And number five might surprise you…
Airports – they’re almost a state of mind. For some, they get the butterflies going deep inside because that’s when you really know you’re going on holiday. Others go with the ‘it’s beer/wine/gin o’clock somewhere’ mentality, which means their travels have already begun once they arrive.
But others truly dread them, while others just see them as a quicker alternative to boats. Airports can definitely be fun, but some are a lot more bearable than others. Here, especially for those of you who fall into the latter two camps, are five which fall under the radar but are well worth using as a kickoff or glorious ending to a trip.
Incheon International, South Korea
When it comes to the Far East, names like Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai probably spring to mind. But that’s precisely one of the main aims of this list; to show you alternatives that you may not have considered but which are arguably better. With a host of luxurious amenities, including a spa, driving range and ice-rink just for starters, it’s pretty fair to say this first entry is a great example.
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi
Yes we know, Italy had to figure somewhere, but don’t let any hint of Early Whistle bias put you off. This airport is like a mini-me of the city itself, with food and fashion – but especially food – being the name of the game. The ristorante on the first floor of departures offers some of the best pizza you’ll ever taste, complete with an authentic stone-bake oven in full view. The best thing is, this airport’s a ten-minute metro ride from the city centre, ensuring a transfer so seamless you’ll feel as if you’ve never left.
Juan Santamaria International, San José
It’s a tropical paradise for our fourth entry, and while this might be Costa Rica’s only major airport, they certainly made sure it was a good one. Naturally, this has been designed with American holidaymakers (or should that be vacationers) in mind. There’s a shopping mall where you can buy everything from duty free to GoPro gear, cuddly toys to costume jewellery, right down to a sports bar with TVs encircling the top.
Indira Gandhi International, New Delhi
Much like Bologna, this airport tries to transplant a taste of the land itself, and it pulls this off in spades! Now, it wouldn’t be a truly Indian experience without cricket, right? That’s where the airport version of the Delhi Daredevils store comes into play. There’s souvenirs celebrating one of the IPL’s biggest and best franchises, plus a bar where you can watch matches unfold, but if cricket’s not your thing, how about a traditional Hindustani band playing some classical sitar-based tunes? Now that’s entertainment.
London Stansted
Actually 42 miles/68 kilometres northeast of the capital, in Essex, this compact airport packs enough of a punch to more than rival Heathrow and Gatwick. Bars, restaurants and clothes shops are numerous and provide a mix so eclectic that there’s no chance you’ll be bored. The fact that the most popular pub here, The Windmill, happens to be a JD Wetherspoon’s might not be enticing to everyone, but the windows on the top floor make for great plane watching. How many ‘Spoons can say that?
Any airports you’ve visited that have provided a stellar start (or finish) to a trip? Get posting your comments below.
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