Colombo Airport (CMB): short overnight transit
#61
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,198
This hotel seems really nice ..... and expansive.
Can we actually take a taxi from the airport, arrive at this hotel maybe around 4am, leave our luggage with the hotel (without a room booked), rest little bit and head to the restaurant for breakfast, we would be more than happy to pay for a nice breakfast, sit and relax for couple of hours. Then walk around the town with the luggage kept at the Galle face hotel...
Then maybe leave around 10 or 11am head to the airport?
Can we actually take a taxi from the airport, arrive at this hotel maybe around 4am, leave our luggage with the hotel (without a room booked), rest little bit and head to the restaurant for breakfast, we would be more than happy to pay for a nice breakfast, sit and relax for couple of hours. Then walk around the town with the luggage kept at the Galle face hotel...
Then maybe leave around 10 or 11am head to the airport?
Alternatively, you could delay yoour departure from the airport and aim to leave the airport by say 6 or so and that way you make it to the city for b'fast by 7am.
#62
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
Should be ok.. only thing being you would need to relax at the lobby of the Galle face hotel until the B'fast opens, which would be around 7am i presume.
Alternatively, you could delay yoour departure from the airport and aim to leave the airport by say 6 or so and that way you make it to the city for b'fast by 7am.
Alternatively, you could delay yoour departure from the airport and aim to leave the airport by say 6 or so and that way you make it to the city for b'fast by 7am.
Last edited by Ausriver; Oct 27, 2016 at 1:53 am
#63
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,597
Upon arrival at CMB Airport, can you stay overnight in the transit hotel or lounge, even if you dont have a connecting flight and are just desiring to exit the airport in the morning rather than at night? How would this work (do you go through immigration and then walk over to the lounge/hotel or just go through immigration the next morning)? Thanks.
#64
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,198
Upon arrival at CMB Airport, can you stay overnight in the transit hotel or lounge, even if you dont have a connecting flight and are just desiring to exit the airport in the morning rather than at night? How would this work (do you go through immigration and then walk over to the lounge/hotel or just go through immigration the next morning)? Thanks.
#65
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,597
Does anyone know about the hotel? If its possible to stay overnight at the airport hotel and leave around 6 am even if you do not have a flight out the next morning?
#66
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: World
Posts: 1,647
Is is possible to overnight at CMB airside? I wouldn't normally consider it, but the airport hotel options look terrible. There is also a 24 hour priority pass lounge at CMB too (Lotus First Class Lounge).
I'm planning to arrive at 23:15 on CX and then depart ~12 hours later at 10:50 AM the next day on QR.
I'm planning to arrive at 23:15 on CX and then depart ~12 hours later at 10:50 AM the next day on QR.
#67
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,198
Is is possible to overnight at CMB airside? I wouldn't normally consider it, but the airport hotel options look terrible. There is also a 24 hour priority pass lounge at CMB too (Lotus First Class Lounge).
I'm planning to arrive at 23:15 on CX and then depart ~12 hours later at 10:50 AM the next day on QR.
I'm planning to arrive at 23:15 on CX and then depart ~12 hours later at 10:50 AM the next day on QR.
Alternatively you could get a cheap hotel near the airport and get a few hours of shut eye. This would also entail a visa though (about 20$).
#68
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: World
Posts: 1,647
The lounge access would help. You could technically jus sit around air side as well and wait till your next flight. But it would be a fairly long wait .
Alternatively you could get a cheap hotel near the airport and get a few hours of shut eye. This would also entail a visa though (about 20$).
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
You should be able to get a boarding pass from the transfer counter so saves you going outside. They can collect and re-tag your luggage. CX and QR are same alliance anyway so should tag your luggage onwards.
#70
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
I may be mis-reading but if you are in Sri Lanka for less than 2 days you can apply for a free transit visa. I am spending 28 hours in CMB later this month and recently applied online - it was free and I was approved 10 minutes after submitting my application.
#71
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 357
I have an 8 hour layover, and I want to leave the airport, just to register Sri Lanka as a hit. So I'm thinking of this plan:
Arrive from MLE on UL at 1745. Hand luggage only. Taxi to Galle Face Hotel for a paid stay. Late dinner at Ministry of Crab then freshen up. Depart the next morning at 0330 (leave hotel at 2400?). Is this reasonable? Secure a transit visa online?
