Detroit to Colombo Flights

  About Detroit

Detroit is observed as one of the populated city in the state of Michigan in the US. Notably one of the most populated cities in the state, Detroit plays a perfect hub to various trades and businesses. Popularly known as the Motor City, Detroit is the birthplace of famous automobile brands, Ford, Chrysler and General Motors.

Over the years, Detroit has seen some tremendous downfalls after the industrial reconstruction, which led to a loss of employment and population. Things got so terrible that Detroit actually became the first city in all of the US to file for bankruptcy. While they did manage to get out of the dire situation, to this day, the city continues to work towards uplifting the city and bringing back the glory days. Interestingly, in the past few years, things have been looking good for the city.

While traditionally, it is not considered to be a tourist destination, the city has been working on adding a new essential industry in their profile. With flourishing cultural development, especially in the music space, the city has attracted many artists and even enthusiasts to flock over to the city during festivals and events. Various architectural sites and entertainment venues have been worked on to revitalise them. As a flourishing city in terms of tourism, the city is doing its best to revive their lost treasures and stance in the map of the US.

Intending to get back their reputation, the city is working on expanding its tourism industry by introducing new festivals and events along with working on infrastructural development. It would be ideal for you to book your flight tickets to Detroit in advance as the prices are quite high most of the time. You can opt for fancy living or hostels for budget travellers.

Best time to visit Detroit

The Motor City witnesses its best season from May to September. Basically, the summers in Detroit are ideal for tourism. This is majorly in terms of the weather and temperatures. Many avoid frigid winters in Detroit as it can be quite taxing to the body, especially if you're a tourist who is yet to explore the city. Every season in Detroit comes with some fun activities and festivals to keep the locals and tourists in high spirits. From Plymouth Ice Festival during winters to St Patrick's Day Parade in Spring to Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix in May, these festivals and events certainly keep people on their toes. As a tourist, you would be thoroughly amazed by the enthusiasm the city brings. Summer is also an expensive month, so if you do plan to stay for long, you will have to ensure that you have enough resources. With temperatures ranging from 21 degree Celsius to 26 degree Celsius, it would be quite ideal for tourists flocking over from India.

Detroit's fervour further continues through September and October as fall takes over. The city continues to engage in festivals such as the Detroit Jazz festival, Tour de Troit ride, Detroit Red Wings, to name a few events. Even if not participating, witnessing these festivities from afar will also elate you and give you reasons to stay back and never leave. Flight tickets to Chicago during the summer season could be a little expensive as it is a peak season there. However, fall might not be so high-priced. In fact, you can also get your accommodation fixed during fall as the hotels in Detroit see a dip in prices. The best would be to find some amazing flight deals to Detroit online. Hopefully, if you're lucky, you might hit the jackpot with deals that cover both, your travel as well as accommodation at a reasonable price.

Place to visit in Detroit

Detroit's beauty is in the fact that it caters to people with varied interests. From being an out and out sports fan to an architecture-enthusiast, the city manages to engage you with its attractions. The place brims with a cultural vibe, making it one of the best places to visit. For the art patrons, you can start your trip from the Detroit Institute of the Arts. Often referred to as the 'temple of art', the institute has up to 100 art galleries plus lecture halls. The gallery also has Vincent van Gogh's famous painting, 'Self Portrait' on its wall. You should also check out the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Fox Theatre is also a must as the place brings forth Broadway musicals and is quite a landmark in itself. Plus, the interiors are so alluring that you would be blown away by its finesse. Detroit Zoo is also an interesting place to visit as it inhabits over 2,400 animals and also has added to the history of Detroit. They also have a special Polk Penguin Conservation Centre within the zoo which observes close to 80 penguins.

Things to do in Detroit

One of the coolest activities to undertake in Detroit has got to be the food-tasting expedition at the Eastern Market. It is actually honoured as a historic location which gathers food nerds. The place is sprawled over 43-acres and is known to be the largest historic public market. In fact, you can also take up food sampling while you're strolling through the market. There are tours made available for this specific place. Watching shows at the Fox Theatre would be no short of awesome. As the theatre has witnessed some stalwarts from the artists' sphere, Ringo Starr, to name one of them. Another fun activity to take up would be to relish the finest cuisines that the city has. And if possible, take a tour to the Ford factory.

