We will land at Belfast international Airport and are looking at options for getting to our hotel in the city center?
Is a black taxi cab our easiest or best option or is there an easy bus stop location located at the terminal? Taxi approximately 48 pounds sterling which seems pricey.
I have heard that there are a variety of taxi cab companies that pick up at the international airport but not sure how to know which ones are actually authorized to. Any taxi apps?
There is the airport express bus #300 which runs 24/7 to Europa Bus Station every 15 minutes for £8.50 per person. Every 15 minutes at peak periods, every 30 minutes off peak, every hour in the small hours of the morning.
There is only one authorised company for the airport taxi rank wwe.belfastairporttaxis
Check fares and book in advance on line on their web site.
I looked into the #300 bus from the airport and the website says the driver only takes cash (in pounds, of course---which I won't have upon arrival.) If I book online I must choose an exact bus time; if my flight is late, they won't let me use my bus ticket for a different time. If I wait until I land to buy tickets online, the tickets can't be used until an hour after purchase---and we have only carryon luggage so not thrilled about having to hang out for an hour to catch the bus. This bus company certainly doesn't make it easy for us travellers!
So I downloaded the Translink mLink app (says tickets can be used immediately after purchase) and I can't buy tickets without opening an account. When I tried to open an account, the app won't accept any of the telephone formats I tried (including a British friend's cell number). I did email customer service but no response yet.
Is there a window at the airport to buy tickets for the #300 bus using a credit card? If so, where?
What have others done to get tickets to downtown Belfast on the #300 bus?
From both the Translink website and the Airport website- tickets can also be purchased from the Ticket Vending Machine at the airport bus stop and from the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre in arrivals- both by credit and debit cards.
Many people have the I Link Smart Cards (which can also be purchased from the Welcome Centre). Those are what you use (tourist and local alike) if doing any other significant travel by public transport either solely in Belfast, or throughout Northern Ireland.
I've bought Translink tickets before now direct from the Translink website (not the App) and don't remember having to set up an account- I was just e-mailed the tickets with a QR code for the driver to scan. So presumably the app works differently.
Belfast Airport Taxis are the only authorised official operator from the airport
Our taxi from the airport was £12. We were not staying downtown, but the fare to downtown hotels is likely widely known. £48 sounds high to me. The taxi rank was easy to find, so no need to call or use an app. Our driver had a card reader. Very easy. Not sure I would have paid 4x that. You could always stick your head in the window and ask.
It is a 20 mile journey from the airport to the City Centre so £48 sounds about right. The fare calculator on the Belfast Airport Taxis website actually says £62.
