[jyoti]

What do you do during long layovers?  8-10-12 hour layovers, that is.  I'm trying to avoid them, but a lot of the flight I'm looking at have long stretches just sitting at the airport.   What do you do? Do you leave the airport for a couple hours (daytime, I assume)?  Sit it out at a hotel?  Watch air traffic and drink mochas?  

(I am a single female travelling alone, btw. And no, don't bother to pm me about travelling together, kay?   )

[Mercurie]

jyoti, on Jul 6 2006, 11:13 PM, said:

(I am a single female travelling alone, btw. And no, don't bother to pm me about travelling together, kay?   )

Ha ha ha.  How often did you get someone sent you a PM asking for this??  

Merc.

[jyoti]

*grin*  Not too often, yet.  But occasionally some kind soul (usually a single male!) will volunteer...

[Somerset]

Where are you having an 8-10 hr layover? Layovers for people traveling from the US are generally interesting. I generally take the train into Amsterdam Central (20 min), stroll around, eat something. If the time is right, go to one of the art museums. I haven't done it, but I think London and Frankfurt should also be easily accessible with an 8 hour layover. Just put your stuff in a locker at the airport, find a train into town, and have a little walk around. Don't know that much about short layovers on the Pacific route; have only had 24 hour layovers in Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo, which is plenty of time to explore a bit.

[crvlvr]

Thanks to Lufthansa and BA, my layover from Los Angeles to India have ceased to exist.

May be we can list an airport and offer suggestions. Here are some of my better experiences:

Singapore -- Take the train into the town, spend some time walking Orchard Street an then take the train back. Avoid taxis, theyare expensive, traffic can be bad and in once the taxi driver dropped me off a few miles from my destination (claiming that we have arrived) because we were stuck in traffic.  There are also guided city tours that include a boat trip around downtown

London: Take the train into town, and the open top city bus tours.

[iwanttogoback]

singapore - there are a couple of organised tours from the airport, one of which is a tour of the downtown by bus and ferry; the other takes you to an artificial beach somewhere. I think that if you want to go on your own you need a visa which will cost you.

[jyoti]

The ones I'm looking at would probably be Bangkok, maybe Singapore, and Kulum... Malaysia. (The capital, I forget the name). Oh, and one had an 11 hour layover in Delhi--overnight.  

My over-protective friends here are freaking out that I'm even considering leaving the airport.  I think in 11 hours, I can find my way back.  *grin*

[Leith]

I've got a 12hr stopover at KLIA (Malaysia) in October on the way to delhi. My plan is to catch express train from airport to city these run every 15min and take 28min to cover 70klms.

From the central rail station I'll get a cab to the top of the lake park. From there I'll stroll the 3klms back into the city visiting a few of the gardens enroute. Maybe a little shopping in Chinatown before visiting my favorite verandah bar (Swiss Inn) for a few cold ones and to watch the world go by.  Then back to KLIA for a shower and a visit to the cyber café.

Another option is to visit a Travel forum and pose the question to a local resident........what would you do with X hours at Y.

Leith

[jyoti]

iwanttogoback, on Jul 6 2006, 07:54 PM, said:

singapore - there are a couple of organised tours from the airport, one of which is a tour of the downtown by bus and ferry; the other takes you to an artificial beach somewhere. I think that if you want to go on your own you need a visa which will cost you.

OK, I'm buying my tickets this afternoon and I will have a 8 1/2 hour layover in Singapore from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm.  I want to be absolutely sure to be back at the airport in time, but would love to stretch my legs and get to say I got to see a big of Singapore!  

This is my first time flying internationally so I'm a little (lot) nervous.  Can someone give me a step by step plan for what I might do?

Like:  Do I really need to get a Singapore visa?
And:  How do I find one of these tours?  How much do they cost? Can I use USD? Would it be better to go on my own and "explore" a bit? Or would I easily get lost?
And:  Will I have trouble at the airport for leaving and coming back?  Especially if I come back without luggage? (I'm assuming there's someplace to lock up luggage so I don't have to take it with me?  Is it secure enough to lock up my computer?)

Thanks guys for your help!

[Leith]

Singapore airport are offering free tours for those with stopovers longer than 5hrs.

http://www.changiair...ree_sgtour.html

Leith

[Anders]

jyoti, on Jul 20 2006, 05:16 PM, said:

Like:  Do I really need to get a Singapore visa?

Very few nationalities needs a visa to Singapore, if you are from US/Canada/Europe you will not need a visa.

[Strawberry_Blonde]

A trip in to the centre of Singapore would be well worth it, It's really close and easy to navigate!

Pack a swimming costume in your hand luggage as there is even a swimming pool you can use (for a fee) in the airport if you have time!

Edited by Strawberry_Blonde, 20 July 2006 - 10:36 PM.

[Sudheer Poppa]

Singapore airport is  my favorite across any I have flown through.. But Jyothi you cannot go out if you have an Indian passport But if you dont need a visa or come with a western passport, you can easily take the tour to the city which from the desk designated for the same...

And if you want to spend time in airport, there is a spa, a free swimming pool, a fairly decent retiring room or a hotel if you wanna call so, free massage chairs, loads of shopping options, movie theatres, restaurants and so on and so on.. its just too good an airport and the best place for a self contained lay over

[jyoti]

That's absurd!  A swimming pool in the airport!  Egads.  And here I thought we were lucky to have a Wendy's at St. Louis ...  I feel like such a hick.

I have an American passport, so that's not a problem.  And free tours?  Wow, that's perfect!  Maybe I'll just stay in Singapore a couple of days.  *grin*