's rules for pushchairs, child seats and special baggage. Airlines can have different procedures for checking in or carrying these items.

When arriving at the car park, keeping frequently needed items separate from checked luggage can also make the transfer and airport process easier.

For example, passports, medicines, baby supplies and boarding documents should remain easily accessible rather than being packed deep inside a suitcase.

What About Child Seats During the Airport Transfer?

If your child requires a specific restraint or you have particular transport requirements, contact Faro Park and Travel before travelling.

Do not assume that every vehicle or transfer arrangement will automatically have the child equipment you require. Discussing your family's needs when making the reservation gives the team an opportunity to confirm the appropriate arrangements.

This is particularly important when travelling with babies or very young children.

Travelling with Grandparents or Elderly Family Members

Many family holidays include grandparents as well as children.

In this situation, the benefits of an airport transfer become even more important.

An elderly passenger may find walking approximately 1,100 metres with luggage uncomfortable, particularly:

• Before sunrise.
• Late at night.
• During very hot weather.
• After a long flight.
• When carrying bags.

The shuttle allows the family to travel between the parking facility and the airport together rather than asking some passengers to walk while others manage luggage or children.

Keep Essential Documents Together

One of the easiest ways to reduce stress is to organise important documents before leaving home.

Keep the following items somewhere immediately accessible:

• Passports or identification documents.
• Boarding passes.
• Faro Park and Travel reservation confirmation.
• Airline booking information.
• Travel insurance details where applicable.
• Medication required during the journey.
• Any documentation required for children travelling internationally.

Avoid putting documents needed at the airport inside luggage that will be checked in.

Prepare the Car Before Leaving Home

A little preparation at home can save valuable time when you reach the car park.

Before starting your journey to Faro, consider:

• Loading large suitcases first.
• Keeping hand luggage accessible.
• Keeping children's essential items separate.
• Checking that passports are physically inside the vehicle before leaving.
• Confirming your parking reservation.
• Checking the flight status.
• Confirming your planned arrival time.

If everyone knows what they are carrying before arriving, unloading the vehicle becomes considerably easier.

Check Your Faro Flight Before You Leave

Before driving to Faro Park and Travel, confirm the latest information for your flight.

Check:

• Scheduled departure time.
• Flight number.
• Airline check-in requirements.
• Baggage-drop deadline.
• Any reported delays.
• Travel documentation requirements.

You can consult our Faro Airport departures page before leaving for the airport.

Security Matters When Leaving the Family Car Behind

For many families, the vehicle being left behind is the main family car and represents a significant investment.

Airport parking should therefore be evaluated on more than price alone.

Faro Park and Travel uses measures including surveillance and controlled access to help protect vehicles while customers are travelling.

Dedicated airport parking also avoids leaving the family vehicle unattended for days or weeks on a public road or in a car park that is not designed for long-term airport use.

For a more detailed discussion, read Is It Safe to Leave Your Car at Faro Airport?.

Family Airport Parking Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

Families already have substantial travel expenses, including flights, accommodation, baggage charges, food and activities.

Airport parking is another cost to consider, but choosing private parking near the airport can provide a balance between price and convenience.

Faro Park and Travel offers parking for cars as well as a complimentary transfer service during the operating timetable.

Explore the available options on our low-cost Faro Airport Parking page.

A Simple Family Departure Timeline

Imagine a family of four travelling on an 08:00 Schengen flight with two checked suitcases and a pushchair.

A sensible timetable might look like this:

• 08:00: Scheduled flight departure.
• 07:15–07:30: Family should already be approaching or waiting at the boarding gate, depending on the airline's instructions.
• 06:45: Security and airport procedures should ideally be well underway.
• 06:00: Aim to be inside the Faro Airport terminal.
• 05:30–05:40: Arrive at Faro Park and Travel, allowing a little extra time because of the children and luggage.
• Before 05:30: Complete the drive from home with enough margin for unexpected traffic or delays.

The exact timetable will depend on the airline and destination, but working backwards in this way reduces the temptation to leave everything until the last possible minute.

Family Checklist Before Leaving for Faro Airport

Before closing the front door, check that you have:

• Passports and identification.
• Boarding passes or airline application access.
• Wallet, cards and essential documents.
• All checked luggage.
• Cabin baggage.
• Children's essential supplies.
• Medication.
• Pushchair or required child equipment.
• Phones and chargers.
• Faro Park and Travel reservation details.

Five minutes spent checking these items at home can prevent a much more serious problem after you have driven towards the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Faro Park and Travel suitable for families with children?

Yes. Families can park near Faro Airport and use the complimentary transfer service between the parking area and the terminal during the operating timetable.

What time does the airport shuttle operate?

The Faro Park and Travel transfer service currently operates every day from 04:00 until 00:00.

How early should a family arrive at the car park?

Faro Park and Travel recommends arriving at least 20 minutes before the time you want to reach the terminal. Families with young children, several suitcases or special equipment should consider allowing additional time.

Can we take a pushchair on the transfer?

If you are travelling with a pushchair, child seat or other large child equipment, provide this information when arranging your parking and transfer so that any specific requirements can be confirmed beforehand.

Is the shuttle useful for grandparents travelling with us?

Yes. The transfer avoids the approximately 1,100-metre walk between the car park and airport, which can be particularly useful for elderly passengers or anyone who finds walking with luggage difficult.

What happens after we return to Faro?

After landing, collect your luggage and contact Faro Park and Travel according to the instructions supplied with your booking. The team will organise your collection during the shuttle operating timetable.

What if our flight arrives late?

The shuttle operates until 00:00. If a delay may cause your flight to arrive outside the normal transfer hours, contact the Faro Park and Travel team as soon as possible to discuss your particular situation.

Where can I find more information before travelling?

Visit our Faro Airport Parking FAQ for further information about reservations, transfers, security and parking procedures.

Make the Family Journey to Faro Airport Easier

Travelling with children requires more planning, but the airport journey does not need to be stressful.

Allow extra time, organise your luggage before leaving home and choose parking that makes the final connection to the airport as straightforward as possible.

With Faro Park and Travel, families can leave their vehicle near Faro Airport and use complimentary transfers from 04:00 until 00:00, avoiding the need to walk to the terminal with children, suitcases and travel equipment.

Plan ahead, arrive with enough time and start your family holiday in a calmer way.

Reserve your Faro Airport family parking