Planning for Airport Stopovers Makes Them Travel Highlights
October 13th, 2010 04:22 PM
You have done your due diligence. You have booked your flight, your accommodations, and your transport to and from airports. However, it becomes inevitable that time will be spent in an airport waiting for something.
Travel itineraries describe arrival and departure times – and stopovers. Before your journey, spend a little extra time to discover things about all the airports along your route. Many international airports of the world provide a fine selection of amenities to make your wait a little more pleasant. A little selective surfing, a Google question or two and you may find some fun and entertaining things present themselves.
Airports around the world address this issue by continuously upgrading and improving services and amenities. The World Airport Awards acknowledges top airports for their accessibility, services, wait times and even the level of cleanliness of public facilities – at www.worldairportawards.com.
How will you utilize that extra time along your journey? What can you, the traveler, do while waiting in the security section of the airport or on the main concourse if there is a flight delay? This is your time now. Pamper yourself.
Consider a massage. There is nothing like a therapeutic rub to soothe away travel stress. Come away feeling rejuvenated and light within your soul. Massage raises your energy level and releases toxins from your muscles.
Maybe this is just the time for a manicure and spa treatment. Here is an opportunity to try a new spa and have nice chat with other travelers in a relaxed atmosphere.
Long travels and layovers may cause fatigue and low energy. Reenergize yourself with a yoga session or a meditation. See if the airports you’ll be stopping at offer these services.
Perhaps you are brimming with energy. Maybe you missed your run this morning. You have some time, and there is likely a fitness facility. Many are appearing at various airports.
Sometimes a simple shower may be all you need. For example, in the middle of O’Hare Airport at the end of Terminal 2, the Hilton Chicago O’Hare allows passengers, even if they are not hotel guests, access to its health club, including lockers, towels and showers. Non-hotel guests pay $10 for an all-day pass. Many airports authorities are aware of these needs and are encouraging entrepreneurial companies to provide these and other services.
Are you looking forward to the in-flight movie? It may not be for hours. Find a popcorn vendor and then lose yourself in a movie while you wait. Many airports in North America will rent you a portable DVD player complete with batteries and headsets. If you already have a laptop, just rent the movie. This passes the time and plays a movie selected by you, not the airline.
Best of all, modern airports are now offering great food selections. Fine restaurants with quiet nooks and superb views are appearing in many places. Google “fine dining at airports” and you will see search results numbering more than three million. Every airport from Toronto to Hong Kong, from Los Angeles to Brussels has a reference to great cuisine. An enjoyable meal certainly takes the edge off a long wait and will make the in-flight meal seem less urgent.
New airport designs have begun to incorporate friendlier and more comfortable seating areas. Wise travelers seek out these havens to help their wait time pass smoothly. More and more airports are beginning to offer free Wi-Fi for wireless device users. European and Asian airports seem to be spearheading free wireless service and North American stops are catching on.
Shopping or “retail therapy” is also an option. As an example, Hong Kong International Airport has 160 retail outlets and some of them are high-end designer stores such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren. There truly is something there for everyone – for every budget and taste.
So, the bags are checked and it is too early to proceed to your gate. This is your time now. Some airports may feature entertainment. There might be an art gallery. The entire airport itself may merit a walk through.
There is always the old stand-by, too – people watching. After your massage, seek out one of those comfortable havens and just imagine where all those travelers have been and where they are going. While basking in your pampered glow, see if you can pick out the ones who really need some pampering.
Henrik Nielsen is an independent travel consultant and freelance writer. info@talktohenrik.com www.talktohenrik.com
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Oct - Nov 08
Travel itineraries describe arrival and departure times – and stopovers. Before your journey, spend a little extra time to discover things about all the airports along your route. Many international airports of the world provide a fine selection of amenities to make your wait a little more pleasant. A little selective surfing, a Google question or two and you may find some fun and entertaining things present themselves.
Airports around the world address this issue by continuously upgrading and improving services and amenities. The World Airport Awards acknowledges top airports for their accessibility, services, wait times and even the level of cleanliness of public facilities – at www.worldairportawards.com.
How will you utilize that extra time along your journey? What can you, the traveler, do while waiting in the security section of the airport or on the main concourse if there is a flight delay? This is your time now. Pamper yourself.
Consider a massage. There is nothing like a therapeutic rub to soothe away travel stress. Come away feeling rejuvenated and light within your soul. Massage raises your energy level and releases toxins from your muscles.
Maybe this is just the time for a manicure and spa treatment. Here is an opportunity to try a new spa and have nice chat with other travelers in a relaxed atmosphere.
Long travels and layovers may cause fatigue and low energy. Reenergize yourself with a yoga session or a meditation. See if the airports you’ll be stopping at offer these services.
Perhaps you are brimming with energy. Maybe you missed your run this morning. You have some time, and there is likely a fitness facility. Many are appearing at various airports.
Sometimes a simple shower may be all you need. For example, in the middle of O’Hare Airport at the end of Terminal 2, the Hilton Chicago O’Hare allows passengers, even if they are not hotel guests, access to its health club, including lockers, towels and showers. Non-hotel guests pay $10 for an all-day pass. Many airports authorities are aware of these needs and are encouraging entrepreneurial companies to provide these and other services.
Are you looking forward to the in-flight movie? It may not be for hours. Find a popcorn vendor and then lose yourself in a movie while you wait. Many airports in North America will rent you a portable DVD player complete with batteries and headsets. If you already have a laptop, just rent the movie. This passes the time and plays a movie selected by you, not the airline.
Best of all, modern airports are now offering great food selections. Fine restaurants with quiet nooks and superb views are appearing in many places. Google “fine dining at airports” and you will see search results numbering more than three million. Every airport from Toronto to Hong Kong, from Los Angeles to Brussels has a reference to great cuisine. An enjoyable meal certainly takes the edge off a long wait and will make the in-flight meal seem less urgent.
New airport designs have begun to incorporate friendlier and more comfortable seating areas. Wise travelers seek out these havens to help their wait time pass smoothly. More and more airports are beginning to offer free Wi-Fi for wireless device users. European and Asian airports seem to be spearheading free wireless service and North American stops are catching on.
Shopping or “retail therapy” is also an option. As an example, Hong Kong International Airport has 160 retail outlets and some of them are high-end designer stores such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren. There truly is something there for everyone – for every budget and taste.
So, the bags are checked and it is too early to proceed to your gate. This is your time now. Some airports may feature entertainment. There might be an art gallery. The entire airport itself may merit a walk through.
There is always the old stand-by, too – people watching. After your massage, seek out one of those comfortable havens and just imagine where all those travelers have been and where they are going. While basking in your pampered glow, see if you can pick out the ones who really need some pampering.
Henrik Nielsen is an independent travel consultant and freelance writer. info@talktohenrik.com www.talktohenrik.com
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Oct - Nov 08