Arrive from MLE on UL at 1745. Hand luggage only. Taxi to Galle Face Hotel for a paid stay. Late dinner at Ministry of Crab then freshen up. Depart the next morning at 0330 (leave hotel at 2400?). Is this reasonable? Secure a transit visa online?
#72
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: BD, DL, UA, AA, Marriott, SPG
Posts: 1,130
I get in to CMB at around 11:30 am and my next flight is at 11:30 pm. I figured I should be able to reach Colombo by about 1:30 pm and then leave Colombo at about 8:30 pm. I would like to get a hotel room and walk around for 3 - 4 hours. Which would be a good centrally located hotel? Is the Hilton any good?
#73
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,198
I have an 8 hour layover, and I want to leave the airport, just to register Sri Lanka as a hit. So I'm thinking of this plan:
Arrive from MLE on UL at 1745. Hand luggage only. Taxi to Galle Face Hotel for a paid stay. Late dinner at Ministry of Crab then freshen up. Depart the next morning at 0330 (leave hotel at 2400?). Is this reasonable? Secure a transit visa online?
Arrive from MLE on UL at 1745. Hand luggage only. Taxi to Galle Face Hotel for a paid stay. Late dinner at Ministry of Crab then freshen up. Depart the next morning at 0330 (leave hotel at 2400?). Is this reasonable? Secure a transit visa online?
Ministry of Crab has fixed timings for their dinner service and so you could make the 21.00 dinner service slot. You'd essentially be in the room only from say 22.30 - till midnight. After which you'd need to leave the hotel again for the airport. You could essentially scrap the hotel booking option and still accomplish the same.
Also, i'd say maybe even look at Negombo as an option. Not more than a 20 minute run from the airport. Lots of decent eating options by the sea. You wouldn't be holed up in a taxi for 2 hours plus, just commuting back and forth.
#74
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,198
I get in to CMB at around 11:30 am and my next flight is at 11:30 pm. I figured I should be able to reach Colombo by about 1:30 pm and then leave Colombo at about 8:30 pm. I would like to get a hotel room and walk around for 3 - 4 hours. Which would be a good centrally located hotel? Is the Hilton any good?
Hilton Colombo (rooms fairly dated)
Hilton Colombo Residences (more like long stay, serviced apartments)
Taj Samudra (right on Galle Face)
Cinnamon Grand (right on Galle Face)
Cinnamon Lakeside
Also consider Negombo as an option. Much nearer to the airport and lots of hotels right by the beach:
Hotels in Sri Lanka | Jetwing Hotels in Sri Lanka | Official Site
Travel times to the airport can stretch a bit if it's round about rush hour. Took me over 1.5 hours getting from the city to the airport on my last trip there.
Hope this helps.
#75
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: BD, DL, UA, AA, Marriott, SPG
Posts: 1,130
All the below centrally located:
Hilton Colombo (rooms fairly dated)
Hilton Colombo Residences (more like long stay, serviced apartments)
Taj Samudra (right on Galle Face)
Cinnamon Grand (right on Galle Face)
Cinnamon Lakeside
Also consider Negombo as an option. Much nearer to the airport and lots of hotels right by the beach:
Hotels in Sri Lanka Jetwing Hotels in Sri Lanka Official Site
Travel times to the airport can stretch a bit if it's round about rush hour. Took me over 1.5 hours getting from the city to the airport on my last trip there.
Hope this helps.
Hilton Colombo (rooms fairly dated)
Hilton Colombo Residences (more like long stay, serviced apartments)
Taj Samudra (right on Galle Face)
Cinnamon Grand (right on Galle Face)
Cinnamon Lakeside
Also consider Negombo as an option. Much nearer to the airport and lots of hotels right by the beach:
Hotels in Sri Lanka Jetwing Hotels in Sri Lanka Official Site
Travel times to the airport can stretch a bit if it's round about rush hour. Took me over 1.5 hours getting from the city to the airport on my last trip there.
Hope this helps.
It's amazing how Srilankan Airlines starts calling last call 90 minutes before the flight but doesn't actually start boarding the flight till 20 minutes before flight time. So you have to sit in a small room and twiddle your thumbs!!