Rome Ciampino and Brussels Charleroi

[shaz]

On another thread, someone (David) suggested that I fly from Rome to Brussels instead of trying to travel all the way there by train.

I did find a cheap ticket via Ryan Air. However, it uses Rome Ciampino and Brussels CRL instead of the two major airports.

Does anyone have any problems with these airports? Are they easy to get to and from via train?

I ask because I could also fly on Alitalia using the two major airports FCO and BRU for only 15 euros more. Or Brussels Airlines for 20 euros more.

[pointofnoreturn]

I've flown into Rome Ciampino. I had a good experience there. Several transportation options:

www.italyheaven.co.uk/rome/ciampino.html

The cheapest way is to pay 1 euro for a bus ride (less than 10 minutes) to the metro station and 1 euro for a metro ticket to your final destination.

The bus stop is literally right outside arrivals.

[WillTravel]

I liked CIA too. And with the transport mentioned by PONR, or even with the approximately 8-Euro Terravision bus, it's a little cheaper to get to CIA than FCO (FCO will require about 11 Euros from Termini on the Leonardo Express).

However, for CRL, I've heard less positive things about it, because if you get stuck there, it's a nasty area. Most likely, though, that wouldn't happen. But look into the transport options and costs for CRL vs. BRU.

Still, I would fly Brussels Airlines instead of Ryanair for 20 Euros more, because most likely, with all of Ryanair's charges, the difference is even less.

I wouldn't fly Alitalia on the moment, because it's teetering on imminent bankruptcy.

[herrbert]

There are busses between Brussels and Charleroi. www.charleroi-airport.com/doc.php?nd=1101&tid=101&site=1&lg=2, if the difference is only 20 euro, I would avoid Ryanair.

[shaz]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I will avoid RyanAir, but my problem with the Brussels Airlines flight is that it is at 6:30 in the morning. Assuming I need to get there a couple hours before the flight, I don't see the point in booking a hostel and trying to sleep the night before. The BA flight is out of FCO. Do you think FCO would allow me to get there at 1:00am or so and then sleep at the airport while I wait?