The Art of the Stopover
Once in a while, you make a discovery that changes your life.
That’s how it was for me the first time I turned an inevitable layover into a mini-trip.
I was shopping for an affordable flight to Cairo, but they all had an annoying layover in Barcelona. I could not get around it without spending hundreds more dollars for a direct flight, and I was so aggravated.
Then the light bulb went off. Maybe instead of spending a couple of miserable hours in the Barcelona airport, I could spend a couple of glorious days in the city?
I checked the price, and buying the two flight legs several days apart cost the same as buying the flights together. I felt the clouds open and the heavens sing. I’d just unlocked another key in the travel universe!
I reduced my time in Cairo and scheduled a few days in Barcelona instead. Two trips for the price of one!
Barcelona is an expensive city, and I’d already been there several times. So I found an affordable apartment in Caldes d’Estrac — a charming seaside village with thermal baths and a delightful Picasso museum just a short train ride up the coast. I treasure my memories of the time I spent there almost as much as my memories of Cairo!
Since then, I’ve perfected the art of the stopover trip.
How to create your own stopover trip
Whenever I’m searching for flights and notice an interesting layover, I check my options. And what I’ve learned is that you can often (but not always) buy the two legs separately for the same price as buying them together.
To find out, use the “multi-city search” tab on your favorite flight search tool (Expedia, Kiwi, Google Flights, etc).
In the Expedia screenshot below, I noticed a flight to Florence with a layover in Lisbon, so I tried the multi-flight search. It came out a little higher than Florence alone, but still a nice price for airfare to visit two major European cities.
If the price is the same, and you’re willing to shave a few days off your main trip, you’ll get to explore a second destination at no extra cost!
There’s another method I use to add a second destination for a very low cost, or even free. This method works especially well if you’re traveling to a city that’s near a major flight hub. Instead of searching only for flights to your destination, check prices to nearby airports as well. Keep in mind that “nearby” might mean “two countries over” in places like Europe and Southeast Asia, where the countries can be quite small. Then look for discount regional carriers or trains to get you to the second destination.
In Europe, for instance, some destinations are perpetually on sale. You may be able to fly into Paris, Berlin, or Madrid and then take a train, bus, or discount flight to your final destination for less money than a continuous flight. Use Rome2Rio.com to explore train, bus, or ferry options, and try RyanAir or Easyjet for cheap flights — often as low as $30. (Travel resellers like Expedia won’t show these flights, but you can find them on Kiwi.com, Skyscanner, and Google Flights.)
Similarly, in Southeast Asia it’s often less expensive to fly into Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur and then book a local flight on AirAsia to a neighboring country. Again, these flights can be as low as $30 but won’t usually be included in your searches.
But wait, there’s more
Of course, I’m not the only person to ever discover this cool hack. There’s enough demand for stopover stays that several major airlines have created programs to help you take advantage of their hub cities.
You can create your own stopover trip any way you want, but some airlines make it easy to book a flight with a free stopover, and others offer free tours and hotel rooms.
Reykjavik
Icelandair has been offering extended layovers in Reykjavik since the 1960s. As the airline became popular for its low-cost flights from North America to Europe, its free stopover program helped launch Iceland as a tourist destination.
Icelandair doesn’t offer any freebies like some airlines, but you can consistently add a stay of one to seven days at no extra cost when you book your flight to Europe. And they make it super easy! Just click the “add stopover” button when you book your flight.
Helsinki
FinnAir has a program very similar to the one pioneered by Icelandair — no freebies, but you can schedule a stopover in Helsinki at no extra cost. Use the “multi-city” option on FinnAir’s website to add your desired stop.
What will you do in Helsinki? The FinnAir site has suggested itineraries for 6, 12, and 24-hour layovers.
Istanbul
With a hub city that straddles the line between Europe and Asia, Turkish Airlines is a popular carrier worldwide. Many of their flights include a layover in Istanbul, where you can enjoy some of the best sightseeing, shopping, and cuisine in the world.
The airline offers a stopover program that can provide you with free lodging during your stay. Generally, the program will provide one night’s accommodation for you if you have a stopover between 20 hours and 7 days. You have to be from one of the included countries (the US is included). Visit the Turkish Airlines website for more details.
Free full-day and evening tours departing from the airport are also a popular option for guests with long layovers. These are primarily aimed at travelers with long layovers, but depending on when your flight lands, you might be able to take advantage of the tour before you go to your hotel.
Abu Dhabi
I’ve been seeing more layovers in Abu Dhabi as Etihad Airways grows. The airline is offering a stopover program that includes up to two free nights’ lodging at a luxury hotel and discounts on attractions.
To take advantage of the program, book your flights on Etihad’s website with a stopover in Abu Dhabi. Choose a hotel from their website, make your booking, then submit for a voucher covering one or two nights’ lodging. Look for full details and suggested itineraries on Etihad’s stopover page.
Panama City
If you’re headed to South America or the Caribbean, you’ll want to check out Copa Airlines’ stopovers in Panama City. You can schedule a stay of 1-7 days with no additional airfare cost by booking on the Copa website. Click on the “multicity” option, then click the “Add Stopover in Panama” slider.
While you’re on the site, check for deals on hotels for your stay in Panama.
Addis Ababa
Heading to Africa? If you have a layover of 8-24 hours in Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines, you probably qualify for a free stay with transfer and breakfast at Skylight In-Terminal Hotel. Pick up your voucher from the check-in desk at your departure airport.
Doha
If you want to book a flight with a layover in Doha, Qatar Airways has a page just for you. Put in your flight details, then choose how many days you’d like to stay in Qatar and whether you want to stop on your way there or back.
In addition to the easy booking, Qatar Airways offers travelers with a stopover of up to four days some steeply discounted hotel stays. You can choose hotels from standard ($14/person for one night) to luxury ($83/person for one night) with several options in between, including a premium beach room for $31.
Japan
Japan Airlines lets you add a second flight stop within the country for free (although you’ll have to pay $100 if you want to stay more than 24 hours in your second city). There’s also an explorer pass for international travelers who want to visit multiple Japanese cities.
Portugal
TAP Air Portugal’s stopover program lets you stay up to 10 days in either Lisbon or Porto. Just select the “Add Stopover” button when you’re booking and choose your city. You’ll get a 25% discount on the domestic flight.
Just do it!
Remember, you’re not limited to taking advantage of these programs. Very often, when you see a layover on a flight, you can book that same series of flights across multiple days and
Cover photo Photo by Murat Marangoz: https://www.pexels.com/photo/night-view-of-istanbul-s-iconic-skyline-with-fireworks-35102927/