Ryanair: Eindhoven to Florence

The carrier: Ryanair

Upside
Massive number of destinations. Really cheap fares.

Downside
Numerous extra charges when booking. Customer care isn't a priority (See below). Food prices on board very steep.

About
The big daddy of them all, Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair maintains the most awe-inspiring route map and tends to add new destinations (and cancel unprofitable routes) at blistering, breakneck speed. Founded in 1985, Ryanair was Europe's original low fares airline and is still Europe's largest low fares carrier. At current count, Ryanair operates well over 500 routes, from Inverness to Brindisi; Tampere to Tenerife.

It's easy to have lots of opinions about Ryanair; we certainly do. It's a big monster of an airline. We've been pleased as punch on Ryanair, psyched to take advantage of insanely cheap fares, and we've also been annoyed beyond belief with the airline, distressed by enormous surcharges on too-heavy luggage and staff who appear to be completely clueless.

With Ryanair more than with the other airlines we describe here, it pays to be informed about potential penalties and pitfalls.

Baggage
* Carry-on: One piece of luggage not to exceed 10 kg.
* Checked: Up to 3 bags with a combined weight of 15 kg. If booked on-line using Ryanair, the first bag is €10 and the second and third bags are €20 each. Over 15 kg, €15 per kg at the airport. Check website for details.

Seating
Since Ryanair is a free for all when it comes to landing seats, it can sometimes be worth it to pay the €5 for priority boarding. In advance, book priority boarding status online, if you hold an EU passport.

Note: If you check in at the airport, you will also incur a €5 fee. Note that American passengers can only check in at the airport.


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Departure: Eindhoven, Netherlands - Eindhoven (EIN)

Eindhoven Airport is a regional airport that serves Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

Location: Eindhoven Airport is located 6 km (4 miles) from the Eindhoven city center.

Transport:

- Rail: The main rail station and airport are connected by bus.

- Bus: Bus #401 provides service to the central rail station. There is also bus service available to Amsterdam.

- Taxi: Taxis service is available at the airport. They can be pre-arranged at the airport information desk.

Service: Airport amenities include an information desk, passport photo machine, restaurant, bar, and some shops.

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Arrival: Florence, Italy - Peretola Airport (FLR)

Peretola Airport - Florence or "Aeroporto di Firenze," also known as "Amerigo Vespucci Airport," was named after Florence native Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian merchant and cartographer and is one of two main airports in the Tuscany region. The airport is very small. Even Italian flag-carrier Alitalia only serves two routes in and out of Florence! Among low-cost carriers, Sterling and Belle Air include Florence on their route maps.

Location: Peretola Airport is located 4 kilometers from Florence and 80 kilometers from Pisa.

Transport:

- Rail: Passengers can take the Ataf-Sita Vola bus to the central railway station (S.M. Novella).

- Bus: The Ataf-Sita Vola shuttle bus travels between the airport and the main Florence train station in about 25 minutes.

- Taxi: Taxis are stationed in front of the arrivals terminal or can be called by Radiotaxi. Taxi journey time from the airport to Florence city center is about 15 minutes.

Service: There are coffee bars, a snack bar, and a self-service restaurant located at the airport. Travelers can also shop at the Duty Free shop, newsstand, tobacconist and gift shop. Airport facilities also include a Bank, Bureau de Change, and Auto Exchange Machine. more...