Showing posts with label flight delay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flight delay. Show all posts

Thursday, 26 February 2015

#TRAVEX #layover chat on Twitter

The many participants in the #TRAVEX layovers Twitter chat!
We were thrilled to be invited to join in on a Twitter chat yesterday with the #TRAVEX community of travel enthusiasts. The topic was... layovers!

These are the questions the #TRAVEX chat covered:
  • Q1: How do you keep yourself entertained during a layover?
  • Q2: Airports can be a nightmare. What’s your worst layover story?
  • Q3: Tell us about a fun layover.
  • Q4: If you could get stuck in any city in the world which one would you choose? Why?
  • Q5: Have you ever planned for a layover? What did you do?
  • Q6: Have you ever made friends with a fellow traveler during a Layover?
As we had only 30 minutes, it was a very lively discussion, and lots of tips, tricks and resources were shared.

To read the transcripts and read through the responses, stories and ideas, check out the #TRAVEX 2015-02-25 Recap transcript.

Related resources:
Looking for Love on a Layover
Go for a Run? Go Sightseeing? Why Not Do Both?
Get Cooking on Your Layover: Europe
Carpe Diem: Day Trips from Rome
Layover Ideas for the World's Worst Airports

Saturday, 14 February 2015

Looking for Love on a Layover

Aeroparque, Bs As
Heart sculpture at an airport in Buenos Aires
It seems that travellers are avoiding boredom by doing more than eating, drinking, exercising and checking their email on their airport layovers.... Some are having more fun. A LOT more fun...

Did you catch this post on the Sleeping In Airports blog?

Oh my!

MeetAtTheAirport.com helps you find love on a layover
Consider this story on Travel+Leisure:

Woman Embarks on Quest for Love—Without Leaving the Airport

Here's the story from when Meet at the Airport first launched:

Finding Love On A Layover Right At Your Fingertips

It's an interesting proposition, so to speak.

What do you think? Would you? Have you? Would you admit it?

Don't worry, it's ok, you don't have to tell us. But have fun reading about what others are doing. And if you see a couple sneak into a broom closet at the airport, yes, it probably is what you think it is!

Related resources:
Love at first flight: tales of travel romance
10 tactics to meet the man or woman of your dreams at the airport
Best airports to make a connection
Lasting connections: love at the airport
Layover, the Film - movie about finding love on a LAX airport layover

Sunday, 14 September 2014

Rock Your Layover: San Juan

Old San Juan
Old San Juan oozes charm
Creative Commons image bz3rk on Flickr
Have a layover coming up in historic San Juan? Wondering what you could do with your time? Here's a little inspiration.

We've gathered the following resources - tips, stories and layover ideas - to help you get the most out of your time here.

In a nutshell:
Puerto Rico is one of the Greater Antilles Islands in the Caribbean. If you are flying or cruising via San Juan, you may very well find yourself with a long layover here (very common!).
Free:Self-Guided Walking Tour of Old San Juan
Unique:Rio Camuy Cave Park and Arecibo Observatory from San Juan
Picks:Architectural Tour Old San Juan
Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Half-Day Tour
Scenic Horseback-Riding Tour from Old San Juan
Shop:7 Shopping Tips in San Juan
Where to Go Shopping in San Juan
See:No city pass is available
Hop:The San Juan Trolley is free and operates on 3 routes in Old San Juan. Or try the bus.
Do:San Juan Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in San Juan
Eat:The Best Foods of Puerto Rico
San Juan Restaurants - listings and reviews on VirtualTourist
Secrets of Espresso: Coffee Tasting Tour in Old San Juan
San Juan Drive Around Lunch Tour
Tips:Anthony Bourdain No Reservations: San Juan
Sightseeing Tours in San Juan
Things to Do in San Juan Port - tips for cruise visitors
What to do with 48 hours in San Juan
Watch:National Geographic: Old San Juan
Travel Channel: Explore Old San Juan
Look:Pinterest: Foodie's Paradise in Old San Juan
World Atlas: Old San Juan Photos
Read:San Juan, Puerto Rico on Amazon.com
To/from the airport:San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
Good to know:While Spanish is the official language, English is commonly spoken. The official currency is the US Dollar (Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States).
Tourist info:San Juan, Puerto Rico Tourist Information
Created with the HTML Table Generator

Related resources:

Sunday, 8 June 2014

Rock Your Layover: Dubai

Stunning and unique Dubai
creative commons image w4nd3rl0st on Flickr
Have a layover coming up in Dubai? Wondering what you could do with your time? Here's a little inspiration.

