| Product: |
Larnaca International Airport (LCA) |
| Date: |
24/03/01 (2141 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Cheap Duty Free, arrivals it is the gateway to Paradise
Disadvantages: Small, Hot & Disorganised, Departures, this means you are leaving Paradise
My visit to Larnaca airport was a few days after after the opening of the new terminal.
I found the depatures check-in area to be small, very crowded and totally disorganised.
CHECK-IN
We arrived in good time to check-in, about two hours before flight departure, yet our desk did not open until about 45 minutes before departure.
The JMC representatives did not have a clue where we were supposed to be checking in, and kept giving us contrasting information. The airport staff were even less helpful. It was not a good environment to try and sort yourself out, whilst trying to keep a watchful eye on two bored 11 year olds.
The check-in desk was slow and unhelpful, and the staff appeared ill-informed as to what was happening.
DEPARTURE LOUNGE
The departure lounge was too small, very hot, and standing room only remained. The bar was very crowded and expensive. I would not fancy this in high season.
ARRIVALS
Upon arrival at the airport, the arrivals area resembled something of a building site, and was very disorganised, small and busy, however this was just before the opening of the new terminal and may have changed since.
The area for collecting your luggage was quite small for the number of people, very hot and very busy. We had to wait around ½hr for our luggage to start coming through. I do believe however, that there is a duty free shop in this area when you can purchase cheap cigarettes, quite uncommon in other European airports.
DUTY FREE SHOP - DEPARTURES
The best thing about this airport was the duty free shop, it was rather small but I have not seen one as well stocked as this on my travels around Europe. There was a massive range of goods available at wonderfully reduced prices, the main complaint being it was very busy and we didn't have enough time to look around properly. I seem to recall that there was also a duty free shop at arrivals. The arrivals area resemb
led something of a building site when we landed.
GETTING THERE
As we were travelling during the hottest part of the day, we took the option of using a local taxi to the airport, rather than suffer numerous pick-ups and a long arduous journey. Very good value at about £18 for a family of 4 from Protaras in an air-conditioned mercedes.
The airport and check-in experience was a frustrating end to an outstanding holiday.
OTHER AIRPORTS IN CYPRUS
I notice someone has asked in the comments section about other airports on the Island of Cyprus. Paphos is the other airport, and although I can't speak from experience, I have been told that Lanarca is the better of the two.
SUMMARY
I would say to anyone reading this, please don't let it put you off a holiday in Cyprus, as it is a truly enchanting place with wonderfully hot weather and a lot of history and beauty to see. The people are very friendly and eating out is a gastronomic experience that has yet to be surpassed by any other location I have travelled to.
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Last comment:
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jeanjeannie - 15.05.01 I have just come back from Larnaka & yes, on a Wednesday. Whilst I agree it was very crowded and very hot I thought JMC did a sterling job and I will write an Op on this shortly.
The Bar in the Airport was extortionately expensive - the only time during our stay on the island that we felt that we had been ripped off!
Duty Free - cigarettes very cheap but perfume did not appear to be much less than here.
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