IT'S that bit of your long-awaited and much-anticipated holiday abroad which is so often the dreaded bugbear...

There's nothing quite like that 2am alarm to get you up and moving to make it to the airport in time for your flight, or, and maybe even worse, the early hours UK return landing slot which presents you with the prospect of a shattered drive back from airport to home - and let's face it, no matter where you're going (or have been), it's rare as hen's teeth you don't cop for at least one or the other.

The worry you'll sleep through the alarm, or there'll be traffic jams en route to the airport and you miss your flight; or else, getting behind the wheel in the dead of night without even having been able to have had a consolation glass of two on the flight home - if you can remember which part of the vast airport parking complex you left the car in in the first place those two long weeks of bliss ago.

But there's a simple solution, and one more and more people are turning to in order to whisk away the worry, and even extend that holiday feeling for an extra night (or two) - airport hotels, such as the Hilton Manchester Airport.

And a stopover in either direction at the Hilton really does feel like you've left paradise to land in the lap of luxury, and vice versa.

With plenty of on-site parking and a 24-hour shuttle bus to chauffeur you to and from the terminal, you can arrive at your leisure, wave goodbye to the motor and relax safe in the knowledge everything is taken care of.

Whether staying overnight before your morning flight, or knowing you've only yards to travel before getting your head down after landing back at silly o'clock, the Hilton's rooms cover your every need, with comfy beds, wifi access and LCD TV plus extensive tea and coffee making facilities - and the complimentary snacks and drinks awaiting you in your room when you get there are a particularly nice touch.

If you're there in time for a meal and a drink, there's an extensive and imaginative restaurant menu (with children's options) and a chilled out bar area to boot, plus cribs and high chairs for the over-excited little ones.

Put simply, it's the perfect way to get your holiday off to a relaxed, pampered start - or to enjoy the final hours of your hols safe in the knowledge everything's taken care of in style for when you reluctantly touch down back on good old Blighty.

Click here to visit the website, or call reservations on 0161 435 3000 for more.