"Staying at an airport hotel before your holiday avoids all the last minute stress of having to get up early and then rush to the airport to catch an early morning flight. We are also seeing a growing trend for people to stay at an airport hotel on their return from holiday to avoid the stress and dangers of driving home when tired," says Holiday Extras head of commercial, Anthony Clarke-Cowell.

The advantages of starting a holiday in an airport hotel have been recognised by a growing number of influential people in the travel business, including Matt Rudd writing in the Sunday Times on 16 December. Having tried an airport hotel with his family, Mr Rudd has decided "now we're always going to start the holiday at an airport hotel".

Thousands of people like Mr Rudd have discovered the many advantages of staying at an airport hotel, both before a holiday and after one, by booking with the UK market leader in airport hotels and airport parking, Holiday Extras.

Holiday Extras has been selling the benefits of enjoying a relaxing start to a holiday by staying at an airport hotel for almost 25 years, and more and more people have quite literally woken up to the advantages.

In his article, Mr Rudd relates how staying at an airport hotel meant there was no need for him and his family to get up at an ungodly hour in order to rush to the airport to catch an early flight. Instead of having to get up at 1.50am to catch a flight at 6.25am, the Rudd family were able to set their alarm for 4.50am, leaving enough time for a cup of tea before the short hop to the airport.

"We woke, we abluted, we pushed the trolley into the arrivals hall and we checked in at a queueless desk for an on-time flight that was only half full," writes Mr Rudd. "These sorts of things just don't happen to the Rudd family, and the only thing we'd done differently was stay at a hotel. Everything is clearly linked cosmically. So now we're always going to start the holiday at an airport hotel."

But Mr Rudd could have enjoyed an even better start to his holiday if he'd booked with Holiday Extras. By pre-booking his airport hotel, and airport parking, with Holiday Extras, Mr Rudd could have saved up to 60% off standard prices.

The Rudd family stayed at the Hilton Gatwick airport hotel and paid £169 including 15 days parking. Holiday Extras has a new and exclusive dinner package at the Gatwick Hilton available for a supplement of just £10 per person for a three course meal. And for guests looking to park their car at the airport, Holiday Extras also has an exclusive Meet and Greet parking deal with Maple Manor with prices starting from just £42 for 8 days parking and £66 for 15 days.

By booking a Holiday Extras Undercover Hotel the Rudd family could have stayed at a 4 star Gatwick airport hotel from only £79. And had they been flying from Heathrow they could have stayed at a top quality 4* Undercover Hotel at prices starting from an amazing £45 room only, or just £59 for a room and 15 days parking.

Holiday Extras also offers unbelievable value Undercover Hotels at Stansted airport, where prices start from £79.95 room only or £89.95 for a room and 8 days parking, and at Manchester, East Midlands and Manchester airports, all with a best price guarantee.

All the hotels recommended by Mr Rudd in his article as most convenient for the airports at Heathrow, Stansted, Luton and Manchester can be booked through Holiday Extras, with a best price guarantee and savings of up to 60%.

Travellers who want a stress free start to their holiday, like the Rudds, are invited to discover the benefits of booking an airport hotel, and airport parking, and enjoy savings of up to 60%, by contacting the experts in holiday add-ons, Holiday Extras, on 08708 444186 or online at http://www.holidayextras.co.uk