My son is leaving for 5 months in India on Monday.
His flight home was just changed so he fliees from Bagdogra to Kolkata, arriving there at 2:45pm and his flight for London leaves at 4:55 am-

I was thinking of finding him a hotel in Kolkata -
something perhaps about 15-25 minutes from airport so he could have some late afternoon/early evening time, maybe grab some sleep and get back to airport at 2am.

Other option of course is to go into Kolkata and just stay up till midnight and make his way back to airport, but is that airport conducive to perhaps falling asleep/ watching his hiking pack, any cafes inside, etc?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

Indian airports are not like any major international airports you are used to. For the most part the facilities tend to be quite basic. Kolkata airport is very small, and there are no shops or cafes and there is only one restaurant. The departure areas are very small and there are usually not enough seats for departing passengers, so I would not suggest he spend any time here. I believe there may be some "rest rooms" for people with connecting flights, but again, the facilities may not be much and may be quite crowded, so your idea of a hotel room or going into Kolkata for the day is a good one.

He will also have to switch terminals from domestic to international to get his London flight. They are next to each other, and he connects by walking between them.

As for his bags, it is very possible that he could check in for his London flight and check his bags as soon as he lands from his internal flight, that way he could then go into Kolkata with just his hand luggage. There may be even be luggage storage facilities at the airport where he could store luggage for the day (or just store hand luggage if he can check in for his flight), I have never looked for them so cannot say, he should ask when he lands.

As for hotels, you don't give any budget, and I only know the business hotels. If you want to look at more budget hotels take a look at the Lonely Planet book or possibly their website, their "top end" reccos are usually good hotels that are good value for money. My recco would be the Hyatt Regency which would be the closest hotel to the airport, it is new and quite nice. Go to the Hyatt website for info. The Oberio Grand is also very nice and is in an older colonial style, it is more in the downtown area. Website for Oberoi is http://www.oberoihotels.com. There is also a Sheraton which is quite new and is supposed to be nice, I have not seen the rooms, I believe there are a number of pools. Go to the Sheraton website for info. There is a Taj hotel but it is quite a distance from the airport, I don't know the rooms at all.

Thank you so much for all your info!
I should have mentioned budget - but I am willing to get him a nice room in the types of hotels you mentioned, so I will look into those - I know it's a short time, but it's worth it to me so he can rest somewhere and be comfortable -
he is traveling with only his hiking backpack so he will just bring it with him wherever he goes

thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it.

Cicerone: pardon me b/c I am half asleep - I just realized it was you who provided the great info - you have helped me before in planning trips - you are a wealth of info and having never been to India your info is so helpful - now I will just be crossing my fingers and praying he has a safe, fun and educational experience and comes home happy and healthy !

I can only add a bit to what cicerone has already mentioned above. With respect to the hotel, you can put your son up in the Lytton Hotel, 14, Sudder Street, Calcutta - 700 016. The phone nos. mentioned on an old card are 2491872 to 81 (these must have changed). My wife & I stayed there some ten years back & were very happy with their service/food. It is on the street beside the Oberois Grand. We paid about US$ 50 for a dbl. with B'fast.
Our very best to the youngster!

My pleasure. I should have mentioned that after 5 months in India your son may have his own ideas, and may not want to spend the layover in a 5 star hotel, but might want to spend it in a backpackers hangout on a sidestreet in Kolkata with other students eating banana pancakes (the staple cheap food in my hazy undergraduate memory); I am sure he will suss that out for himself if that is what he wants. He will have a wonderful experience and I think it will probably change him quite a bit in terms of his view of the world.

Hi escargot. For a great cheap central hotel there is the Gawaz Niwaz at 9 Chowringee Lane, right near Sudder Street, in the central budget hotel area of Kolkata. It's close to the big market & very good value at around 550-700 rupees for an air cond room with cable tv. Very comfortable budget choice and nice management too.

Wow! Thanks everyone - some great info for us to work on today - fodorites are the best.

I remember my duaghter's reaction getting to Hong Kong after 3 months travel in China (18 years ago) with her backpack and finally 3 days on third class train. She LOVED the Marriott hotel. Sometimes a "business hotel" seems like Heaven.

After 5 months in India, He'll think a backpackers hotel is just fine, and a junk business hotel will be awesome!!

He may also have friends traveling at the same time, so I'd make sure any reservations are cancellable in case he wants to hang out a few hours longer.

I'm guessing he got into the Darjeeling program?? What a lucky kid. My daughter and I are already scheming about ways to convince my husband that we have to go back to India ag\fter she graduates in December!!

PS will you be at the Oct 7 GTG? I'd love to meet you and compare kids in India stories. Are you planning to visit him there?

Elainee thank you -
and Lcuy - yes, he got into the Darjeeling/Kalimong program and is quite excited - time in the area and another home stay with a farming family 'somewhere in the hills' -
Unfortunately we are not able to visit him when program ends Dec 17 - instead he will be coming home for Christmas -
You were also most helpful in making the decision for him to do this trip so I know I thanked you before, but thank you again !

I don't know about the Oct gtg - is it for travelers interested in India and if I could join you even if I haven't been? I'll look for the thread, assuming is it under Asia?

Thanks Lcuy. I'd love to meet you also.

It for any fodorites who want to come! A lot are from this Asia section, so not just those who like India, and I seem to remember others coming who aren't Asiaholics at all.

I am so excited for your son. The India experience really changed my daughter, and in a very positive way. She often says "I survived India, I can manage anything". And does.