Charleroi Belgium- advice please!

[porcelaincider]

Looking for cheap getaway with kids (6&8) and found great priced flights to Belgium-- but its charleroi not Brussels . Has anyone done this with kids? Where did you stay and was train etc OK? Some say 60 min some.say 90. What did you do while you were there.

Any help appreciated! Thanks xx

Not going to be much help tbh but I frequently fly into Charleroi to visit my daughter. She actually lives in antwerp so I’m 90 mins on a train from Charleroi. Next time I’m going I’m going to pick a different airport as Charleroi is hell on earth 😬

Oh gosh- why is it so bad??

Far too many people for the size of airport, twice I’ve nearly missed a flight despite being there 3 hours early

Read reviews about toilets being chargeable which seems crazy

There is a frequent bus between the airport and Brussels Gare du Midi. Takes about 45 mins as I recall. There is a Novotel and an Ibis near the Grand Place which both do family rooms. And a Citadines with studios/apartments. How long do you plan to stay? There are some great museums in Brussels - Natural History / Comic Book / Choc would be good for kids. Chez Leon in the Rue des Bouchers - kids eat free. Chips and waffles everywhere. Get the 44 tram to Tervuren to the park and African Museum. Atomium and Mini-Europe. There is a carousel and multiplex cinema at Brupark and lots of cafes and restaurants. You could get the train for the day to Ghent or Bruges or even the coast. Kids will travel free.

My dd flies in and out of there often without issue. My friend just travelled this weekend and all was fine. I don't go there unless I have to as I live 10 mins from Brussels airport.

Oh god. I'm connecting in Charleroi next month and dreading it. One Ryanair flight to another.

Thanks @missambrosia that's good to know, the flights are a great price and 60 min bus or train ride not a problem for us.

Need to look into how to/where to get said buses from!!!

Was this recently ? 🙈🙈🙈

https://www.flibco.com/en/bus_stops/BEL/15?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpPKiBhDvARIsACn-gzAlNvht_DtVrX2110USeGZr7teC5nS1cgUDEDwKy6ZZ5sCvFBeHJu0aAs0NEALw_wcB Website for the airport buses.

I only know of Ryanair who fly there. Please don't fly with them.

Flights are cheap because Belgium is the dullest country in the whole wide world. Don't go there - it's boring!

"I only know of Ryanair who fly there. Please don't fly with them."

Why?

Ryanair is the one airline I never had issues with. Brussels Airlines on the other hand... And Belgium is not dull at all. It has been at the centre of much European history. There is loads to see. It has a brilliant coastline, fab cities, beautiful countryside, It's not Italy maybe, but otherwise it's great for a visit. Netherlands too.