Food and Restaurants in Detroit

Detroit is also touted to be the birthplace of Coney dog, a specific type of saucy hot dog. What gives it the distinguished stature in the hot dog family is how the meal is topped with chilli. There are far too many restaurants and food joints selling Coney hot dog. The one place in Detroit where you will find the best of Coney hot dog has got to be the Lafayette Coney Island. The place is recognised worldwide for its tasty hot dogs topped with chilli. In fact, if you do ask locals to direct you to a place which serves this dish, they will take you to Lafayette. While Coney hot dog does take the cake to be the most famous food, Detroit also caters to some amazing coffee shops and baked goods. Pizzas, pastas, seafood, bagels and such dishes can be found in the city's restaurants. The city's oldest neighbourhood Corktown will give you a taste of some street-style food with coffee shops, roasteries and other fancy establishments too. While you're in Corktown, you should definitely hit some of the pubs and bars.

The place has a grand culture with a slew of distilleries and breweries that will pique your interest. Check out Grand trunk Pub, Batch Brewing Company, Motor City Brewing Works and Detroit Beer Co. for amazing beer. You will also find some Flemish bars offering bowls of piping hot mussels such as the Cadieux Cafe. For more seafood, you should definitely head to Eastern Market Seafood Co to get your hands dirty with their mouth-watering aquatic cuisine. Their meals are often protein-rich, making it ideal for individuals who are health conscious and have a strict diet to follow. You should also delve a little deeper into their coffee culture. The city has some of the best roasteries and coffee shops with aromatic and top-notch coffee. You can visit Astro Coffee for the best coffee experience.

How to reach Detroit (Transportation)

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is considered to be one of the biggest international airports in the United States of America. The important airport sees tremendous tourist action as well as fantastic flight connectivity. In fact, there are quite a handful of flights flying to Detroit from India. Many of them are mostly from big cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, to name a few. Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Qatar Airways, Swiss Air, American Airlines, also fly from India to Chicago. There are layovers and connecting flights that a tourist will have to work around as there are no direct flights. The flight tickets to Detroit from India are quite decent for the USA standards. However, depending on if there are any good flight deals online for Detroit, you might be able to get cheaper flights. As long as you opt for round trips, you will be able to find some cheap flights to Detroit from India.

Interestingly, the airport also has a Westin Hotel within its premise. In case you wish to make your hotel booking in Detroit, you can opt for this hotel. The hospitality is world-class, and the location is also quite convenient. The city also has some amazing accommodation options. It would be quite splendid to opt for some fancy hotels to stay when in Detroit. However, in terms of favourable locations, the airport does sound like an ideal place.

  About Colombo

Colombo is the largest city and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is one of the holiday destinations that you must add to your travel list. It is also known for its eclectic dining scene and its nightlife. It is also a great place to shop for clothes, wedding invitations and indulge in spa treatments. Sri Lanka is also known for its wildlife and elephant sanctuaries. It is the perfect place to go to if you want to club your luxurious, relaxing holiday plans with adventures. You can either volunteer to help out at an Elephant Sanctuary or sign up for a walking tour. Do try the ayurvedic spas in the city to relieve yourself of all the stress. You can book a hotel in Colombo at an affordable price. While it is not exactly the cheapest holiday destination in Asia, it is worth every money spent. The city is also known for its temples and no matter which religion you follow, you will find a temple of your choice of deity/religion here.

Best Time to Visit Colombo

January to March is ideal for taking off to Colombo on a trip since they are the driest months of the year. The best season to visit, however, is winter from November to March. Winters are quite chilly, and it is the best time to go sightseeing, too. The rainfall does not affect any of your sightseeing plans or any other outdoor activities. It is also an ideal time to head to the beaches and indulges in a few water activities. Colombo also has a very vibrant nightlife that is best experienced in winter when there is barely any rainfall. You can book a hotel in Colombo that is either close to the beach or the nightclubs, depending on how you intend to spend your holiday. The temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degree Celsius. January to March is the high tourist season in Colombo, and a lot of attractions will be filled with tourists. Colombo is also filled with festive spirit during these months as they celebrate festivals like Thai Pongal, Independence Day of Sri Lanka, New Year and Duruthu Perahera Festival. Make sure you book your flight tickets to Colombo well in advance if you are on a budget. If you are planning to go to Colombo on your honeymoon, this is the best time to go.

