Rock Your Layover: Almaty

Kok Tobe Mountain, seen from Almaty

Have a layover coming up in Almaty, Kazakhstan? Wondering what you might be able to do with your time?

Here's a little inspiration. We've gathered the following stories from those who have experienced a layover in Almaty. Learn what they did, if it was worth it, and their tips.

• Almaty: number one greatest city in all of Kazakhstan! - Life in the Layover
• Arrival in Almaty - Journal Wunelle
• Almaty Layover - Journal Wunelle
• Almaty or Not, Here I Come - Almaty or Not
• Spin the Globe: John T. Edge Tries Horse Meat, Camel’s Milk in Kazakhstan
• Welcome to Almaty - Almaty Expat
• Top 15 things to do in Almaty on a layover - Mighty Travels
• Review: Museum of Folk Music Instruments - maycal on VirtualTourist*

* this reviewer has several good reviews of Almaty sights on Virtual Tourist

Top 10 Tours
Prefer to pre-plan? Here are our top picks.
1. The Best of Almaty with Green Bazaar
2. The Best of Almaty with Medeo Dam
3. Almaty Mountain Surroundings Tour
4. The Charyn Canyon Tour
5. Almaty City Tour
6. Almaty Today Walking Tour
7. Tamgaly Tas on Ili River with Petroglyphs
8. Tamgaly Petroglyphs Private Tour
9. Almaty City Private Tour
10. Private Almaty Grand Tour

FREE ALMATY
A few freebies...
FREE walking tours, every Saturday! - Almaty Smart Tourism (great photos!)
FREE "robot" walking tour: Recent past of Almaty - Almaty Smart Tourism**
FREE "robot" walking tour: Old Center of Almaty - Almaty Smart Tourism
FREE "robot" tour of Museum of D.Kunayev - Almaty Smart Tourism
**These "robot" tours are via a smartphone app (rentals available)

Getting Out and About in Almaty
Almaty International Airport (ALA) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
Taking Public Transportation in Almaty, Kazakhstan - Wanderlusty

At the Airport
Prefer to stay at the airport? There's not a lot to do...
Almaty Airport Terminal Map
Services at Almaty Airport - IHateTaxis
Almaty Airport Review - Traveladept


Related resources
Reasons to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan – one of my fave cities - KAMI & the Rest of the World
Almaty and Astana are just out of this world - The Independent
Walking Almaty - Walking Almaty
Fitness in Almaty - Almaty Expat
Top 10 things to do in Almaty - Goats on the Road
Famous Danish Architect to Help Redesign Almaty - Kazakhworld
Kazakhstan visa requirements - Carivanistan
Almaty Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Almaty - LayoverIdeas

Rock Your Layover: Philadelphia

Have a layover coming up in Philadelphia? Wondering what you could do with your time?

Here's a little inspiration. We've gathered the following stories from those who have experienced a layover in Philly. Learn what they did, if it was worth it, and their tips.

• 24-Hour Philadelphia Stopover - McCool Travel
• 24-Hour Philadelphia Stopover - Part 2 - McCool Travel
• A Layover in Philly - Geeky Explorers
• How to Nail a Layover (in Philadelphia) - Emma Sothern Travel
• 24-Hour Layover: Philadelphia - City of Brotherly Love - NBC
• Long Layover? It's Okay (in Philadelphia) - Finding Linh
• 6 hours in Philadelphia - Tips for Family Trips

Top 10 Tours
Prefer to pre-plan? Here are our top picks.
1. Benjamin Franklin Walking Tour of Philadelphia
2. Founding Fathers Tour of Philadelphia
3. Segway Cheesesteak Tour in Philadelphia
5. Philadelphia Happy Hour Pub Crawl
6. Philadelphia CityPass
7. One Liberty Observation Deck or skip-the-line with the Lightning Pass
8. Philadelphia Museum of Art General Admission
9. Independence Seaport Museum Admission
10. Philadelphia Hop-on Hop-off Bus options
Bonus: Private City of Philadelphia Driving Tour

FREE Philly
A few freebies...
FREE running tours - Philadelphia Running Tours
FREE self-guided walking tour - National Geographic
FREE walking tours - Free Tours By Foot Philadelphia
Top 10 FREE Philadelphia Attractions - Visit Philly
31 Totally FREE Things to Do in Philadelphia - Thrillist

At the Airport
Prefer to stay at the airport? There's lots to do...
Philadelphia Airport Layovers: The Best Way to Spend Them - Wendy Perrin
Workout While You Wait at Philadelphia Airport - NBC
Have a Layover? Hit the Library (at Philadelphia Airport) - In Transit

Related resources
America's Oldest Street (in Philadelphia) - Final Transit
10 Reasons to Visit Philly You've Never Heard Before - Oyster
Philadelphia Episode: The Layover With Anthony Bourdain
Philadelphia Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Philadelphia
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) transportation guide

Travel gear: anti-pickpocket pants

Keep an eye on your wallet as you read this... and not just metaphorically. Though if you are on a layover as you are reading this, you could end up spending a bit if you kill time online shopping...

Clothing Arts Pickpocket-proof pants

Who doesn't want to foil the pickpockets? You do, especially if you are travelling to Europe. Clothing Arts has some cool new gear to help - here are a couple of reviews:

Reviewed on The Gadgeteer: Clothing Arts P^cubed Pick-Pocket Proof Travel Pants - this review is thorough, with lots of close-up pictures. It will probably answer your questions before you ask them.

Reviewed on Johnny Jet: Travel Product of the Week: Pickpocket-Proof Pants - Johnny's review of whether the pants will help you give would-be pickpocketers the slip.


Bluff Works Pickpocket-proof pants

Reviewed on the Gadegeteer: Comfortable, pickpocket-resistant pants for work or travel - a review of a competing product, made by Bluff Works.


Related resources
Travel gear reviews - Calculated Traveller
10 worst cities in the world for pickpockets - Escape Here
How pickpockets work - How Stuff works
Outsmarting pickpockets and thieves - Rick Steves
Travel with a money belt: your portable safe - Rick Steves
8 travel gear blogs you should be reading