The modern-day airport has everything: nail and hair salons, showers, relaxation rooms and great shopping. With more people flying than ever (the UK aviation sector is reportedly worth over £52 billion) there have been great improvements to air travel in recent years, but for frequent flyers nothing can dispel the dread of the ‘stopover’. The hours between flights in a new city can feel disorientating and often wasteful as time is spent waiting in, rather than exploring, a new city.
The Regency Bar, New York
Recognising a gap in the travel market, hotels in the world’s most popular stopover spots have created packages for those with limited time but the desire to make the most of it. For people traveling on business, The Dylan in Amsterdam offers a special one night package including complimentary networking events, overnight shirt pressing and an express check in and check out service to make business travel as stress-free as possible. Those with more time can explore Amsterdam on one of The Dylan’s private bikes and then relax with a glass of seasonal wine carefully selected by the hotel’s chef.
If passing through New York, relax and restore before your next flight with the Loews Regency pampering package. Enjoy two cocktails at The Regency Bar as well as a reviving spa session at Julian Farel’s salon in midtown Manhattan. Available until 31 December, this is a perfect Christmas treat to ease the strain of travel.
Along with airports, airplane food has become somewhat less alarming in recent years but those in need of a meal that doesn’t consist of creamy mushrooms, should take advantage of the stopover. Baur Au Lac in Zurich provides the perfect remedy to hunger pangs with their afternoon tea boasting homemade scones, pastries and sandwiches in the beautiful setting of the hotel’s Le Hall. Follow with an amble by the lake for a bit of fresh air between flights.
Baur Au Lac, Zürish
If you’re paying a fleeting visit to Paris and want to cram in some culture during your time in the city, The Peninsula Hotel has a carefully selected range of tickets for on-going exhibitions. Forget the queues for the Louvre, choose from the Picasso Mania, Yves Saint-Laurent or Vivre pour l’Art. The Peninsula promises to show you the best of the city of lights and get you back in time for your next flight.
One thing we all have to battle with during air travel, alongside the busy airports, hours of waiting, and suspect food is the dreaded jetlag. When you’ve already travelled for days and work awaits you at the other end, the stress of getting no sleep can overwhelm even the most seasoned traveller. The Peninsula Bangkok understand that sometimes all one needs from a stopover is a good nights sleep. In its jet lag remedy package, it provides guests with a range of means to maximise their sleep; including a jet lag eliminator massage, musical therapy, a health and wellness consultation and yoga. The team at The Peninsula promise guests invaluable rest and a sense of wellbeing before their onward journey.
For many people, air travel is more that just a means to an end. It’s a way of life, a full time job and a constant companion. In a world where time is more important than ever, make the most of yours with these hotels’ special stopover packages.
Written by Jenny Greenwood
