A Coruña - Settling in

AC is spread around a headland with the old part of the city centred around the Plaza Maria Pita. If you want to be close to the action but the airport side of town look no further than the four lorries shopping centre (Cuatro Caminos is actually Four Roads but atfirst glance looks like Cuatro Camiones) which includes the ubiquitos El Corte Ingles department store.

There is an unbelievably good value for money 4 star hotel called the Tryp A Coruna. It's modern and comfortable yet a double room costs just £40 per night all year round as far as we can tell excluding breakfast. Breakfast costs 9 euros but should be avoided not because there’s anything wrong with it but because the Alcala cafeteria on the corner next to the Tryp will cook anything you wish to perfection and serve it to you.

Unfortunately the timing of the landing means that you will miss the set three course lunch including wine water and coffee at Sonia’s place two minutes from the airport. Prices have increased recently from £5.00 per head to £5.50 but don’t let that put you off a trip there on your way back to the airport.

Like most restaurants in AC and Galicia generally Sonia’s is a Parrillada or mixed grill which means that food is cooked on an open wood or charcoal fire in the restaurant/bar.

Make a note to visit Sonia’s in the evenings or just before the return afternoon flight as they serve anything from a sandwich (bocadillo) to a steak or spare ribs that are like steaks all expertly cooked and great value for money.

Get there before one o’clock to be treated with respect and to avoid being trampled! Lunch is the main meal of the day in Spain apart from dinner which is also the main meal and it is taken very seriously.

Sonia’s at 1:15 is not the place to try out your Spanish.

A Coruña - Heathrow to Alvedro

Well I never, you’ve taken the plunge despite reading this blog and 1hr 45 after sailing through Heathrow you’ve landed in AC. You could have ordered your in-flight food (not recommended) and drinks in Spanish or English or a bit of both. Euros are the order of the day or cards are accepted no problem. You’re in real Spain – nothing is a problem.

If you know your way round Heathrow you would, like us, have parked at Parking Express, hopped on the green bus (10 minutes) and bailed out at Terminal 2.

There are two Clickair desks and several Iberia desks next door. If the queue builds the Iberia people step in and help out the Clickair people and vice versa – imagine that! So check in times are short. After going through passport control head upstairs to Est Est Est for a decent breakfast so you don’t have to rely on the airline food.

The Clickair (part owned by Iberia the Spanish national carrier) loads at 11:20 and pushes back at 11:33. (200 Spaniards board a plane in less time than 5 English Tourists so don’t get in the way). The classical music starts and lasts throughout the ascent. Same relaxing music plays on the decent but don’t expect any reassuring commentary from the flightdeck – Spaniards don’t travel like that they just want to get from A to B with the crew concentrating on Flying not entertaining. (Captain Pablo performing monkey with My Travel please take note).

If you’re interested in the weather on arrival or how many clouds there are or what the temperature is or if you are wearing shorts or you find yourself asking if you've gone over the Pyrenees yet then you are on the wrong flight – please re-book for one of the costas.

After landing and a leisurely stroll along the airbridge through passport control it takes less than 10 minutes to find yourself in the airport concourse. There are 3 or 4 cash machines there and a Medas cafeteria which you should visit.

There are no queues at the car hire as the flight will have been full of Spaniards returning home not tourists. Taxis are lined up outside and again no queues.
The drive to AC itself takes 10 minutes although there is a regular bus service if you intend to survive for two whole days without a car. http://tinyurl.com/2a7s29

A Coruña - Getting there...

Having decided that AC is the place to be you just need to visit http://www.clickair.com/ and get on one of the daily flights from London Heathrow to La Coruna (Alvedro) airport. Clickair have recently taken over the route from Iberia http://www.iberia.com/ and are 20% owned by Spain's national carrier. You can also book via the Iberia website if you are an Iberia Plus member and want to get your points! The Clickair Airbus arrives in AC at 14.00 and because of the size of the airport at Alvedro you will be out and on your way in no time. We recommend travelling light to save having to wait for checked luggage to turn up on the carousel so you can be outside at the car hire desks, taxi rank or bus stop within 20 minutes of touching down.

If the weather is not so good when you land at AC you might notice the odd bump and sway as you approach Runway 22 but this is perfectly normal (for AC anyway). This above picture was taken on a typical summer's day in AC! This one was taken on a similar summer's day in between warm rain showers : www.airliners.net/open.file/1188092/M/