Flights to Almeria - Page 2

If you are flexible about travel times, before you book any flights with budget airlines such as Ryanair or Easyjet, plug the details into Airhint (www.airhint.com) and see if you could do better by changing your flight. If you book the return sector of your flight separately, you'll often pay the same figure in Euros as Pounds, which will save you around 10%-15%, depending on the exchange rate on the day, and whether your payment card punishes you for making a non-sterling transaction.

If you can't get a direct flight to your destination on a particular day, then look up one of the flight comparison websites (my favourite is Skyscanner - www.skyscanner.ie), plug in the details and you will see alternative ways of getting to your destination.  You can enter alternative airport destinations, if for example, Malaga, Granada, Murcia or Alicante were acceptable.  Remember: if you are warned about "self-check in" or words to that effect, it means you must check out all your stuff at the intermediate airport and check in again for your second flight.  This is a bother when you've several people in tow, and a big stress if the first flight runs late.  However, these tend to be the cheapest of the indirect flights.

Getting to Roquetas is most convenient (or rather least inconvenient!) from Malaga.  Get the metro (called Cercanias) from the airport to the main bus and rail station (it's called Maria Zambrano, after a local poet.  This is frequently shortened to MZ).  There are several buses a day to Almería (mostly just 1- or 2-stops), and from Almería take the local bus to Roquetas.  Alsa is the biggest operator (www.alsa.es - click "en" or the Union Jack for instructions in English).  If you contact Blablacar (www.blablacar.es) they'll put you in touch if there is a car and driver going the same way as you.  Expect to pay a contribution towards diesel which compares with the travel cost by bus, but you'll receive something approaching a door-to-door taxi service for a fraction of the price.  There is no convenient train service from Malaga to Almería.  

There are bus services from Murcia and Alicante to Almería, but none of the ones that I've seen are as convenient as those from Malaga.  For more information on bus services from these places look up rome2rio (www.rome2rio.com) which will tell you the options that are available at your time of travel.  There is muttering about connecting Alicante airport to Alicante by rail (the existing line to Elche-Elx passes only some 2 km from the airport), and I heard that the planners are seriously looking at this. At the moment, Alicante airport is surprisingly badly served by buses to Alicante.  (In fact the only similar-sized airport with such lousy bus connections is Faro in Portugal!) 

I was going to ask this question. I’ve not done the journey yet but moving to Almeria soon and I am aware of the flights. I will have to travel to Malaga throughout  the winter and I was under the impression that it took about 4/4.30 hours via the bus. Also, is there an express shuttle from Granada? This is another good option for travelling to Almeria.

Many thanks 

There is an alsa bus which leaves malaga bus station at 16.30 and that one takes 2.5 hours with one stop but some take hours because they drop off at lots of different towns...take a look at the alsa website because there is an earlier one...

Thanks a lot. Will have a look today x

There are bus and train services from Granada to Almería. Typical travel time 2-3 hours cost €18-€22 one way.

Train takes the scenic route via Guadix.

For basic info check www.rome2rio.com.

Thank you 

Hi GillyBean, yeah looks like we'll have to rethink where we buy. Gutted cos love REM

Que Sera

Hi Mike,

In Winter (and for the rest of the year for that matter), you might be better off on the other side of Almeria where there is an excellent bus service which runs out of Alicante to Vera / Garrucha / Mojacar (where I go) / Turre on a daily basis and which leaves there c.1200/1230hrs each day. Alternatively the same company runs coaches to meet all flights ex-Almeria/ Murcia Corvera each day.

I fly ex-Manchester/Liverpool/Newcastle

PM me should you require more details.

I know this was Mike’s post by I wouldn’t mind some details on these buses. Is it easier to fly front Manchester to Alicante rather than Malaga? 

Thanks 

The two express bus operators on Malaga to Almería are Alsa (www.alsa.es) and Avanza (www.avanza.es).

For information in English click "en" or the Union Jack. Both operate between Malaga (Maria Zambrano) bus station and Almería. 

Alsa buses are blue and Avanza are red and white. Typical express journey time just under 3 hours.

Other companies provide "stopping" buses which take much longer but which give you a chance to stretch your legs or have a smoke or a coffee. 

Even though Alicante is slightly nearer Roquetas, Malaga is better served by flights from UK and Ireland  - and the bus connections are more frequent.  

If it appeals to you, and you're not in a hurry, from Malaga you also have the alternative of stopping over in Granada if you want to travel by rail. Malaga bus and train stations are right next door to each other. If you're very lucky you'll be using the amazing scenic old railway line from Malaga through Bobbadilla to Granada and the scenic route from Granada through Guadix to Almería. Allow 5-6 hours travel time, but keep your camera  very close to hand! 

(By the way,  the section of railway between Malaga and Bobbadilla was built by British engineers in the mid 19th century,  and it is a testament to the quality of the work that the line is in everyday use today.)