Colombo experiences summer from May to October, and it is considered as an off-season for tourists. Not only is it unbearably hot in the city, but it is also quite humid, so much that you won't feel like stepping out of your hotel at all. The temperature ranges from 28 to 32 degrees and will only make you uncomfortable. However, since it is offseason, you will get great flight deals to Colombo online. It also rains during this season and might lead to a hailstorm sometimes. If you are not an outdoorsy person and prefer indoor activities, this might be the best time for you to head to Colombo. You will also get really good hotels at a reasonable price during this time since it is offseason and the demand is low. You can sip cocktails by the pool in your hotel or indulge in relaxing spa treatments. You can also explore the Pettah market during this time without being hassled by the tourist crowd. It starts raining from May to August, and it rains intermittently in September and October. The temperature ranges around 28 degree Celsius during this time.

Places to Visit in Colombo

Galle Face Green is a popular beach park in Colombo that you can visit. You can also indulge in a lot of water activities at the beach. Pettah Market is another popular destination where you can go on a shopping spree and walk away with high-end luxury items at the lowest prices. Fort-Colombo is an important tourist attraction in the capital of Sri Lanka. It is the political and cultural heritage of the country and is also known for its vibrant nightlife. A major part is shut because of the turbulence caused by the Civil War. You will also find a lot of casinos here. The National Museum of Colombo is the largest one in Sri Lanka. It was founded by the British Governor of Ceylon from 1872 to 1877, William Henry Gregory. You will find artwork that dates back to the British Colonial and Portuguese era, along with a lot of artefacts. The Gangaramaya temple is famous for its blend of culture and architectural styles from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Chinese and India. It was built in the 19th century and is a place of Buddhist worship and learning. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is another Buddhist temple that was built in the 5th century, which holds a lot of historical importance. The temple sees a lot of tourists and devotees during the Duruthu Maha Perehera every January and on full moon days of every month. The paintings and sculptures in the temple will tell you tales from Lord Buddha's life and the Jataka Tales.

Beira Lake is another popular landmark in the city where you can head to if you want to relax and soak in the beautiful views. It is also a highly recommended place for couples to head to in Colombo. Colombo Zoo also called the National Zoological Garden of Sri Lanka, houses over 300 different species of animals, birds, marine life and reptiles from all over the world. Casino Marina started in 2013 and is usually filled with elite tourists in the evenings. You can gamble away till wee hours of the night or enjoy the view of the sea from here. World Trade Centre is one of the most famous colonial buildings that you will find in the Old Fort area. St Lucia's Cathedral got its name after the saint martyr, St Lucia, who is believed to have protected everyone with eye problems in Colombo. It was built in 1760, and the Gothic style architecture draws tourists to it every year. Panadura and Crow Island Beaches are quite popular in the city and the best spots to indulge in recreational activities. You will find a lot of beach parks and temples in the city that are worth a visit.

Things to do in Colombo

Sign up for a city tour of Colombo and indulge in all the activities that come with your tour package. You can also get a customised tour of places that are of interest to you and activities that you have listed in your itinerary. Sri Lanka is known for its seafood and treating yourself to fresh seafood at Mt Lavinia Beach is highly recommended. While you can always rent a taxi for the entire day to get around the city, you can also enjoy a tuk-tuk ride, which is a popular way for locals to get around the city. Pettah Market, Good Market, Paradise Road are some of the popular places in the city for you to go on a shopping spree. You can also indulge in rejuvenating massage therapies at the spas in Colombo. The city also offers scuba diving at certain locations. If you want to give water sports a try, make sure you try this one. Most beaches also have boating, surfing and other water activities for you to try.

