Popular Airport | Turkmenbashi Intl. Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 10 hour |
Approximate Travel Distance | 8092 Km |
Taking a taxi in the morning or evening outside of rush hours is probably the most reliable method of transport to the airport in densely populated Durban. It’s also possible to reach the airport with rented cars or shuttle company buses.
You can reach the airport by taxi from the city centre in around 30 to 50 minutes depending on traffic conditions. It might be a good idea to speak with the taxi driver beforehand and let them know your time of departure to not have any bad surprises for your journey.
The shuttle buses that leave for the airport depart from Durban Station in the city centre, depart once every day at 8:00, 11:00, and 16:00 and reach the airport in around half an hour.
The traffic flows on the left side in Durban, so if you come from a country where you drive on the right it might be a better idea to hire a car with a driver rather than getting behind the steering wheel yourself. If you come from country where cars drive on the left side, you might be more at home with this option.
There is only one terminal in King Shaka Airport where there is an ABSA bank, which opens half an hour before the first flight and closes half an hour after the last flight. In addition, you can find financial services from the ATMs of First National Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank. There is a prayer room for Muslims, and a post office that offers services depending on the first and last flights of the day. There are baby and childcare rooms that mothers can use.
In addition to these services, the airport has many lounges. The most exclusive ones are the South African Airways Business Class Lounge, found near the entrance of the terminal, and BIDVest Premier Lounge. In these lounges you can order some food and rest on comfortable seating areas to read books or newspapers.
Airport restaurants include; Cape Town Fish Market, Cosmic Candy, Big Five Duty Free, Fego Coffee Shop, Kauai, KFC, Milky Lane, Mugg&Bean, Panarottis, Rhapsody’s, Spur, Steers, Sweet Treat, The Airport Cellar, and Wimpy. There is also a Yemaya Nail Express, Woolworts, Vodashop, Tie Stop, The Urban Retreat, The Scoin Shop, NWJ Fine Jewellery, Sneakers, Sunglass Hunt, Nike, MTN, Moda Luggage&Leather, Khasav, Jeep, EM Native, and Electro Electronics for your shopping needs.
Buses and minibuses are being used as a means of public transport in Turkmenbashi. While minibuses carry passengers at shorter distances, it is possible to get to the places that are relatively outside the city center with buses. Both transportation vehicles are generally quite crowded and drivers are not sensitive enough about traffic rules. It is not recommended to tourists to use public transport unless you are obliged.
The bus ticket prices are very reasonable. Prices for shared cars vary according to the distance traveled but in general it is cheaper than bus ticket prices. On average, there are between 5 and 7 passengers. You can rent these shared cars for a day or a couple of hours by yourself. It can be a good alternative especially if you are traveling in groups. But if this is not your intention, you should be careful not to be the only passenger, otherwise you may be asked for a higher price on the consideration that you rented it only for yourself.
In Turkmenbashi, you can easily find a taxi at any time. Everyone who is a car owner is in some way taxiing. Anyone may take you to wherever you want and ask for a fee that is reasonable for you. Since there is no standard price tag and taximeter device, it is absolutely necessary to negotiate and agree about the fare in advance. You should not make your payment in advance. Tourists can generally be charged as twice the normal rate. However, because taxis are easy to find, it is the most preferred means of transport in Turkmenbashi, as it is both comfortable and safe compared to public transport, as well as you can have a good bargain and convenient fare. Despite everything, if you will take a taxi, it is recommended that you act with the guidance of someone you know or ask your hotel to arrange a car for you.
Car rental is also an alternative transportation option that you can choose if you stay in Turkmenbashi for a while. There are many car rental companies in the city, most of them domestic. Land vehicles are generally preferred because the roads are neglected and the tourists want to see the desert as well. You must pay attention to the fact that the documents are complete during the leasing process. You should also ensure that all damage has been identified and recorded before the vehicle is delivered.
There is no public transport from Turkmenbashi International Airport to the city center. However, shuttle buses of a private company serving at the airport are closing this gap. You can easily reach Turkmenbashi city center by taking a taxi. Another alternative is to rent a car at the airport.
You can get to the city center by shuttle buses of a private company serving at the airport. You can request help from the information desk at the terminal for information on service times, routes and departure points. Shuttle services can vary in size.
Most people who own cars in Turkmenbashi are unregistered taxi drivers so you can easily find a vehicle at the airport exit to take you to the city center or to your hotel. None of these vehicles have a taximeter and the price tag is not fixed. For this reason, you must agree in advance with the driver about the place you will go to and the fare. You have to negotiate as usually tourists are asked for much higher fares.
You can see the car rental offices at Turkmenbashi International Airport. You can rent your car with a driver, but if you want to use it yourself, you should keep in mind traffic jams, strict police checks and bad roads. During the rental process, record any small or large damage and lashes in the car, and make sure that you receive the documents in full.