For a lot of frequent flyers and travelers, a layover in a foreign country is one of the worst things that can possibly go wrong during a trip. Suddenly you find yourself in a strange environment, trapped in an airport hotel, and impossibly bored with nothing on the horizon to look forward to except a 24-hour wait and the occasional room service. However, like many things in life, the way you perceive your situation can have a massive impact on the way in which it affects you, and if you’ve got some extra cash on hand, you can turn this inconvenience into a luxury mini holiday. With that in mind, we’ve put together a small list on how and where to take advantage of your situation and transform it from a boring airport hotel delay into a luxury layover.
The How
The very first thing you should do when you find out that your flight have been cancelled or delayed indefinitely is put in a claim for compensation with your airline. Believe it or not, there’s a law in place that protects passengers and guarantees them compensation for flight delays or cancellations in certain situations. This compensation can be anywhere from £250 to £600 depending on the nature of the delay, the distance that the flight was meant to be traveling, as well as the total length of time the delay in question. Regardless, you should claim, as this is free money which you can then immediately dump into your luxury layover expenses. Some airlines require you to fill out a form online, but others will hand it over to you in cash right there in the airport.
Next, find out how long your layover is likely to be. This will determine how much time you’ll have and how big you can go. If you’re layover is 24 hours or longer - you’re in luck! You’ll be able to check into a luxury hotel, eat a couple of first class meals, and take advantage of whatever entertainment the city you’re in has on offer. Which brings us to the next point -
The Where
Obviously you won’t have control over where you end up for your layover, but below we’re going to list a number of luxury destinations which are likelier than others due to the high volumes of air traffic which pass through their borders.
Dubai
As the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is both a massive international travel hub as well as one of the most affluent and luxurious cities in the world. Sporting such worldwide monuments as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai is the most expensive city in the Middle East and features the second most expensive hotel rooms worldwide. If you’d like to stay in some of these hotels during your layover, check out this article for some of the most unique hotels around. If you’d like to take a more relaxed approach to your layover, head the Armani Hotel for a relaxing and absolutely decadent spa treatment.
Singapore
If you’re looking for a luxury layover without even leaving the airport then Singapore is definitely the location you’re after. Voted the world’s best airport, Changi certainly has a lot on offer for keeping guests and passengers entertained. Enjoy the country’s signature cocktail, the Singapore Sling, at one of the many cocktail lounges dotted throughout the airport. If you’d like a massage then check out the Shilla Beauty Loft which stocks some of the world’s most luxurious beauty products. And if you’d like to live that luxurious poolside living, simply head to the Singapore Airport Transit Hotel, pay the $17 SGD entrance fee and cool off in the Balinese-style rooftop pool.
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver is one of the most bustling cities in Canada, and famous for its thriving arts and music scenes. It makes sense then that you’d be able to take advantage of this culture directly in Vancouver International Airport. While there, indulge in YVR’s award-winning collections of First Nation artwork. Like other airports on this list, you can also choose to unwind at a luxury spa, or, if the jet lag is too much for you to handle, take a nap in one of the soundproof rooms on offer with views overlooking the runways of YVR Airport.
Photo credit: Armani Hotel Dubai
