Colombo Travel Forum

hi

guys i have a 12 hrs layover (11pm to 11am the next day) and a 24 hrs layover (2pm to 2pm the next day) in Sri lanka.

have absolutely no idea what so ever of what to do... just know that i want to see the city, do a bit of shopping and take lots of snaps...

am 23 years old, so can stay awake/alert for extended durations...

any ideas what to do??


p.s. I read in the Sri lankan airport website they have a "Bond Baggage" scheme, where you can give them your luggage and take it back when you are departing... any ideas of its cost??

Are you flying SriLankan Airlines? Do you qualify for a night stop?

The airport is 60-90 min from the airport (depending on time of travelling).

You are advised to be at the airport minimum 3 hours before departure due to tight security, so on your first layover there is no point in going to Colombo City.

You can get further information about "Bond Baggage" by contacting Tel: +94 112 252861 Ext: 3019.

You might be able to check your luggage through to your final destination as your layovers are less than 24 hours.

When you have a 12hrs stop over, there is nothing you can do except to sleep.Even if you are stying in city hotels, there is no point as there is no activity after 11pm. Since your flight is at 11am next day, perhaps you can have a leisurely breakfast and report at the airport.

When you have 24hrs lay off, may be you can hire a car and visit Kandy or elephant orphanage.Better would be to visit Kandy since your time is 2pm to 2pm.

Have a nice trip.

thanks a lot.

am thinking the same... stay in airport on way to London as there will be nothing open at 11 in the night.

am traveling on a budget as parents are not sponsering this trip :(, so will try to sit somewhere in airport...

like in Karachi, Pakistan airport we have a BIG Mc Donalds where you can sit for hours without anyone disturbing you... Does the Sri Lanka International Airport have any such place where i can eat, sit, rest or something??

oh, and should i bring dollars or srilankan rupees to colombo???

thanks again for such prompt reply

and am traveling srilankan airlines, but their rep here says this particular fight does not make me eligible for airline operated hotel :(

and thanks for the kandu advice. will try to search on net about it and places i can visit here...

thanks

I assume that you have contacted SriLankan Airlines and been told that your ticket does qualify for a night stop.

There are a small number of fully air-conditioned day rooms with attached toilets for transit passengers. These rooms are available at both the arrival and departure terminals.

Shower rooms are available in the transit lounge.

There is a restaurant/cafeteria in the transit lounge.

Forgot to say that you can't pay with Sri Lankan currency in the transit areas of the airport.

like in Karachi, Pakistan airport we have a BIG Mc Donalds where you can sit for hours without anyone disturbing you... Does the Sri Lanka International Airport have any such place where i can eat, sit, rest or something??

oh, and should i bring dollars or srilankan rupees to colombo???

thanks again for such prompt reply

There are quite a few restaurants but may be you can not sit for long tiem without giving them any business! There are rooms for hourly usage which you ca hire if you wish.There are other palces where you can relax.

In the transit area, you can exchange your dollars to SL rupees.

Usually if you have a ticket where your tranist in Colombo is 8 hours or more for your next flight, SL airlines provides free hotel.

>>In the transit area, you can exchange your dollars to SL rupees.

There no banking facilities in the transit area.

On arrival banks are after immigration and customs. On departure before immigration.

>>Usually if you have a ticket where your tranist in Colombo is 8 hours or more for your next flight, SL airlines provides free hotel.

Night stops paid by SriLankan Airlines depends on the fare bucket of your ticket. Cheapest economy fares do not qualify.

When the airport's 1st phase was over, there was a facility (don't remember the name) to convert foeign money into SL money.This counter used to be just opposite to the staircase leading to the gates.May be they have removed it?

SL airlines website cleary indicates about free hotel accommodation if the lay over is 8hours or more.Not sure if the agents offer more cheaper price than the website.Ofcourse i have used this free hotel stay number of times.

You can't use Sri Lankan currency in the transit area at the airport. So why have an exchange facility?

SriLankan Airlines website clearly states that conditions apply to the Night Stop service. One of the conditions is the fare bucket.

In the website of SL airlines,when you reserve a flight on line, it says as "Hotel accommodation will be provided only for first available connections more than 8 hours and less than 24 hours, subject to eligibility."
Airines has not informed what is the meaning of "eligibilty".
Also i have used many times free accommodation provided by the airlines as i reserve and buy ticket on line)without any problem.Also i don't see any fare bucket in their website.
Would be helpful if you can inform where to find the bucket of fares.

Only SriLankan can answer your question.

guys thanks a lot for all the advice. really appreciate it all.

i just found out one of my friends has some relatives who live in Colombo. He said he will take care of me there.

thanks a zillion for the advice. really appreciate you taking the time and effort to answer me.

thanks a lot..

p.s. any question ever about Karachi in particular, or Pakistan in general, just mail me. will give you detailed answer.