Eye On Travel: Take a Break - Buy One Holiday, Get One (almost) Free

Cabin Fever: Take a Break

Long Haul holidays are fantastic. But you have to get there. It’s a long way and a lot of sitting down. If you need to connect on the way, highlights include bleary eyed trips to the Duty Free, time zone confusion and security checks.

It needn’t be this way. Why not leave the airport and enjoy a mini city break before continuing your journey? Some airlines even offer special deals to entice you off the flight. Let’s look at some of the most popular stopovers that give you a holiday within a holiday!

Dubai: The Burj al Khalifa

Emirates have just won the best airline in the world award for 2016. With a vast network, you will end up flying with them sooner rather than later.

Flights operate via their Dubai hub, a city of vast shopping complexes (where you can go skiing), the world’s tallest building (Burj al Khalifa) and mega bling hotels. There’s even an old town. Dubai Creek is what Dubai used to be like with souks rather than skyscrapers. Get ready to haggle.

The Emirati Alps: Watch out Courcheval!

Enjoy top restaurants and nightlife or take a 4x4 trip to the desert for a contrasting experience. The beaches are not bad either but it’s doubtful you will have time for them.

HOW: Fly Emirates from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester or Newcastle to Asia, Africa, islands of the Indian Ocean, Middle East or Australasia

Bangkok: Wat Arun

If you are heading to amazing Thailand, then the chances are you will pass through Bangkok as this is the main entry point. Resist the urge to head straight for the beach and take a few days to explore the energy of the Thai capital. Fusing old and new with a unique cultural identity and great value prices.

The Grand Palace- eclipses the Crystal Palace

Enjoy the Grand Palace, the massage school at the Wat Pho temple (£10/hour) and a trip along the Chao Phraya river. Follow this with the best local food, a cocktail in the Vertigo sky bar and nightlife to suit all tastes.

HOW: Thai Airways, EVA Air and British Airways fly to Bangkok from Heathrow. Onward connections to the exotic islands await.

New York: The Empire State

If you are heading West to the USA or South America, then you may have to change at one of the US hubs. Some are more appealing than others, Miami rather than Detroit for example but an evergreen favourite (as long as you don’t think about the prices in Sterling) is the original apple, New York. You have to clear immigration (and get an electronic visa) just to change planes, so you might as well get off.

Freedom: The new Manhattan skyline

Choose from the Empire State, the Freedom Tower, Central Park, Wall Street, Times Square. How long do you have? Eat as much as you like/can and enjoy a show on Broadway. Nightlife is comprehensive. Just remember to bring a coat if you are on a November trip to the Caribbean!

HOW: American/British Airways and Delta/Virgin have hubs at JFK and United is at Newark. Connections to all the Americas go from here.

Singapore: Raffles

For those doing the ultimate trip to Australia or New Zealand then breaking up a 24 hour journey is highly sensible. Where better than Singapore, a futuristic city where everything works with it’s cultural heritage also still in evidence. Shop till you drop, eat till you burst and hunt the Happy Hours if you want to have any money left over..

Culture Clash: Skyscrapers & Vomiting Lions

Enjoy the views from the rooftop Marina Bay Hotel, take a river cruise through the city, have a Sling at Raffles and leave enough time to enjoy Changi airport - really, it could be a destination in itself and is consistently voted the world’s best.

HOW: Singapore airlines unsurprisingly are based here with onward connections to Asia and Australasia. British Airways also stop here.

Changi Airport T1

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website.

For tailor made packages including any of the places featured above or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. All holidays that I arrange are ABTA/ATOL protected.

For holidays to Thailand, please visit my dedicated website: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk and visit the Facebook page of the same name for current offers.