Quick Trip Report- Poland and Ryanair experience
All- I wanted to give you some tidbits from our fabulous trip to Poland. We left on 6/17 (last Monday) and came back on 6/23 (Sunday). My husband works for DL and we traveled with our 'anchor'; my sister on a buddy pass. I can hear the groans now, so I will tell you upfront that I am a very detailed planner and knew every flight detail to/from Europe, my sister is very flexible with travel dates, and my sister has the ultimate luck (as shown a little further down below). My sister is a teacher, so we are stuck with the dreaded summer schedule, but have done a trip to Europe many years in a row with success.
We explored Lodz, Warsaw, Krakow and took a side trip to Osweicim (Auschwitz). Poland is part of the EU, but uses thier own currency (Zloty). It is a beautiful affordable country and we had great food and great fun. Price examples include taxis that were no more than $6 USD for a 15 minute ride, a 2 hour train ride was $8 USD, and dinner for 3 under $40. Our hotels ranged from $120 USD (for 3 people), to our top notch Warsaw apartment hotel at $225 USD (the H15 apartments).
We flew to AMS to get to Lodz, Poland (via Ryanair). Our original plan was Milan to Lodz since I had pre purchased a 17 Euro per person ticket. We chickened out on Monday and flew to AMS and bought additional Ryan Air tickets to Bergamo (Milan) to meet up with Plan A. Still inexpensive tickets, but not 17 Euro. Apparently, we would have all gotten Biz Elite on the MXP flight, but it was very negative (-15), so too much rolling of the dice. 2 of 3 of us got biz on the back up plan to AMS and we made the trek to Eindhovan for our Ryan flight. On Sunday, we flew out of Warsaw to Brussel Charleroi on Ryanair for 7 Euro a piece (yes, that is not a typo).
We then all made the BRU to ATL flight the next day, albeit the normal nail biter, where my sister was left back, only to appear on the plane after a recount of the seats. 2 in Biz, 1 in the back again. That is totally how my sister rolls...
I would reccomend Ryanair as long as you read, and re-read all the many, many rules. A couple of things to note as a last minute-change-the-plan-non rev:
- You must check in 4 hours before your flight (I was able to book tickets and check in standing at the gate in ATL). You must print your boarding pass 2 hours before the flight (we did this at the internet kiosk in the Schripol airport). You must have paid for your checked bags 2 hours before your flight (30 Euro in the summer time for 44 lbs). We stumbled on this the first leg and paid for it at the airport, you live and learn.
- You are limited to one carry on at 10 kgs, no extra purse, no extra computer, nothing. We were checked in Einhoven over and over again on the bag size (there were sizers and they used a card board cut out of a suitcase). They are not messing around with this one. They did not check the weight. We were not scrutinized as much in Bergamo or Warsaw, but were prepared and made sure everything weighed right and fit the size wise.
- The transfers to the airports that Ryanair and Wizz fly out of can be pricey. Schripol to Einhovan was a nice train with WIFI and reasonable, the Charleroi to Brussels Midi less so at 17 Euro pp (but cheaper if you book on line). Lodz to downtown Lodz cheap $6 cabfare.
Hope this helps someone explore a fascinating country, or helps navigate LCCs.
