Calcutta Airport
Lasting Impressions....
Memorable comments left by travellers:
"Calcutta is an international airport but looks like it was from the 1950's. I wouldn't be surprised if cattle started roaming the place." (?)
FEATURED REVIEWS
by DJtravel
Actually slept twice at this airport on our way to and from Katmandu in Nov 08. On the first occasion we slept in the departure lounge of the international terminal after arriving on a very early BA flight from London while waiting for our indian airlines flight to Katmandu later that day. Great round comfy sofas and good for a few hours kip before our onward flight with Indian airlines to Katmandu (have posted photos on this website). Lots of announcements, but very safe.
On our return from katmandu to calcutta our flight landed at 5.30pm and our departing BA wasn't scheduled to take off until 7am the next morning. This time we opted to splash out and stay at the airport retiring rooms. They are basic but clean. Not exactly cheap, but not too expensive (700 rupees per person). To get a room go and see the airport manager (office on your right before you exit the international terminal). You have to have proof of an onward flight within 24hours. Rooms are on the first floor of the building. We took a taxi into town and had dinner there. There were lots of other travellers crashed out in the departure lounge for the night so you wouldn't have problem sleeping. Security was tight and all the staff were very friendly and helpful (the exception being the taxi drivers outside!).
Top tip - if you want to eat cheaply at the international terminal go to the top floor (3rd?) and eat in the airport workers canteen. Cheap as chips and very good:)
There are plans too rebuild the airport in the future, so lets hope they included retiring rooms in these plans!
by phil
"i stayed at the calcutta international airport after a long flight from australia - arriving at the impossible time of 11:00pm. so with nowhere to go, being a first timer in india and absolutely not wanting to go out into the black night and risk a taxi, i tried bunking down in the airport for the night. not a good idea but luckily met up with another aussie who knew india better than me.bad lights, dirty walls, closed up exchange counters, hard bucket chairs, cold air and the presence of cleaning staff and security made it a not so pleasant stay. indian airport officials were also pretty aggressive - and don't bother trying to get in to the domestic airport which actually seems a lot nicer inside than the international. preferred to wait it out however until the light of day when i couldn't wait to get the hell out of there and venture for the first time thru the mazelike streets of calcutta in a clapped out tuk tuk and under the first morning sun."
Airport Guide
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the review pages for the most up-to-date experiences:
- bad lights
- friendly staff
- domestic terminal seems nicer
- noisy
Travel Sites
- Hostels and Budget Accommodation in Kolkata - I've booked my own accommodation on this site. If you are too old for hostels and too cheap for hotels, like me, you'll find some good properties. They offer dorms, private rooms, B&Bs, Apartments.
