Ryanair Lamezia flights

[Andy&Kath]

I think my previous optimism over the Ryanair flights from Stansted to Lamezia may have been misguided. Not only would they normally have been showing by now, but also I recently faxed a letter to Ryanair trying to get some info and the reply I have recieved, whilst not ruling them out, isn't exactly positive. They have simply stated that there are 'currently over 200 destinations throughout Europe under evaluation'. they have also forwarded a copy of my letter to 'the New Routes Manager for his consideration and can assure all suggestions are given due consideration'. Hopefully I am wrong, but I expect that the best we can hope for, seeing as we are already half way through February, is the possibility that they may resume from June. Lets hope so.

The flights always seemed to be well booked so I find it hard to believe that they would just let them lapse, but who knows how the mind of Mr O'leary works??

Andy

[bella_ciao]

Hi,

Thanks for your input re: Ryanair flights. Yep, I got the same impression - looks like there's nothing doing at the moment with regard to Stansted-Lamezia flights and I guess it's just a case of recording your interest in their reinstatement with Ryanair, like you've done, and keep checking back to their website to see whether anything has happened.

I did a quick search on the web and found this site, which tracks available flights with low cost airlines, if it's any help to members:

London to Lamezia-Terme - low cost airlines

It looks as though it might be a good source for working out a reasonably- priced alternative way of reaching Calabria, although I haven't had time to use the site in order to be able to make any recommendations. If anyone has any better ideas or routes that they've found relatively inexpensive and hassle-free, perhaps they would post suggestions on this thread, please. It seems a shame that, with the huge amount of interest that's been generated in the area in recent years, flights are being cut back rather than increased. We'll just have to 'watch this space' and hope things improve in the near future.

Thanks again.

Ciao a tutti,

Frances.

[Italy4me]

We have just done a trip to Ireland and travelled Lamezia-Milan(Bergamo)-Dublin and the same in reverse with Ryanair.
We had a very long wait in Milan both ways so dropped our bags at left luggage and took the shuttle bus into Bergamo, did some sightseeing and had some lunch.
Here's a link to the restaurant we ate at but there was a wide selection of places to eat: Vineria Cozzi
Bergamo is a beautiful town with two funinculars to the highest part of town (the day bus ticket for 3.50 included a return from the airport and entitled travel on the funicular and the local buses).
The airport at Bergamo has recently been extended and upgraded and is very nice but not too big.

In a couple of weeks we are heading to the UK for a memorial service and are doing Lamezia-Milan(Malpensa)-Gatwick and back with Easyjet.
The flight timings are better with these flights with a shorter wait in Milan but the flights were more expensive (although we were not able to be so flexible with dates on this trip).

I usually use Cheap flights – Compare cheap flights at Skyscanner.net to check for flights as there are sometimes some surprising possible combinations if you are willing to take two flights and/or can be flexible with dates.

[june]

HI Iggy

I think Ryanair have cancelled the Stanstead/lamezia route for good. We now fly Milan Bergamo/Lamezia flying from Dublin, or Aer Lingus Dublin to Naples during summer months. If you can get flight to Naples it is much shorter journey when you get there than Rome and the train service is very good. Also I believe there is a good bus/Coach service from Naples but we have not tried this yet.
June

[bella_ciao]

Hi,
Thanks for all the flight info. - it's good to know there are other workable alternatives to Ryanair for getting to Calabria and Lamezia Terme. I like the idea of taking time out to tour Bergamo, too.
Do you know for sure that Ryanair are pulling all their Stansted/Lamezia flights? I couldn't find anything conclusive from trawling the web. Maybe they're just hanging fire at the moment while they're in discussion over the various destinations. I guess it wouldn't hurt to contact them to let them know how popular this route has become - there's a fax number on Ryanair's website and also a customer service address for sending letters. It just seems a shame to see this route go completely - especially as Ryanair has everything set up at Lamezia now and I personally couldn't believe how many were using it the last time we went there. We were on the first flight into Lamezia with Thomsons when the route first opened up and the 'plane was about half full. The last time we went, the queue at Stansted was massive, even though it was low season. Let's just hope someone takes it up again, whether or not Ryanair decides to reinstate their flights - so long as they are not too expensive!
Here's hoping......
Ciao a tutti,
Frances.

