10 Surprisingly Cool Airport Attractions October 18, 2012 by Christine Sarkis, SmarterTravel Staff

10 Surprisingly Cool Airport Attractions

October 18, 2012 by Christine Sarkis, SmarterTravel Staff

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(Photo: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol)

Airports can be boring. At many, the most exciting thing to do is wait in line for a coffee. But a few airports buck the trend and offer fascinating, fun, or relaxing options. So why not careen down a four-story indoor slide or take a brewery tour? Admire some of the world's most famous art or hit the golf course? Whether you are waiting out a long layover or have simply arrived at the airport with time to spare, these picks beat a large latte to-go any day.

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Four-Story Indoor Slide, Changi International Airport, Singapore

(Photo: Changi Airport Group)

You hear stories about people who get stuck in airports for weeks or months, and if it ever happens to us, we're hoping it's at Changi Airport in Singapore. Among its offerings is a four-story indoor slide suitable for kids and adults. There's also a butterfly garden, a rooftop pool (and rooftop bar), more than 300 shops, and free movie theaters.

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Brewery, Munich International Airport, Germany

(Photo: Munich Airport)

At airports, brewpubs are a dime a dozen. But Munich International Airport takes that extra step and actually makes beer on premises. The Airbrau brewery crafts its beers in compliance with the Purity Decree of 1516 and makes beers ranging from Jetstream, a new pilsner, to Aviator, a double bock. If sipping is not enough, you can take a brewery tour. Now that's not a bad way to spend a layover.

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Golf Course, Hong Kong International Airport, China

(Photo: Hong Kong International Airport)

Golf at the airport? Yes, at Hong Kong International. SkyCity Nine Eagles Golf Course, located near Terminal 2, gives passengers a perfect excuse to get outside between flights. The nine-hole course even has a signature hole: Island Green, situated on an island in the middle of an artificial lake. Nine Eagles has its own golf instructors, equipment rentals, and a pro shop. And nighttime floodlighting allows passengers to swing and putt after dark.

  

Behind-the-Scenes Tour, Zurich International Airport, Switzerland

(Photo: Zurich Airport)

Next time you're passing through Zurich Airport, you're invited to take a peek behind the curtain. Airport tours offer a memorable way to see what it takes to move more than 2 million passengers a month. Hop a bus on a sightseeing tour to see the runways, hangars, cargo areas, and even a nature conservation area between runways. You'll also get a close-up of airplanes landing and taking off. Additional guided tours take visitors through the check-in process and on a tour of the aircraft parking areas.

  

Concerts, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York

(Photo: Courtesy of JetBlue)

Since its debut in 2009, JetBlue's free Live From T5 concert series has welcomed acts including Taylor Swift, Sarah McLachlan, and The Wanted. Performances take place post-security at JetBlue's terminal at JFK Airport and are exclusively for JetBlue passengers and contest winners. A concert before takeoff? There's a good reason to hope for a flight delay.

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Museum, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Netherlands

(Photo: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol)

Schiphol brings the best of Amsterdam to the airport with its outpost of the Rijksmuseum. The museum is the first in the world to have an annex at an airport, and the airport is the first to have a major museum in its terminal. The museum is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and admission is free. In addition to the permanent collection of Dutch masters, temporary exhibits rotate regularly.

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Yoga Room, San Francisco International Airport, California

(Photo: SFO)

Airports are stressful, but San Francisco International has just the fix: a yoga room. As far as we know, it's the world's first airport yoga studio, and since its January 2012 debut, it has proven to be very popular with passengers. Located post-security in Terminal 2, the relaxing room is quiet and dark, with wooden floors and mirrors along one wall. Yoga mats are available, and there's space for five or six people to get their asanas on.

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Cultural Experience Zone, Incheon International Airport, South Korea

(Photo: zionorbi via flickr/CC Attribution)

Travel is a cultural experience, so why shouldn't the airport be as well? At Incheon International Airport in Seoul, passengers get an introduction to local customs at theTraditional Korean Cultural Experience Zone. Visitors can learn how to make crafts such as fans and "lucky bags." There are also performances, including masque dances and twelve-string Korean harp recitals. Admission is free.

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Aquarium, Vancouver International Airport, Canada

(Photo: Larry Goldstein)

Missed the aquarium on your visit to Vancouver? Never fear, because Vancouver International Airport is home to two massive satellite Vancouver Aquarium exhibits: a 30,000-gallon aquarium housing more than 5,000 creatures and a separate aquarium devoted entirely to jellyfish. Check out the larger tank, located on level three in the International Terminal, to spot wolf eels, sea stars, rockfish, and giant kelp.

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Nap Rooms, Heathrow Airport, England

(Photo: Yotel)

Airports are not nap-friendly places. Unless you're excellent at sleeping upright, you're usually out of luck. But at London Heathrow, a nap means never having to settle for a stiff neck. Located before the security checkpoint in Terminal 4, Yotel offers "cabins" complete with en suite bathrooms and comfy beds from £25 (about $40) for four hours of blissful sleep. Post-security in Terminal 3, you'll find twin and single en suite napping rooms with showers. Suddenly, an LHR layover doesn't seem so bad.

