just passing through
To expand the list of countries I've been to (and save money at the same time!), I like to take long layovers, and use the opportunity to leave the airport and explore. Often you only have a few hours, but if you use them well, you can get to know a whole new country in a very short time!
Some fun examples:
On my way to Spain, I had a 10 hour layover in Ponta Delgada, an island off the coast of Portugal. Before I went, I spent a good few hours researching the nearest city and its most interesting attractions, modes of transportation around the island, and even guided tours. In the end I kept it simple -- The airport, luckily, was within walking distance to Ponta Delgada's city center, so I got to explore the area on foot, without paying for a taxi or renting a bike. After visiting the city's famous port, wandering down quaint streets with old churches, and stopping in a local cafe, I considered myself formally indroduced to Portugal.
On my way to Nepal with my brother and Dad, I had 7 hours in the airport of Doha, Qatar, which we decided to spend taking a guided tour of the city. A friendly tourist agent in the airport named Machmet offered us a taxi tour, which left from the airport and returned within only a couple of hours. We paid for the tour, and got a comprehensive view of Doha, from its old-style Arabic market to its incredibly modern malls and hotels. The tiny country of Qatar went from a mystery to a place I knew, just within our 7 hour layover.
Some fun examples:
On my way to Spain, I had a 10 hour layover in Ponta Delgada, an island off the coast of Portugal. Before I went, I spent a good few hours researching the nearest city and its most interesting attractions, modes of transportation around the island, and even guided tours. In the end I kept it simple -- The airport, luckily, was within walking distance to Ponta Delgada's city center, so I got to explore the area on foot, without paying for a taxi or renting a bike. After visiting the city's famous port, wandering down quaint streets with old churches, and stopping in a local cafe, I considered myself formally indroduced to Portugal.
On my way to Nepal with my brother and Dad, I had 7 hours in the airport of Doha, Qatar, which we decided to spend taking a guided tour of the city. A friendly tourist agent in the airport named Machmet offered us a taxi tour, which left from the airport and returned within only a couple of hours. We paid for the tour, and got a comprehensive view of Doha, from its old-style Arabic market to its incredibly modern malls and hotels. The tiny country of Qatar went from a mystery to a place I knew, just within our 7 hour layover.
how to plan your layover
If you're anticipating a long stretch of time in a foreign airport, you might want to ask yourselves the following questions:
- Can I leave the airport?: Passing Through may not even be possible, depending on the country you're visiting and your country of residence. US citizens can generally leave the airport traveling through Europe, but for countries like Russia and China, you need to get a Transit Visa, which can cost a lot of money or require very specific paperwork. Generally, you can find the answer to this question online.
- What's my time frame?: Calculate the exact hours you have from the time you land until your next flight. Also, make note of whether it's at night or in the daytime, as this will affect what you'll be able to do if you leave. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back through security in time for your connecting flight!
- What do I want to do on my layover? Do you know someone who lives nearby that you could visit? Are there tours leaving from the airport? Is there a famous historical site, a natural wonder, an event, or a concert happening within your time frame? Or do you just want to wander where the spirit takes you? Plan your transportation around your goals - some activities are more plausible than others, depending on the length of your stay.
- How far is the airport from the nearest city or attraction?: Sometimes, you can just walk out of the airport and you're right near a city. Most often, you may have to take a bus or a taxi to where you want to go. Be sure to look up if the bus times run when you'll be leaving the airport.
Article by Ruth Swope