The <24 hour 'stopover' - your experiences

[Fiches Mouser]

Always a great thing to do. I told myself a couple of years ago I would never fly through a city and not leave the airport. I haven't always stuck to it (sometimes it's just not practical stopping in Singapore when on my way to Hong Kong for a weekend), but I just never want to waste an opportunity to see a new city.

 

[Scarlett]

We spent just under 24 hours in YYZ whilst on a DONE4 a couple of years ago. It was enough time to get a hire car and drive down to Niagara and check out the falls in the evening, have a leisurely dinner and wander about, a decent sleep, then go and see the falls in the daylight. Then drove back to the airport and pre cleared US immigration before continuing on to MCO. Easy way to check out a pretty major tourist attraction.

The other advantage was that it didn't use up one of our five stopovers.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I recently did an overnight stopover BNE/xSYD/AKL on a Classic award using the multi city tool online and taking an morning flight BNE/SYD on QF arriving about 1000 then departing the following day on EK412 SYD/AKL at 0750. The points needed was identical BNE/xSYD/AKL as it was for SYD/AKL only but the taxes were $10.00 more so worth it I thought.

Nil cc surcharge on the QF AU site when redeeming a Classic nor was there when booking QF8771 AKL/BNE on the QF NZ site.

 

[yohy?!]

with regard to ICN as a transit port, best to go for the KAL limousine bus which is quicker than taking the train and a taxi to your hotel (most major chains will be served directly). don't mind the big recliner seats either for a snooze

also having hotel staff arrange taxis is a good move.

 

[mmchow]

Have 2 transits in HKG coming up en-route to LAX and return; 6 hours (arrival 1750, next departure 0010) and 13 hours (arrival 0740, next departure 2125). Any recommendations as to what I can see in the short and long transit?

 

[boomy]

with regard to ICN as a transit port, best to go for the KAL limousine bus which is quicker than taking the train and a taxi to your hotel (most major chains will be served directly). don't mind the big recliner seats either for a snooze

+1

Incheon city is good place for stopover with plenty shops and restaurants around, as an alternative to Seoul and can use the KAL limousine for a comfortable ride to airport.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have 2 transits in HKG coming up en-route to LAX and return; 6 hours (arrival 1750, next departure 0010) and 13 hours (arrival 0740, next departure 2125). Any recommendations as to what I can see in the short and long transit?

There are a couple of existing threads elsewhere on AFF for HKG stopovers of your lengths. I don't have the link to hand.

For 6 hours either stay local (Nong Ping 360), or else you can have an hour or two in the city. Depends whether or not you've been to Hong Kong before. (If you haven't, I'd use the 6 hours to get a couple things out of the way like the star ferry and ride on ding ding (the tram)), saving your 13 hours for later with the Peak, stanley bay, yum cha etc etc.

 

[mmchow]

There are a couple of existing threads elsewhere on AFF for HKG stopovers of your lengths. I don't have the link to hand.

For 6 hours either stay local (Nong Ping 360), or else you can have an hour or two in the city. Depends whether or not you've been to Hong Kong before. (If you haven't, I'd use the 6 hours to get a couple things out of the way like the star ferry and ride on ding ding (the tram)), saving your 13 hours for later with the Peak, stanley bay, yum cha etc etc.

Thanks MEL_Traveller. Ive been to HKG before but my travelling partner has not. There are two places that we would like to check out - Giant Buddha and The Peak. As we are landing late afternoon, there isn't much spot to go to apart from Stanley Bay and Kowloon/ HK area. This may even stretch it out a little considering the amount of time we have and the distance from the airport to other area? Suppose on the return, would be able to check out The Peak followed by the Giant Buddha at a leisurely pace?

 

[RooFlyer]

Have 2 transits in HKG coming up en-route to LAX and return; 6 hours (arrival 1750, next departure 0010) and 13 hours (arrival 0740, next departure 2125). Any recommendations as to what I can see in the short and long transit?

I asked almost the same thing not long ago - here are the great suggestions.

 

[RooFlyer]

Have done the deliberate <24 hr 'stop over' many times. best experiences are when there is a train servicing the airport and downtown.


SIN - a great place for this. Once had about 5 hours, so I caught the MRT from the airport to have dinner at 'Salt'; the restaurant tower had a station. Had dinner, returned to airport - all without getting out into the fresh air!

BKK - had about 15 hours, the highlight of which was to have dinner with drron and mrs.dr.ron

HKG - I asked for suggestions (see link in above post) and I did the Museum of Coastal defences and planned to do the cable car/Buddha, but weather was bad.

On recent trip to the Caucasus, I had <24 hr stopovers in Dubai (did the mall and tower things) Qatar and Abu Dhabi (planned to go and see the sights, but too bloody hot).

Note: Asian cities so much easier for <24hr quickie sightseeing than Gulf countries!!

When QF was flying into SFO, I used to get that flight then plan 6-8 hours before heading up to Canada. A sensational and easy place for a day goofing about.

HEL - hired a car and went down to Porvoo for a great seafood dinner with friends.

