Departure day logistics how early to leave for the airport check in duty free and any tax refund
Flying home soon and I want the departure day sorted so I do not have a panic How early should I leave for Colombo airport given the traffic from the south coast or Kandy how long before the flight to arrive at the airport what is check in and security like is there decent duty free and is there any tourist tax or VAT refund to claim on the way out and what do I do with leftover rupees Departure day playbook please from people who fly out of here
4 Answers from travellers
Airport transfers person so the departure playbook The big variable is the DRIVE not the airport the airport (Bandaranaike CMB near Negombo north of Colombo) is efficient but GETTING there is the risk from the south coast (Galle Mirissa) allow a generous buffer the expressway helps but budget for the Colombo approach traffic from Kandy or the hills it is a long drive plan it the day before or leave very early NEVER plan a tight same day dash from the south or the hills to a flight the golden rule arrive at the airport THREE hours before an international flight and leave your last base early enough to hit that with traffic margin Check in and security straightforward modern airport check in then immigration and security it moves reasonably just have your documents and the usual liquids rules Duty free DECENT and famous for one thing the arrivals duty free is known for letting arriving passengers buy electronics and goods but on DEPARTURE there is the usual duty free liquor (the local arrack and gems and tea make good last buys) Tax or VAT refund do not count on a tourist VAT refund scheme like Europe it is not a reliable feature here so do not bank on reclaiming tax at the airport Leftover rupees spend them before security (tea spices a meal) or change back a SMALL amount at the airport money counter (rates are poor) the export of rupees is restricted (the currency threads) so do not carry a big wad home convert or spend the playbook leave your last base EARLY arrive three hours before spend the rupees airside and do not rely on a tax refund
The spend the leftover rupees before you leave point is worth planning the airside tea and cashew shops are a good place to use them up rather than changing back at a bad rate
Add if your flight is early morning consider spending the last night near the airport at Negombo rather than racing up at dawn from the south it removes the whole traffic gamble and Negombo is a pleasant final beach night
Leave the last base early arrive three hours before spend the rupees airside and do not expect a tax refund this is exactly the no panic playbook I wanted the drive being the real risk not the airport is the key thank you
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