Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Layover from 11pm to 10 am in Brussels

My flight gets into Brussels airport at 11pm from Barcelona on a Saturday night and my connecting flight to New York does not leave until 10 am the next morning. I was wondering if it is worthwhile to find a hostel in the city for the night and wake up early to have a nice, early breakfast and stroll around a bit. Would it be feasible to check into a hostel at midnight? Is it worth my time or should I either (a) sleep in the airport or (b) sleep in a hotel room very close to the airport. Thanks so much for any advice!




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You don%26#39;t have till 10 a.m. if that is the time of your flight! For a flight to the U.S. you are supposed to check in THREE hours beforehand (there are additional checks for the U.S., and believe me, I have travelled out of BRU several times over the last couple of months and the lines are getting longer and longer at boarding pass/passport control and security AND it%26#39;s a long way to walk from departure hall to the gates). This means you must be back at the airport around 7 a.m.!



It would be nice to see the Grand%26#39; Place by night, but the last train BACK to BRU from Gare centrale is at 23:16 so this isn%26#39;t feasible unless you stay overnight in the city centre (or take taxis).



The first train to the airport the next morning from Gare centrale is at 04:52, and they leave at roughly 20 minute intervals (cost €3 single), so you could take the train to the centre when you arrive - from the station below the airport, at 23:27, 23:36, 23:52, or the last train is at 00:27 - and stay very close to Gare centrale, e.g. Novotel %26quot;off Grand%26#39; Place%26quot;, Ibis ditto or the Madeleine (informing them of your late arrival); there are no hostels in the immediate area. In the morning, the last train you should take to arrive around 7 is at 06:52, arr. 07:08 (the one before that is at 06:40). You don%26#39;t need to waste time on breakfast in town, you can get it at the airport after checking in.



If you decide not to go into town, the most convenient option for staying at the airport, if funds allow, is the Airport Sheraton, which claims to be 39 (foot)steps from the terminal. There are other %26quot;airport hotels%26quot; which have shuttle buses, but if you choose one of these, check the operating hours of the shuttle because I think you arrive too late for these and may also be leaving too early. If you had to take a taxi to one of these, it would end up being more expensive than staying at the Sheraton.

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