Stopovers…
Are They Worth The Wait?
How It All Began
Ah, stopovers. The word alone can send even the most seasoned traveler into a spiral of dread. Will your suitcase decide to play hide-and-seek? Will you have enough time to sprint between gates like an Olympic hopeful? And most importantly: what the heck are you supposed to do for 13 hours in an airport that only has one café and questionable Wi-Fi?
Let’s be real—a stopover can either be a travel nightmare or a golden opportunity in disguise. The trick is knowing how to handle it, and lucky for you, we’re here to spill all the secrets.
The Two Faces of Stopovers
Not all stopovers are created equal. There are two types: short (-10 hours) and long (+10 hours). Depending on what kind you’re dealing with, your experience can swing wildly from “barely tolerable” to “wow, I just discovered a whole new city!”
The Short Stopover: A Necessary Evil
More often than not, short stopovers are forced upon us during long-haul flights. They’re like a budget airline’s sneaky little way of saving you money… sure, your ticket was cheap, but now you’re stuck sitting on a cold airport floor for six hours in Düsseldorf, staring longingly at the closed pretzel stand. Yes, this actually happened to us.
- Pro tip: Avoid stopovers of less than two hours whenever possible. While you might think, “Great, less waiting time!” you’re also setting yourself up for a stress-fuelled sprint that would test Usain Bolt to his limits. Worse, a tight stopover increases your chances of losing your luggage, which is never a good start to any trip.
But if you’re stuck with a short stopover, make the best of it:
- Research your airport: Some airports are basically mini theme parks. Changi in Singapore has a butterfly garden, a swimming pool, and even a movie theatre. Other airports? Not so much. A quick Google search beforehand can reveal hidden gems or at least save you from boredom.
- Pack some entertainment: Whether it’s your favourite Netflix series, a juicy book, or a card game, make sure your hand luggage is prepped to keep you entertained, or at least sane. And don’t forget headphones—unless you really want to listen to the same boarding announcements on repeat.
- Indulge a little: Treat yourself to overpriced airport snacks, browse duty-free shops you have no intention of buying from, or challenge yourself to walk every inch of the terminal.
The Long Stopover: A Holiday Within a Holiday
Long stopovers, on the other hand, can be an unexpected blessing. If you have 10+ hours to kill, why not turn your downtime into an adventure?
Option 1: Explore the City
If your stopover falls between 10 and 24 hours, consider it a golden ticket to sneak in a mini-vacation. Cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, New York, or London are tailor-made for this kind of quick-hit exploration.
Tips for making the most of your city stopover:
- Check visa requirements: Some destinations allow transit visas or even visa-free entry for short stays. Always check ahead to avoid awkward conversations at immigration.
- Look for freebies: Many airlines and airports offer perks for long stopovers—think free city tours, hotel stays, or shuttles. Take advantage!
- Plan ahead: Do some light research on must-see spots, local foods to try, and efficient transport options. Prioritise activities by proximity to save time (and your sanity).
- Mind the clock: Leave yourself a generous buffer to get back to the airport—traffic and unfamiliar metro systems are not your friends when there’s a plane to catch.
Picture this: instead of dreading your 12-hour stopover, you’re sipping cocktails in a rooftop bar overlooking Bangkok, or snapping selfies in front of the Burj Khalifa, or even wandering the streets of Paris. Sounds better than another 12 hours in Terminal 2, doesn’t it?
Option 2: DIY Stopovers
If you’re not in a rush, why not create your own stopover? This is where the real magic happens.
When booking flights through platforms like Skyscanner, Kayak, or Momondo, look beyond just the cheapest or fastest options. Instead, focus on the stopover cities. Why settle for a 7-hour layover when you could spend 3 days exploring Prague or Athens?
Here’s how to do it:
- Get creative with itineraries: Instead of booking a straightforward London-Tokyo ticket, look for multi-leg options. For example, you could fly London to Doha, stay for a few days, and then continue on to Tokyo.
- Book strategically: Use the multi-city function on flight search engines or book separate tickets to maximise flexibility.
- Watch your budget: Depending on the airline, dates, or day of the week, you might find that adding a stopover barely affects the ticket price. Sometimes it even makes it cheaper!
Example:
- London → Los Angeles (stop for 5 days)
- Los Angeles → Honolulu (stop for 5 days)
- Honolulu → Sydney
Cost: £420.
Compare that to London → Doha → Sydney (7-hour stopover) for £360. For just £60 more, you get a mini-vacation in both LA and Hawaii. Not a bad trade-off, right?
Why Stopovers Are Worth It
Sure, stopovers require a little extra planning, but the payoff is huge. Imagine walking through the streets of a city you never thought you’d visit, soaking in its sights, smells, and flavours. You might not remember the details of your airline seat, but you’ll never forget the sunsets, street food, or spontaneous moments that make travel so magical.
Stopovers also help you save money in the long run by combining destinations you’d otherwise need separate trips to visit. Yes, you’ll need to budget wisely and embrace a bit of discomfort, but trust us—it’s worth every penny (and the sore feet).
Share Your Stopover Stories!
So, what about you? Have you ever turned a stopover into the highlight of your trip? Or was there one you’d rather forget entirely? Drop your best (or worst) stopover memories in the comments below, we’d love to hear them!
Now, doesn’t the idea of a stopover feel a little less scary and a whole lot more exciting? Safe travels and happy stopover-ing!