Food and Restaurants in Colombo

Seafood, especially prawns, is popular in Colombo since it is a coastal city. Curry Leaf and Seafood's Cove are some of the popular restaurants for you to binge on seafood or other types of meat. The city also has a lot of Indian restaurants; a lot of them have a vegetarian menu, too. Spice Coast is known for its biryani, Chana's for delicious North Indian cuisine and Shanmugas for its vegetarian menu. While you are trying seafood in the city, make sure you also try the chilli crabs. Paradise Road Gallery Cafe is a lovely cafe that is set in a walled garden and also has rotating exhibitions by local artists. It is considered as one of the most romantic restaurants in Colombo and is popular for its cakes. Rare is a chic and modern restaurant in Colombo with wonderful service. The restaurant uses organic produce to cook their unique, delicious cuisines and also boast of a wine cellar with over 150 labels. The lagoon is one of the best seafood restaurants in Colombo, and the fish curries, lobster Thermidor and raw sashimi are their speciality dishes.

How to reach Colombo (Transportation)

Bandaranaike International Airport, also called Colombo International Airport, is about 32 km north of Colombo. The flight connectivity to Colombo from India is excellent. While there are only a few direct flights to Colombo from India, most of the flights have layovers in Chennai or Bangalore. GoAir, Indigo and Spicejet have the maximum number of flights from India. However, Vistara and Srilankan Airlines have direct flights that help you reach the city in 2-3 hours instead of 6 hours. It is also quite easy to get cheap flight tickets to Colombo from India.

  About Colombo Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport, popularly known as Bandaranaike International Airport is the international hub that serves Sri Lanka. The airport is situated at Negombo and has been named after SWRD Bandaranaike, the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

About Airport Terminals

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport stretches about 32.5 km at Katunayake. The airport accommodates three passenger terminals with Terminal 1 being reserved for international airlines and flight activity. Terminal 2 also caters to international activities while Terminal 3 is set for domestic airline functions. Terminal 1 is the oldest and largest terminal in the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport with 12 gates. It opened back in 1967. Departure and arrival are also located in the same terminal and separated horizontally. Currently, all the international operations take place from this terminal. The terminal is connected to one concourse which has all the 12 gates. The terminal also has two lounges with Srilankan Airlines' famous Serendib Lounge being installed. Along with this, the Palm Spirit lounge is also located in proximity. Terminal 1 also has a dedicated cafeteria, day-rooms, showers, duty-free shops and a smoking lounge.

Terminal 2 has been constructed and opened much recently. It has eight gates and accommodates departure and arrival areas which are separated vertically. As per expansion plans, the airport plans to build an extension to Terminal 2 which will be built in stages and phases. The new terminal is set to have eight boarding gates along with 14 passenger boarding bridges. The proposed development plan also has bridge accommodations for Airbus A380. Terminal 3 came into existence in 2012 and has since been used for domestic operations. The departure and arrival zones are strategically separated in a horizontal manner. There is a dedicated Cargo Terminal that takes care of all cargo airline activities. The arrival and departure are separated in the same way as terminal 1, horizontally.

About Airport Authority

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport is owned by the Government of Sri Lanka while it is operated by Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL). AASL is a government body that has statutory powers to administer, manage and work on the development of the airport. The statutory body is also known to be a big contributor to Sri Lanka's economy as the civil aviation industry has witnessed tremendous financial revenues from the airport. Other airports that also fall under the AASL umbrella are Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Ratmalana Airport, Batticaloa Airport and Jaffna International Airport.

The airport has been going through some tremendous expansion plans and developments with a view to accommodating more airlines and flights. A split-level passenger terminal building is being constructed which would be separating both the departures as well as the arrivals vertically. Further on the same, there are constructions for a passenger boarding bridges that would directly connect to the new Airbus A380. Adding to the infrastructure would be a remote apron along with nine parking bays to facilitate air traffic movement. Stage II of the expansion seeks to acquiesce 600 hectares of land for construction of a new runway that can accommodate newer airplanes as well as aircraft maintenance and repair centre.