[june]

Hi

I finally got through to Ryanair this morning and asked about the Stansted to Lamezia flights and was told that they were definitely not flying this route for the summer and that they may review it for November to March but as the new timetables for winter have not been done yet she could not say for sure.

If you go to frequently asked questions and on the sidebar there is Contact numbers then pick the country you are calling from and it will give contact numbers.

From :
Ireland 0818303030 National Rate from Landline (more from mobiles)
U.K. 08712460000 10p per minute from Landlines (more from mobiles)
Italy 899018880 Italian Speaking .24 per call pluss 96p per minute from Landline

Regards,
June

[bella_ciao]

Originally Posted by june

Hi

I finally got through to Ryanair this morning and asked about the Stansted to Lamezia flights and was told that they were definitely not flying this route for the summer and that they may review it for November to March but as the new timetables for winter have not been done yet she could not say for sure.

If you go to frequently asked questions and on the sidebar there is Contact numbers then pick the country you are calling from and it will give contact numbers.

From :
Ireland 0818303030 National Rate from Landline (more from mobiles)
U.K. 08712460000 10p per minute from Landlines (more from mobiles)
Italy 899018880 Italian Speaking .24 per call pluss 96p per minute from Landline

Regards,
June

Hi June,
Thanks for taking the time to post this information, which settles the issue once and for all for those of us who have been used to using the Lamezia/Stansted route. I have to say, if they're not prepared to run this route through the summer months, I feel even less optimistic about their reinstating it during the winter months because that's the time they usually stop altogether.
This will be a new challenge for those of us who have been used to getting to Stansted within the hour and taking a direct flight to Lamezia, so any further suggestions for alternative routes will always be welcome. We need plenty of good suggestions from the seasoned travellers out there! You can also sign up for email alerts from some of the low cost flight websites and I noticed that Tripadvisor also has some good tips.
Thanks again.
Ciao,
Frances.

[billy]

Hi Frances,
I must admit I don't mind the drive from Rome---in fact I quite enjoy it. The scenery is great and I don't run to a timetable. I can travel to Scalea in one day using the Edinburgh/Rome route instead of the two days it takes using the Edinburgh/ Stansted/Lamezia route. The autostrada is a great road and the last part between Lagonegro and Scalea has fantastic scenery.
Cheers, Billy.

[bella_ciao]

Originally Posted by billy

Hi Frances,
I must admit I don't mind the drive from Rome---in fact I quite enjoy it. The scenery is great and I don't run to a timetable. I can travel to Scalea in one day using the Edinburgh/Rome route instead of the two days it takes using the Edinburgh/ Stansted/Lamezia route. The autostrada is a great road and the last part between Lagonegro and Scalea has fantastic scenery.
Cheers, Billy.

Hi Billy,
Thanks for telling us about your chosen route to get to Scalea and I know from your previous posts that you do this on a regular basis. We in the East/Sout East have been spoilt so far in the matter of getting to Calabria but Italy is such a beautiful country that it's nice to be able to see some more of it while taking the journey down to Calabria and I hope to try it sometime. Of course, we in this part of the country do hope that those flights will be reinstated again in the not-to-distant future but it helps to know that we can have a choice of route by flying to a different airport and that we can make an informed decision on the basis of learning about different people's experiences/preferences, so thanks again for sharing this information.
I've noticed that Ryanair now have a route from Stansted to Trapani in Sicily. I've not yet managed a trip to Sicily from Calabria but this looks like it could be another alternative route to Calabria, while taking in a short tour of Sicily, which I hear is really beautiful. Apparently, it only takes up to half-an-hour to get to Calabria on the ferry and, having had a quick look at the Ryanair website, it looks as though flights start from 30th March, with the cheapest prices (going out and coming back on a Thursday) being from £39.99 (Stansted - 6.10am) and £18.99 (Trapani - 10.35am). It will be interesting to hear if anyone has tried this kind of route to Calabria yet with another flight company. Sounds as though it could be interesting, although I'm not familiar with the roads in Sicily or the implications re: car insurance.
Just a thought.
Anymore suggestions?
Ciao,
Frances.