YVR - another good place for a short stop-over; catch the airport train to downtown or Yaletown and have dinner and/or walk along the waterfront.

 

[get me outta here]

You may need to check the opening times for the Big Buddha, especially the cable car - it's a bloody long way to walk. I seem to remember that it opens at 1000, and I got there at 0930 to beat the queue. But I don't know what time it closes. The Peak is open all the time and is a different view day and night. You must go on the Star Ferry at 2000 if possible to see the buildings light show.

Thanks MEL_Traveller. Ive been to HKG before but my travelling partner has not. There are two places that we would like to check out - Giant Buddha and The Peak. As we are landing late afternoon, there isn't much spot to go to apart from Stanley Bay and Kowloon/ HK area. This may even stretch it out a little considering the amount of time we have and the distance from the airport to other area? Suppose on the return, would be able to check out The Peak followed by the Giant Buddha at a leisurely pace?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks MEL_Traveller. Ive been to HKG before but my travelling partner has not. There are two places that we would like to check out - Giant Buddha and The Peak. As we are landing late afternoon, there isn't much spot to go to apart from Stanley Bay and Kowloon/ HK area. This may even stretch it out a little considering the amount of time we have and the distance from the airport to other area? Suppose on the return, would be able to check out The Peak followed by the Giant Buddha at a leisurely pace?

Then it's fairly simple!

6 hour stopover: Giant Buddha and Nong Ping cable car.

13 hour: peak, star ferry, ding ding, 2 meals dependent on time of day.

 

[erko_adam]

I had a great 7 or so hours (in summer) passing through YVR as part of a PDX->YVR->JFK route. Caught a taxi from YVR to base of Grouse Mountain and took the cable car to the top where they have some great views, grizzly bear enclosure, Poutine (tourist version). Took a taxi back down to the ferry terminal at Lonsdale Quay, boat across to the Waterfront area then wandered around Gastown, a few drinks and some dinner then back to YVR with plenty of time to spare.
I did walk a bit too far through Gastown and ended up slightly lost in the local skid row area, so I got to see a good cross-section of the local community

 

[CPMaverick]

I have twice done a Tokyo 19-20 hr stopover. Arrive around 11pm and depart late afternoon the next day.

It helps to know the city a little bit, and HND is a better airport to do it from since it is closer to the city. But you can go straight to sleep and have several hours in the AM to explore (lockers at every train station to stash your bags). Or depending on your time zone, you can find plenty of places to stay out late to 4-5 am and then sleep in before your flight. Hotels are reasonable in Tokyo and I really like the capsule hotels, a unique experience and a great value for this type of quick trip.

 

[ethernet]

Breaking the threads theme I WILL be stopping in Singapore at redeye hours. I know there is a $9 shuttle to CITY 24H freq 30 mins or so, but can you book it city to Airport to catch a 7am flight? Then there is some backpackers review claiming there is a free theater and free TV movie booths - is this still true?
While many FF may have perks, I noticed 6 hour hotel blocks run at AUD $110+, with no backpackers anywhere near the airport , making $9 plus $25 (bunk backpacker with breakfast and toast in little india) plus $9 return to negate the ghostly SCOOT terminal at 1am non existent services (or starbucks). Recommended attractions are casino ($50 on Red and $50 on Black), and filling up in Little India with the last remaining ok prices, unless Old Airport Road eatery is open, plus a set of photos from the top of Stanfords next to Raffles. Getting hard to do sg on the cheap.

 

[jpboyce]

It seems I've created one of this type of stopover for myself on a trip next month, where I have about 24 hours between arriving and leaving LAX. Anyone have any thoughts on how I could utilise that time? I'll have almost a full day (flight out of LAX leaves around 10pm). Thanks.

 

[vantage03]

I have a 22 hour layover coming up in Tokyo in a couple of weeks, land at 5pm, fly out at 3:30pm the following day. Can't wait! Arrive in time for a great dinner then can go for a run around the palace in the morning, some quick shopping and out again

 

[MEL_Traveller]

... you can find plenty of places to stay out late to 4-5 am and then sleep in before your flight.

In tokyo - totally this!! Especially on a weekend.

I know there is a $9 shuttle to CITY 24H freq 30 mins or so, but can you book it city to Airport to catch a 7am flight? Then there is some backpackers review claiming there is a free theater and free TV movie booths - is this still true?

Can't answer about the shuttle time, but worst case scenario, taxis are fairly cheap - around SGD30. So you can make the connection comfortably (for not much more money).

Yes - the airport is equipped with all those things like movies. Once you pass through outbound passport control, the whole airport (all three terminals) are open for you to explore. You'll only be able to gain entrance with a boarding pass.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I have a 22 hour layover coming up in Tokyo in a couple of weeks, land at 5pm, fly out at 3:30pm the following day. Can't wait! Arrive in time for a great dinner then can go for a run around the palace in the morning, some quick shopping and out again

That has got to be the most perfect 22 hours imaginable. God I love Tokyo.

 

[vantage03]

Yes I was quite pleased with myself for booking that one haha