Top airlines flying from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport accommodates various airlines as it is recognized to be one of the best tourist destinations. With its proximity to India, the airport sees a good amount of flights flying to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from the Indian cities. Some of the biggest Indian airlines operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara. These airlines have dedicated direct flights to Sri Lanka. Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, to name a few, have provisions of direct flight connections to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.

Similarly, various international airlines are also linked to Sri Lanka. In fact, some of the international airlines that operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air Arabia, AirAsia, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Cinnamon Air, Edelweiss Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Salam Air, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and SCAT Airlines. A majority of the flight activities come from the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries. A handful of cargo carriers also fly in and out of the airport. These include Cathay Pacific Cargo, Turkish Airlines Cargo, SriLankan Cargo and Etihad Cargo.

Facilities at Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

ATM, banks and currency exchange - The airport has a bunch of local banks and ATM services available. If you need to make the currency exchange for travelling within Sri Lanka or if you need some cash in hand for your destination outside the country, it can be arranged at the airport's premise.

Communication services - If you are in need of a local SIM service for your trip, you can get hold of the same at the airport itself. There are booths at the arrivals where they have telecommunication services. With necessary identification documents, you can get hold of the SIM.

Free WiFI - There are free WiFi services available at the airport. You will need to go to the website of Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport to avail the same. Or you can visit the information desk to learn more about how to work around it.

Medical services - To ensure that medical emergencies at the airport are resolved quickly, the airport has also installed designated medical rooms and services. You can find them as well as pharmacies also at the airport. In case you are unable to find them, you can visit the nearest information desk and get more details. The airport paramedic services are known to be of good quality.

Baggage - With respect to baggage services, the airport offers a slew of facilities that would be beneficial. You can get hold of services ranging from wrapping plastic on the luggage, trolleys, storage facilities for the luggage, delivering luggage to the specified destination and more.

Pet assistance - There is room for pet services at the airport too. In case you are travelling with pets, there are professional staff who can take care of your pets as well as their needs. They would require authorized papers and documents from the Department of Animal Production and Health.

Porter service - You can avail porter services at the airport. Basically, you will have to inform your airlines well in advance to book a porter service. The airport staff will escort you through the terminals and take care of your luggage. This would include a security check of the bags, wrapping services, etc.

Airport lounge - There are three lounges at the airport, namely, Lotus, Araliya and Executive. The lounges have been designed in a way to enhance tranquillity and excellent hospitality. You can relax in the lounge, and at the same time, you can avail their services too. These include rich culinary delights, good resting space and complimentary showers and spa.

Restaurants and cafe - Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport has many restaurants and cafes available. The departures and arrivals have good food establishments located perfectly to cater to passengers. Along with restaurants, the airport also as dedicated food courts that is in proximity to the lounge area.

Smoking zone - Smoking in public space is prohibited in Sri Lanka. Hence, the airport has also reserved a space for a smoking lounge. You can make purchases for cigarette boxes at nearby shops within the airport premise.

Transit Hotel - The airport's transit hotel is named Serendiva and offers world-class contemporary decor, aesthetic construction, modern amenities and top-notch hospitality. The interiors are known to bring about the rich culture of Sri Lanka. It is situated on the main pier of the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport's arrival/departure zone. The hotel is also surrounded by duty-free shops, lounges, immigration counters, cafes and more.

How to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

The airport offers exemplary transport services and is well-connected to the main city. Although you would be required to travel a little depending on your itinerary and which part of the country you'll be visiting. But you will be able to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from different parts of the country. There are public buses, transport services and taxicabs available.

Buses

Express public buses are available within the city that can reach you to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. It would only take about 25 mins to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from Colombo (Pettah) bus stand. From here, you can traverse through all parts of the country without any hassle. You will need to get used to the crowd because the buses are always packed.

Taxicab services

The city is well-connected by taxicab services that can be availed to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. In fact, the airport also sees counters and lanes with taxi services outside the airport's arrival section. The arrival porch allows a fleet of 600 vehicles with fixed rates. With the taxicab, you can reach any part of the country, but it might get expensive depending on the distance from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.