[uakelly]

We have been to Trapani on holiday and it is West Sicily. Flew to and from Palermo and it was 1 and half hour approx west of there. Last year we visited Sicily from Scalea and it takes well over 3 hours to San Giovanni. Road full of roadworks south of Lamezia. You have to wait for the ferry to cross and there are 2 queues. You think you are moving but then find you are in the queue now for the ferries. At busy times there are more boats than at quiet times and we had about an hour and a half wait for one on our journey home. (late July) That time we stayed in a hotel in Achiereale? on the east side of the island near Catania (Another airport!) It is easy to underestimate the size of Sicily - It is a very large island. When we were west we didn't make it to the east and had long drives to the south west! All that said, while I definitely wouldn't recommend it for a way to travel to Scalea I would highly recommend it as part of a holiday on way to or from Calabria. Have been to Sicily 3 times and it is lovely! Trapani itself is an experience is all I can say! You pay for motorways in the east but not the west!
Hope this has been useful

[bella_ciao]

Hi,
Aha! Thanks for that information - will have to put that idea to the back of the pile, then! I had a feeling it wouldn't be an easy or very practical option as an alternative to flying to Lamezia but you have definitely renewed my interest in visiting Sicily - as you say, it could always be part of a more comprehensive tour and that way you could relax and enjoy sightseeing trips while you're there.
I was looking at Easyjet flights to Napoli from Stansted and there are some good bargains to be had there at certain times during the spring months. Has anyone tried that route and, if so, could you recommend it as a suitable alternative route to Calabria? What's it like driving south from there? I'm asking because many of you seem to like to go to Rome and Milan and I was wondering if there were any drawbacks with using Napoli airport??
Thanks again.
Ciao,
Frances.

[june]

Originally Posted by bella_ciao

Hi,
Aha! Thanks for that information - will have to put that idea to the back of the pile, then! I had a feeling it wouldn't be an easy or very practical option as an alternative to flying to Lamezia but you have definitely renewed my interest in visiting Sicily - as you say, it could always be part of a more comprehensive tour and that way you could relax and enjoy sightseeing trips while you're there.
I was looking at Easyjet flights to Napoli from Stansted and there are some good bargains to be had there at acertain times during the spring months. Has anyone tried that route and, if so, could you recommend it as a suitable alternative route to Calabria? What's it like driving south from there? I'm asking because many of you seem to like to go to Rome and Milan and I was wondering if there were any drawbacks with using Napoli airport??
Thanks again.
Ciao,
Frances.

Hi
We have driven from Napoli on several occasions over the years and have never had a problem. We think it is the best option after Lamezia for Scalea and area. Its 234km from Naples Capodichino Airport. No need to go into Naples, you can head towards Bari on A16,
then south on A30, join the A3 south and exit at Lago Negro Nord, for Scalea. Allow about 2.5 to 3 hours, its mostly autostrada to Lago Negro Nord exit. after that its a National route.
For those not wishing to drive you can get a train from Naples Central. (An airport bus drops you there for about 4 Euro.

Regards,
June

[bella_ciao]

Hi June,
Brilliant! Thanks for the detailed information re: Naples airport as an alternative route to Calabria and Scalea area. I felt sure it would be a workable solution and it is the closest airport after Lamezia, so well worth considering. We usually travel farther down the coast to where our relatives live but we love exploring the whole area and the thought of taking in a tour of Sorrento and the Amalfi coast en route is really appealing! (Been there a few times but there's always a good reason to "return to Sorrento"!)
However, practicality would seem to dictate that, as a more straightforward route for driving, your tried and tested option of avoiding Naples altogether is a better and quicker way of reaching Calabria and the Scalea area. I just had a quick look at the map and it looks quite easy to navigate. While writing this I also had an alert through from Tripadvisor and the cheapest return journey from London Heathrow to Lamezia Terme with Alitalia at the moment (April 3rd - 10th, 2010) is £243 Economy, which isn't bad I suppose but, considering this is their lowest fare and comparing it with Easyjet's lowest one way fare at well under £30 for the Stansted to Naples route (and similar for the return journey) later on in the month, the overall saving gives you a very nice contribution towards hiring a car or public transport fares in Italy. I suppose its a question of priorities and also whether it suits your particular schedule.
Well, I guess we have plenty of food for thought but any further recommendations for alternative routes or other travel tips are always welcome.
Thanks again, everyone.
Ciao a tutti,
Frances.

[brynithel3]

Hi All

Isn't odd how these spammers get access to the forums.
There has got to be a tool that would enable us to block them.

Ciao

John