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Your Ultimate Stuck-at-the-Airport Toolkit February 6, 2015 3:20 pm by Christine Sarkis

Your Ultimate Stuck-at-the-Airport Toolkit

February 6, 2015 3:20 pm by Christine Sarkis

  

You're stuck. Maybe it's a long layover, maybe it's a flight cancellation, or a blizzard.

However it happened, you're stranded—for a few hours or longer—along with thousands of other people. Resources are limited, and you've got to act fast. Here's what to do.

Plan Your Escape

Contact the Airline: For the best chance of success, you'll want to multi-task. Stand in line at the airport while simultaneously calling your airline's customer service line (program the number into your phone before leaving on your trip). And if you're having trouble speaking to someone in person or over the phone, try the social media route. Many airlines use Twitter to address customer service issues.

Related: How to Complain at the Airport (and Actually Get What You Want)

Get a Room: If you and thousands of other people suddenly find yourself stranded, you'll need to book a room quickly unless you want to wait out an overnight delay in an airport chair. There are a number of last-minute booking apps, but when we travel, most of us use Hotel Tonight. Its discounted last-minute rates are great, and its app is user friendly.

Related: Get Super Cheap Hotel Stays with This Update App

Find a Day Trip: If you're stuck at an airport during the day, but can fly out before an overnight hotel stay becomes necessary, consider a day trip. A number of airports offer a list of day-trip itineraries for people with long layovers, trips that are easy to get to from the airport via public transportation. For instance, one of Japan's most popular temples is a short train ride from Tokyo Narita Airport. And from Frankfurt Airport, beer tasting in Bavaria is a quick trip. Many airports have bag checks (though some still haven't reinstituted them since 9/11), which allows you to stash your suitcase and travel light on a day out.

Related: 10 Great Tours You Can Take on a Layover

Make the Most of Being Stuck

Hunker Down: Airports are notoriously uncomfortable places to grab some shut eye, but when you've been awake for 20 or more hours, even a vinyl chair can look like bed. I've had success using the Guide to Sleeping at Airports to help me find the least uncomfortable options when I need to overnight at an airport.

Related: 10 Tips for Sleeping Safely at the Airport

Know Your Airport Amenities: As airlines cut down on basic amenities, many airports are increasing theirs, offering stranded passengers nearly pleasant ways to pass the time. Airports offer everything from yoga rooms to exercise bikes, and from napping pods to showers and spas. 

Related: Airport Amenities That Make Everything Better

Find a Fun Activity: Giant slides, butterfly gardens, movie theaters, behind-the-scenes tours—airports around the world offer unexpected, and totally fun, ways to pass the time. Download your airport's app or check its website to see if it has any quirky offerings.

Related: 10 Surprisingly Cool Airport Attractions

(Photo: Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images)

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Canada eases rules for Mexican travelers Electronic Travel Authorization will be extended to Mexico next year

News

Canada eases rules for Mexican travelers

Electronic Travel Authorization will be extended to Mexico next year

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Mexico News Daily | Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Mexican authorities have welcomed the relaxation of entry rules for Mexican citizens traveling to Canada.

The Canadian government announced yesterday in its annual budget that Mexico and three other countries will be included under the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program.  Mexicans who are in possession of a United States visa or have had a Canadian visa in the past can apply online for the eTA and avoid having to apply for a visa. The option will be available in 2016.

The Foreign Affairs Secretariat welcomed yesterday’s announcement, which comes six years after Canada decided to require Mexican visitors to obtain a visa.

The new rule is a fundamental step toward elimination of the visa requirement, said the secretariat in a statement, observing that it comes as a result of diplomatic dialogue and the development of a deeper relationship between the two countries in the last two years.

However, the relationship wasn’t deep enough that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper thought it necessary to go ahead with the so-called “Three Amigos” summit in February. Canada postponed the meeting of the leaders of Mexico, Canada and the United States.

That decision has been blamed largely on the poor relationship between Canada and the U.S. as a result of the Keystone oil pipeline, which has been rejected by President Barack Obama. But the visa issue has been a serious source of concern for Mexican officials and it, too, has soured the relationship between the two countries.

In Canada there has been speculation that the postponement was due to concerns that Harper’s Conservative party might pay a price at the polls in the October federal election if there were a public spat with the U.S. and Mexico.

But it does send a message, says former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Michael Kergin.

“It indicates obviously with two of your large trading partners that you don’t have a very solid relationship. You can’t find things positive to talk about.”

Sources: Milenio (sp), Ottawa Citizen (en)

- See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/canada-eases-rules-for-mexican-travelers/?utm_source=Mexico+News+Daily&utm_campaign=7b72c24332-Apr.+23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f1536a3787-7b72c24332-348153685#sthash.XuEGYKDD.dpuf

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World's best beach holidays (that don't involve resorts)

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Last updated Wed Apr 22 22:29:26 UTC 2015

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TRACEY EATON/TNS

Once touted as "Mexico's last nude beach," Zipolite, along the southern coast of Oaxaca, now has more gawkers than those choosing to go au naturel.