We've gathered the following resources - tips, stories and layover ideas - to help you get the most out of your time here.

In a nutshell:
creative commons image
kaiban on Flickr
Dubai is a desert city with superb infrastructure and excellent amenities. Situated just 3-5 hours from most of the Middle East, Near East, India and Europe, Dubai makes a great short break for shopping, sun, sports and more.
Free:Best Free Things To Do in Dubai
30 Free Things To Do In Dubai
Unique:1001 Arabian Stars Overnight Safari
Picks:4x4 Dubai Desert Safari
Half-day Camel-Trekking Desert Safari
Abu Dhabi Seaplane Flight from Dubai Including Ferrari World
Shop:Dubai Shopping Tour
See:City Card Dubai or Dubai IVenture Attraction Pass
Hop:Dubai Hop On Hop Off Bus
Do:Dubai Layover Ideas & Stuff to do in Dubai
Eat:The 50 Best Things We've Eaten in Dubai
Tips:Dubai: 10 Things To Do
Anthony Bourdain No Reservations: Dubai
Watch:YouTube: Dubai The Greatest Layover Ever
Look:Pinterest: Dubai 100 Best Photos
Read:Dubai on Amazon.com
To/from the airport:Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC)
Good to know:Sandboarding in DubaiA note of caution: The United Arab Emirates might seem relaxed but the laws are very different from Western countries and are strictly enforced.
A kiss in public, an alcoholic drink in the wrong place or even losing your temper could land you in jail.
GBLT travellers should be particularly careful as homosexuality is a criminal offense with possible deportation. Avoid all public displays of affection.
Women should avoid revealing outfits.
Learn more: Rules of a Dubai Stopover
Tourist info:Definitely Dubai
Created with the HTML Table Generator

Related resources:

Tuesday, 13 May 2014

A Little Privacy During Your Airport Sleepover

Layover Innovation: RESMO
You can write on your iPad in relative privacy at the airport with RESMO
(Image copyright Red Dot)

Before you say, "I'd never use one of those!" or "Who would lug one of those around, even if it does fold up small?", listen to the concept behind the RESMO design.

Picture a large airport, a hub for many airlines, filling up with people during a weather delay: departing flights don't, arriving flights are grounded, and passengers keep arriving on the faint hope that maybe their flight will take off. It doesn't take long for every seat to fill, then every carpeted spot, then just anywhere with a wall to lean against, then finally the middle of the floor. And people are miserable.

If you've been there, you know what we're talking about.

Many large airports (thankfully) have folding cots that they bring out in these situations, but they are limited in their functionality (aka flat). Great for lying down, but not so great for sitting, lounging, writing, reading or just hanging out, killing time until things get moving again.

What if those cots were more flexible (allowing different configurations), offered just a bit of privacy (no, you can't read over my shoulder!), absorbed some sound (special cushions) and provided a bit of cheer (I want an orange one!).

RESMO adds a little comfort and privacy to the discomfort of the airport layover
(Image copyright Red Dot)
Airports could benefit from just how flat the RESMO folds, making for easy storage. And distribution would be easy: the RESMO is lightweight enough for each passenger to tuck one under their arm, find a comfortable spot and configure their airport camp to their liking.

The semi-private airport camp cot concept was dreamed up by designer Ko Chien-Hui when she was a student at Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weisensee. The result, RESMO, won her international acclaim when she was recognized with the Red Dot Award Design Concept 2014.

We love it, and thought you would too. Now all we have to do is convince airport executives around the world to make the investment. Hey, we're looking at you [insert name of your most dreaded layover airport here].

You can write love letters on your iPad in relative peace with RESMO
(Image copyright Red Dot)
It could all lead to a new kind of people-watching: observing how different people set up their RESMO and what they are doing. Oh, no, wait, you just might not be able to see... Which is the whole point!


Sources worth following: @airportsleeper@designtaxi, @leahgonz@PSFK, @reddot@smowblog, @yankodesign

Related resources:
Layover ideas: