Does the thought of lugging your carry-ons around an unknown airport, so close yet so far from your destination, sound as exciting as searching for a power socket? Well, kinda’ like that one shekel coin you found at Ben Gurion airport last year, there are two sides to everything—even a dreaded layover.
A layover (like life) is what you make of it. It can be an unexpected surprise (and I mean that in a good way) or it can be as unexciting as the defrosted meal you nibbled at before landing. Here are a few ways to spice up those perpetual minutes ticking away before your connecting flight.
Pamper Yourself
Who doesn’t crave a little pampering? Many airports have satellite spas which can provide the perfect pastime while traveling – relaxation. XpresSpa, the most frequently spotted one, has 56 locations in 22 major airports across the U.S. and in Amsterdam. They offer a myriad of services like refreshing facials, and foot, back and neck massages to help even the most anxious flier unwind. Their signature Xpress mani/pedi is as good as what you get back home and their aestheticians will be happy to help with some personal grooming by offering haircuts and waxing services.
More exclusively, the unique Timeless Spas located in the Dubai International Airport are lavishly designed for the luxury seeker. These spas pamper high-flyers with exclusive amenities such as body and facial rejuvenation therapies as well as massages set in the opulence of a Middle-Eastern paradise. Just think. You can board your next flight feeling like a new you.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Skip the fast food spots found in most airports and opt for a more satisfying meal. London’s Heathrow airport is home to Food Network star Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant Plane Food. Plane Food morphs the local favorite Fish and Chips into the delectably re-proportioned “Fishcakes with Lime Mayonnaise.” In Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International airport, you’ll find palate pleasing breakfast and lunch options at Aroma Espresso Bar, one of the original ancestors of SoHo’s popular café-lounge.
Locally, Dallas Fort-Worth International is the best spot to satisfy a case of the munchies during a layover. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen has authentic Louisiana-style dishes and yummy desserts while Cereality is a unique cereal bar and cafe that prides itself on having a “gazillion possible cereal combinations” for all you cereal connoisseurs. If it’s been a long day in the air and you missed the wines in business class, La Bodega Winery has your back with countless reds, whites, port, sherry, and bubbly.
Go Sightseeing!
Having a long layover shouldn’t mean that you’re forced to take a day-long nap on a seriously uncomfortable chair not exactly designed for that. Sightseeing, undoubtedly the most exciting activity to pass the time, is an option. On the flip side, though, this isn’t a no-brainer and has to be planned in order to make it back to the terminal in time.
If you find yourself at Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International, the MARTA train system is your flying carpet. The Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center, and the World of Coca Cola are all popular attractions only 45 minutes away (90 roundtrip).
If you’re facing a lengthy layover at LAX have no fear. Both Venice Beach and Redondo Beach are a short taxi away and you can enjoy some great shopping or just hanging in a café overlooking the Pacific. Or grab a bite overlooking the boats in Marina Del Rey. If you have a bit more time the Grove, an outdoor shopping center in Los Angeles, is an hour away; a stone’s throw away is the famous Farmer’s Market where you can enjoy a healthy dose of Vitamin D and even healthier fresh snacks. If you feel like splurging, hire a driver for the day and go star-gazing in scenic Malibu or take a step back in time at the historic Max Factor building in Hollywood.
Consider yourself lucky if you’re stuck in Dubai as its airport is classified the best for a layover. Containing the world’s largest duty free shop, upscale lounges, free Wi-Fi and Zen gardens you may easily forget where you are. Outside you can catch a taxi or train to one of the old souks, the famous Burj Al Arab, and the Mall of the Emirates which features the Middle East’s first indoor ski slope—a cool break from Dubai’s scorching heat.
A layover in Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is also well placed, only a quick 15 minutes by train from the city center where you can take advantage of many touring options. Holland Stopover Guides sells a big variety and during their four hour tour of the city, you’ll visit rural landscapes, the Rembrandt windmill and historical landmarks like the Royal Palace and Dam Square.
Don’t Be a Wallflower
It’s been said that people watching is a sport. If you’re in limbo in an international airport, check out everyone around you – the differences in the clothes, body language, and accents. Take a break from your iDevices and head for the bar where you can let your guard down and maybe talk to the person on the stool next to you. A simple “hello” over a casual beer can lead to discovering that he or she may have the same connecting flight as you. Now how great of a layover, would that be?
www.gordonramsay.com/planefood
www.pappadeaux.com/location/125