There are beaches, and there are beach resorts. They might sound as if they go together like airports and boredom, like LAX and a pat-down – you could easily think that if you wanted to spend a week by the sand you'd have to spend it in a huge hotel with a buffet breakfast and a kids club. But that doesn't have to be the case.

Some of us don't like resort life. I'm not a fan of lying by pools and I don't really like huge crowds of tourists, so the idea of a week in a beach resort is not ideal. I'd rather be in a city with more things to do, or hanging out in a tiny place where you can imagine you're there on your own. But I still want sun and sand.

If you feel the same way, if you'd rather avoid the resorts but still spend a holiday by the beach, then you need to go to one of these places.

Itacare, Brazil
Itacare, up in the northern state of Bahia, is postcard Brazil. It's all the cliches you'd be picturing right now: palm trees lining white-sand beaches, dreadlocked surfer dudes running back and forth into the water, guys playing football, girls strolling up and down the shoreline, little shacks selling coconuts and caipirinhas. Itacare is a beautifully quite, locals-only beach town that is the perfect place in which to get stuck for far too long.

San Sebastian, Spain
This is perhaps the ultimate city beach town, a place where you get the choice of spending time during the day on one of two patches of sand: Playa de la Concha, a beautiful sheltered bay that abuts some of San Sebastian's more expensive holiday apartments, or Playa Zurriola, a surf beach with great waves and access to far cheaper accommodation. The distance between these two beaches? About a 10-minute walk. And once the sun goes down you get to hang out in the best city for nightlife in Europe.

JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/Reuters

Tourists relax at Bocagrande beach in Cartagena.

Zipolite, Mexico

This little coastal town in the state of Oaxaca is many things, but crowded it ain't. You'll be lucky to see more than 20 or 30 people on its long stretch of sand at any one time. It's something of a hippy gathering place, Zipolite, one of the few beaches in Mexico where clothing is optional, but it's also a favourite holiday spot for local Mexicans who like to combine their beach-going with a cheap bungalow and a few basic restaurants under the trees. 

Armacao de Pera, Portugal
Sometimes this little place in the Algarve region can feel a bit resorty, in that the beaches are dominated by rent-a-brollies and everyone seems to be on holidays. But it's nowhere near as busy as nearby Albufeira, and still retains plenty of its Portuguese nature (as opposed to having restaurants that sell full English breakfasts and curry chips). Here you can still feast on beachside churros while watching the fishing boats come in with their daily catch.

Taormina, Italy
If you could possibly pick a downside to staying in this Sicilian village, it's that the beach isn't exactly sandy: it's more a collection of smooth stones. But it's what surrounds those stony shores that makes Taormina so great: an old mountain village brimming with culture; the stunning Isola Bella perched out there in the Mediterranean, and the sort of views of Mount Etna that will have you racing back to the hotel to grab the camera. Also there are shops selling granita, which is an icy dessert that's sort of a halfway point between gelato and a milkshake, served with brioche. Trust me: you want to try that.

Kamakura, Japan
You may not immediately associate Japan with beach holidays, and that's understandable. This is a place you'd normally go to for mountains and metropolises. But venture about 50 kilometres south of Tokyo and you'll find Kamakura, a small town that was once the seat of the Japanese Shogunate, but is now a pleasant seaside village with a number of great beaches on one side, and forests strewn with ancient temples and shrines on the other. Oh, and on a clear day there are views all the way to Mount Fuji. Find me a resort that can compete with that.

123RF

Playa de La Concha in San Sebastian, with Mount Igueldo and Isla Cristina in the background.

Cartagena, Colombia

There are two sides to this beautiful Colombian city. If it's culture you crave, then you should be going straight to the old colonial town, a walled area filled with historic old buildings, bustling plazas, bars, restaurants and museums. When the need for sun and sand takes hold, head over the Bocagrande, Colombia's answer to Surfers Paradise, a place of modern holiday apartments set next to long stretches of beachy paradise. Just ensure you book your accommodation in the old town – because, well, the Surfers Paradise thing.

Baddeck, Canada

The water might be a bit chilly in Nova Scotia, in the far east of Canada, but that's more than made up for my the natural beauty that surrounds it. Set at the beginning of the famous Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Baddeck is an old fishing town filled with historic buildings and restaurants serving locally caught lobster. You're not going to catch any waves here, but it is the perfect location for sailers or those just keen to cruise around on calm waters. It's a beach town for people who don't really like beach towns.

- Traveller

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Casa Vista D'Oro Airbnb A small boutique hotel, located in beautiful, funky Zipolite. Each room has a king size bed, en suite, and there is an infinity pool. We serve a continental ...

Casa Vista D'Oro

Airbnb

A small boutique hotel, located in beautiful, funky Zipolite. Each room has a king size bed, en suite, and there is an infinity pool. We serve a continental ...

Casa Vista D'Oro

Zipolite, Oaxaca, México   

    

    

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