Nine hours in Charles de Gaulle Airport. Eight hours in Heathrow Airport. Six hours in Narita International Airport. Books, laptop, people watching and too many hours wasted.
This is how I used to spend countless layovers flying back and to from the States. Too afraid to leave the terminal, I played out a million mishaps in my mind and came up with another million excuses to stay put. “I won’t get back in time and I will miss my flight. I have too much carry-on luggage to haul it all around a city for a few hours. I hate going through security again, and I know TSA won’t allow me to bring something onboard I bought.” Blah. Blah. Blah.
How to enjoy layovers
This last trip from the U.S. back to Switzerland, I found a great deal on the ticket. Only issue was two long layovers in between. I would fly from Atlanta to Toronto where I would have a six-hour layover. After an all-night flight from Toronto to Reykjavík, I would have an eight-hour layover before making it to my final destination of Paris.
Tired of missing opportunities to see wonderful new locations, I decided I would take the chance and go out exploring instead of reading the entire latest novel in one sitting in a noisy and uncomfortable terminal like I have so many times before.
Layover in Toronto
I first started researching what I could do and how I would get from the airport to the city. I planned to meet a friend in downtown Toronto for a quick drink in between her meetings. She sent me a link to the Toronto Airport Express shuttle service, and I was able to book transportation to and from the city for just about $40.
As I’m usually moving all of my belongings not in storage in between these U.S. to overseas flights, I typically travel with as much carry-on baggage as I can physically handle. This gets really heavy. As one of the reasons I hadn’t gone out during layovers before was the drag this baggage caused, I researched and found a storage facility at the airport. Due to stricter regulations since Sept. 11, 2001, many American transportation hubs no longer allow lockers like European airports and train stations. Canada, though it doesn’t have lockers, does allow for in-store storage facilities. Inside of the Travel Store on the Departure levels of Terminals 1 and 3, you can pay about $5/piece and store your carry-on luggage all day.
The shuttle picked me up at Arrivals at the Pearson International Airport, and I had seven different convenient locations in downtown to get off. I chose the Sheraton Centre where I was meeting my friend. The ride into the city took about 40 minutes, and there was free WiFi available aboard the shuttle so I could do some work.
As I had a couple of hours before I was scheduled to meet my friend, I had the chance to walk around the downtown area and snap some photos. This was my first visit to Toronto, and I really enjoyed the convenience of walking around downtown. Amidst all the skyscrapers and shopping, there were green spaces to enjoy the sunny afternoon.
After drinks with my friend, the shuttle picked me right back up at the Sheraton Centre. Getting on and off the bus, you just need to show your e-ticket to the driver. The flexibility of the ticket is great, too, since you don’t have to be at an exact location or time to catch the shuttle. Just follow the schedule provided at any of the seven drop-off/pick-up locations and you can catch the shuttle.
The only problem I ran into was the terrible Toronto traffic. Airport Express estimated about 45 minutes to one hour to get to and from the airport, but on the way back it took almost two hours as it was around rush-hour (I caught the 5:40 p.m. shuttle back) and there was heavy construction. The company does advise that you give yourself three hours at the airport before your flight, and since I did this, I was covered even with the delay. The driver was also very informative telling people getting on that there would be a delay.
Though going through security again was annoying, it wasn’t too bad. I made sure anything I had with me was allowed by TSA standards. The inconvenience was worth the time spent exploring something else other than the airport Starbucks.
Layover in Reykjavík
As I had never been to Iceland before, I was most excited about my layover at the Keflavik International Airport. After researching some travel blogs, I quickly learned that this airport was one of the nicest designed in the world. With its many art sculptures throughout and a nice green space right outside of the terminal, I now agree. My only complaint about the airport was I couldn’t find many plugins in the waiting areas.
I booked a day excursion through Reykjavik Excursions to the Blue Lagoon Thermal Spa. Powered by geothermal seawater 2,000 meters below the surface, the lagoons are a great place to refresh after an all-night flight. For the general admission into the spa, you can swim in a 6-million-liter pool pumped full of the health-beneficial seawater, give yourself a facial with the silica-enriched mud naturally produced throughout the lagoon, and enjoy steam baths and saunas. For additional costs, you can receive an in-water massage in the lagoon, other spa services such as pedicures and manicures, and shop at specialty stores that sell the exclusive line of skincare products made by the natural minerals only found in the lagoon.
For about $80, Reykjavik Excursions picked me up from the airport on a tour bus equipped with free WiFi and this also included general admission to the Blue Lagoon Thermal Spa. I just had to exchange my e-ticket for my admission ticket at the Reykjavik Excursions booth on the Departures lower level at the airport.
This ticket requires you to be on your time-scheduled bus. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the airport to the lagoon. Once there, show your admission ticket at the entrance and receive your bracelet to use your complimentary locker in the changing room. With my larger carry-on baggage, I purchased the use of a large locker at the lagoon to store my belongings for about $10.
After I finished swimming, spending some time in the sauna and steam bath, eating lunch at the cafe, and making some purchases at the gift shop, I caught the bus back to the airport. The return trip does not need to be at a specific time with the company, but there is a schedule where the bus comes about once a hour in the summer months.
Where is your next layover?
My mini-excursions of Toronto and the Blue Lagoon Thermal Spa were the perfect rest stops for long layovers. Not only do you pay more with direct flights, but you can miss the opportunity of fitting in mini-trips into your overall travel. From now on, I will only travel with layovers in between so I can enjoy even more adventures. What are some of your ideas for perfect layovers?
-Monica
