A stopover is the best way to fly to two cities for the cost of one. A practice of many airlines in Europe and the Gulf states, the stopover is basically a super extended layover. You book your departure from home to your destination with the anticipation that you will have a stop midway at a major airport hub. Of course, you’re acquainted with this concept, but imagine leaving the airport at your midpoint, booking a hotel and spending multiple days, even a week, in that major city – this, essentially, is a stopover. 

The practice hasn’t been adopted by airlines in the U.S., but internationally, where airline competition is stiff, enticing passengers to spend time in another destination before heading on, is a long-time business strategy. Some carriers will even offer deals on travel packages and accommodations in their home hubs.

For example, Turkish Airlines offers day-long tours of Istanbul and two nights free in a four or five star hotel. Star Alliance allows you to plan stopovers in multiple cities. The company’s Round the World program allows you to see multiple countries on one airline ticket. You can fly with the carrier group’s nearly 30 participating airlines. If you’re interested in scoping out stopover opportunities, check out the websites of long-haul international carriers.

And although airlines in the U.S. haven’t yet embraced the stopover, you can still take advantage of long layovers at hubs in the center of big cities, where you can easily and quickly get to interesting destinations. Some of the best options in the U.S. include Boston Logan International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport.

But first, some practical details to keep in mind while planning a stopover. If you only have an afternoon to kill, a short stopover in a cool city is still worth it. But be sure to be aware of the locality’s COVID restrictions. Also, keep in mind that you will have to recheck your bag before you go through customs and immigration for your connecting flight. Of course, you will also have to go through a security checkpoint when you return to the airport, so factor in total wait time and the walk to your gate.  And because travel anywhere in the world is an investment, check out how travel insurance benefits by Allianz Global Assistance can help you protect expenses paid toward your trip, as well as your belongings and health, in the event of covered emergencies and delays. 

Here are the details on some of the world’s best stopovers, in terms of flexibility and deals.

Airline: Icelandair 

Stopover city: Reykjavik, Iceland

Icelandair has one of the world’s premiere stopover programs. Explore Iceland’s capital and the surrounding country on a stopover spanning one to seven days. Icelandair has suggested itineraries for however long you plan to stay in the Land of Fire and Ice. If you only have a day, book a trip through the airline to visit the Blue Lagoon, minutes from Keflavik Airport. The warm, blue water, natural mineral salts and algae soothe the body and give an other-worldly experience. There are hourly bus departures from the airport and back. If you have the leisure of spending a few days in Iceland, rent a car and head south to take in some of the country’s most beautiful natural sites. Stand in awe above the vast flow and canyons under the Gullfoss Falls. Check visiting a UNESCO World Heritage site off your list with a visit to Thingvellir National Park.

Airline: Qatar Airways 

Stopover city: Doha, Qatar

Stay in this cosmopolitan, desert paradise for up to four days without a visa if you’re traveling through Hamad International Airport via Qatar Airways. The airline has partnered with a number of luxury hotels to offer rates as low as $23 a night. Visit cultural sites such as the Jean Nouvel designed National Museum of Qatar or Souq Waqif, a traditional open-air bazaar, where you can find spices, perfumes, clothes and other wares, and experience an authentic Qatari meal. Take in art or a show at the classical amphitheater at Katara Cultural Village, an architecturally beautiful arts complex located along the Persian Gulf. 

Airline: TAP Portugal 

Stopover Cities: Lisbon and Porto

Search #PortugalStopover and you’ll be lured by sunny, cliff-lined beaches, and the bustle of Lisbon and Porto. Explore both cities on a stopover of up to five days, with hotel discounts offered by TAP Portugal, and free bottles of Portuguese wine at partner restaurants. And be sure to get a Lisbon Card for free access to museums and other deals. Explore the winding streets of Lisbon’s historic Alfama district, dating to the Moors of Africa. Stroll along the Cais da Ribeira, a beautiful and busy piazza along Porto’s Douro River. A stopover in Lisbon also makes geographic sense if your final stop is Europe or Africa; the city is the second-closest European capital (after Dublin) to North America’s East Coast.  

Get a quote today to find out how Allianz Global Assistance can help make your trip stress free – from beginning to end, and all stopovers in between.

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