My Trip Through Adler Airport
Alright, so I decided to check out Sochi not too long ago. Flying in meant landing at Adler Airport, or AER as they call it. Just wanted to share how that went down, step-by-step, from my perspective.
First things first, booked the flight online, packed the usual stuff. Nothing exciting there. The flight itself was pretty standard, you know, hurry up and wait. Eventually, we touched down in Adler.
We taxied for a bit, then finally parked. Got off the plane and walked into the terminal building. My first thought? It actually looked pretty modern, clean too. Maybe I expected something older, but it felt quite up-to-date, bustling with people moving around.
Next up was passport control. Found the line for foreigners. It took a little while, the usual airport shuffle, waiting for your turn. The officers seemed professional enough, just doing their job. Got my stamp, moved on.
Then came the baggage claim adventure. Found the right carousel number on the screen and settled in for the wait. You know how it goes, bags start trickling out, none of them yours. Finally, after what felt like ages, spotted my suitcase lumbering towards me. Grabbed it quick before it went around again.
Getting Out and About
Okay, bag secured. Now, the main puzzle: getting from the airport to where I was staying in the city. Looked around for signs pointing to taxis or buses.
I’d heard some chatter online about being careful with taxis outside, potential scams and whatnot. Didn’t really feel like haggling or getting ripped off right after landing. So, I kept my eyes peeled for something official-looking inside the terminal.
Found exactly that: a proper taxi booking desk. Seemed like the safer bet. Went up, told the person behind the counter where I needed to go. They gave me a fixed price. It felt maybe a little higher than just grabbing one outside, but honestly, paying a bit extra for knowing the cost upfront and avoiding hassle seemed worth it to me.
Paid right there, got a voucher or something. They pointed me where to wait for the driver. Didn’t take long. A driver showed up, checked my paper, and led me outside to his car. He helped with the suitcase, which was nice.
- Got in the car.
- Driver confirmed the destination again.
- Off we went into the traffic.
The drive itself was fine, maybe took 30 or 40 minutes. Didn’t chat much with the driver, just watched the scenery go by. Some interesting buildings along the way, lots of greenery too.
Finally, pulled up right outside my hotel. Driver got the bag out, I double-checked I hadn’t left anything, and that was that. No fuss about payment since I’d sorted it at the desk.
So yeah, that was my Adler Airport experience. Pretty straightforward, really. Landed, got through the formalities, found my bag, and managed to get a taxi without any drama. The airport itself felt efficient enough, and using the official taxi desk definitely made the last step easier and less stressful. All in all, a decent start to the trip.
