ewaiea

I've got 8 hours in the Cairns Airport coming up in a few weeks. I'm laying over there on my way to Papua New Guinea (almost 2 days of travel from my place of origin - Hawaii). Are there any good places in the Cairns Airport that are prime for sleeping? I'm considering getting a room at Mercur Harbourside for a few hours rest...would that be the better option or is there a spot in the airport that would suffice?

Blackadder1402

Definitly would look at a hotel for a decent rest.

www.wotif.com came up with Cairns Airport Hotels

willyroo

The airport closes, so you will be evicted.

60 bux for Cairns Colonial Club - a clean basic "resort" - is a good deal.

ewaiea

I found a hotel called the Palms Royale which is about 8km/5mi from the airport. It appears to be a nice clean place with decent enough reviews. I got the room on Wotif.com for $50AUD! That's a steal compared to the published rate of near/over $100AUD! Thanks for the recommendation - plus they have a customer service number for the United States which helps.

I had no idea the Cairns airport closes at night! That makes my choice of whether or not to get a room pretty easy.

What time does the airport open back up??? I'm leaving on Air Niugini for Port Moresby the following morning around 07:00am (0700hrs). Since it's an international flight out of Cairns do I need to be there 3 hours prior to check-in or two hours prior???

vecta

I've stayed at the Cairns Colonial a few times previously, descent enough hotel for a nights sleep.

vecta

Palm Royal is part of the same group as Cairns Colonial - and I must say you have snared a great deal at $50 per night!

2 hours prior to check in is plenty of time.

Be prepared for the unique odours that accompany the CNS-POM sector!

ewaiea

I've been getting on the dive board forums, they've been saying the same thing - smelly section of the flight. My first day of travel is HNL-SYD-CNS...stay a few hours in the hotel.....CNS-POM-HKN...drive an hour stay at Walindi Resort, then start my 10 day dive trip.

In fact, I was kind of scared since Port Moresby is not a safe city, but I am actually staying there one night on my way home at the Airways Hotel - not a good deal pricewise but should be a very luxurious one night stay! Plus the Airways has plenty of armed security - so I don't mind paying for that premium. :-)

Kiwi Flyer

CNS-POM check in opens 2-2.5 hours before departure. Don't arrive too early. Not much to do in the international terminal either.

shadowsjc

bump - i have the same question, only I am arriving early and was hoping to snooze for a couple of hours. Arrive at CNS around 430am. My hotel won't likely let me check in until around noon, so I've got at least a couple of hours to kill before I can go eat breakfast, etc. Is it possible to sleep anywhere in CNS as an arriving passenger? Or should I just bite the bullet and pay for an extra day at the hotel?

DownUnderFlyer

[mod hat] Moving to Oceania forum for better coverage. [/mod hat]

kcupp95

Nowhere in the airport. It's a very small airport.

Drop your bags off at the hotel and go get breakfast on the esplanade.