Would you book a flight that gets in at past 1am?

[AliCantI]

Looking at flights to Alicante for a weeks holiday in the Summer. On a very tight budget and can see a RyanAir flight for £50 one-way arriving at 01.30. Hoping to book a self-catering apartment somewhere in the Old Town. Am I mad considering it? I’m guessing we could get a taxi for about 30 Euros - I’m hoping we’ll be able to get one at that time of night? There’s 3 adults travelling so don’t have to worry about overtired children. I know it means we effectively write-off the first day of our holiday by travelling at this hour. The return flight I’m looking at costs a lot more but is an early evening flight.

Any thoughts?

I'd cost it out by checking if the accommodation plus flight is cheaper than the more expensive flight which gets you the whole day without the extra nights stay.

Wasting a whole day of holiday is not usually most cost effective.

Recently I looked at a flight that got me there are 2230 on the Friday and left at 09.30 a week Saturday. 8 nights, 7 days. It was cheaper to get the pricier morning flight the day after that got us in at 0930 and a late evening flight on the following Friday. We still did 7 days but only 6 nights. Worked out same amount of holiday for cheaper overall accommodation bill.

I would. With 3 adults you won’t write off the day, you’ll likely wake up a little late but can have a relaxed first day with a siesta for a few hours if tired. Taxis shouldn’t be an issue - the Spanish nightlife runs later so plenty will still be open

Yes, I often fly at that time or later.

Don't like flying Ryanair thought, that would be more an issue for me!

Depends what day you have to return to work/school after your trip. If you've got to go back work/school the following day then probably not. If you have a few days off after your return then yeah probably. One plus is the roads back home will be quiet that time of night.

Probably not.
A cheap self catering apartment will often have the host let you in, many won’t have check in that late at night. Plus you will pay for the whole extra night even though you only arrive at 2-3am rather than the afternoon before.

Ideally take the cheap early morning Ryanair flights.

I'd be very careful with this one. What are the local airport's cutoffs for night landings and what are the stats on delays? If the airline runs these flights on very narrow turnarounds you run a risk of getting diverted or canceled. You can ask for advice on the flyertalk.com board - they should have a Ryanair forum, and there's also forums organized by destinations.

Never again! did it last year, i d also never get a 6am flight either, for us means a 2am wakeup, so the first day of the holiday is spent snoozing and/or knackered.

You'd need to pre book the taxi transfer and arrange the apartment opening too, in our case the flight was delayed by 1hr, so the taxi had buggered off and no, Spanish taxis aren't plentiful at 3am!!! (by the time you clear baggage etc

Don’t think you’ll be able to get into any self-catered accommodation at 2am - it’s too late if booked deom
previous day, no one will be able to let you in!

Is your the plan to spend arrival night at airport hotel which will probably be 24hr check in/out for flights and then check into to self catering in the afternoon? Assuming airport has a hotel of course!

Getting in a late would mean an extra night’s cost for accommodation. Is that stilll cheaper than flying in the following morning?

Agree with above and would also point out that there’s a tendency for flights toward of the day tend to run late due to the aircraft picking up delays through the working day.

“…towards end of the day…”

Cannot imagine anything worse. Keys won’t be available and it sounds difficult. Agree late flights get delayed. I’d stay in the uk rather than 40 degrees in Alicante!

I would only do this if there was a 24 hour reception & there was no risk they would have given my room away.

Thanks for all your input. I’ve gone ahead and booked flight. There were no other options to fly direct during our timeframe - looked at Edinburgh too but Easy Jet weren’t offering direct flights . Have ended up paying a total of £600 for 3 adults return including a 20k hold bag either way. I messaged the apartment owner and they say it’s no problem - they’re used to arranging access for late flight arrivals - hopefully that will be the case.

it’s definitely something I would have dismissed with a younger child in tow or if we were having a 2+hr transfer once we’d landed. I lose a day but I’ve saved over £500/£600 and the day we depart we’ll have till 3pm before leaving for airport.

I’ll report back once we’ve had our holiday.