How To Book A Flight With A Long Stop Over?

Booking a Flight with a Short Stopover

It is quite a task having to organize for a trip that will require one to take several flights at a go. This is no joke to spend 12 or more hours trapped in an airplane; finally, it affects one's physical and mental health. A good idea on how to break the trip up is by taking a flight that has a long layover. This is possible if you can split the trip and have some time off to visit a different place that could be interesting to you. If you are flexible enough to choose your routes correctly, it is even possible to make your flight with a connection a more fun experience.

Research Flight Options

The first one involves seeking potential flights that can include a long layover in the preferred location. Some airlines provide for a stopover where the connection time is more than twenty-four hours. You can look for the flight numbers on the usual search engines of the travel sites and they will inform you if a stopover is permissible. This is so because there are always budget airlines and it is always good to compare with the standard ones. Also, bear in mind that you can book open-jaw where you get to one city on the first flight of the journey and leave from another city on the continuing or return leg. This, in fact, essentially reconstructs a stopover into your travel plan. In case you decide to take a mid-route stopover or open-jaw flight, it is important to get at least 24 hours or more in the stop over city.

Compare Prices

After finding possible flight routes, one needs to check the fare. Consider the difference in the total amount charged for each of the flights when booked individually and when booked at one go. It is also important to note that there can be a huge difference between the two-ticket total and the total that is calculated if the flights are booked separately, especially while booking open-jaw flights or the flights that have been booked on two different tickets. Additionally, bear in mind the transportation costs when traveling from the arrival airport to your accommodation if you select the alternate airports. One thing that you would wish to guarantee is that booking a stopover flight is going to be cost-effective before you proceed.

Review Visa Travel Requirements

One crucial activity to undertake as you look for a long stopover is to check on the visa requirement for your country. Sometimes, one may not require a Visa to pass through a certain country if he or she does not intend to enter the country's territory at all, for instance, if he or she was only transiting through the airport. However, if the duration of your layover is extensive and you wish to enter the territory of the country, you may possibly require a tourist visa. Consult the information available on the website of the destination country's ministry of immigration at least a month in advance, as applying for visas might take weeks or even months depending on the country. The last thing you want to do is to purchase non-refundable airline tickets just to realize that you are not going to be in a position to acquire the tourist visa before the date of your stopover.

Research Accommodations

After you've successfully booked your flight, the next thing you should think about is where you, your family, and friends are going to spend the long hours during the stopover. Out of these factors, you will require a low-cost accommodation, strategically located and appropriate for the duration of your stay. First of all, one should go through some different hotels™ and hostels™ description which are affordable within your budget and located near the sites of interest or public transportation . You also may need laundry services in case you are traveling for many weeks in a row. Students who intend to spend some time with friends or relatives should inform them early enough of their intentions to stop over on the way to their next destination. Tell them the dates that you will be arriving and the dates that you are expected to leave, so they can organize themselves well and host you well.

Build a Stopover Itinerary

The most pleasant thing about flying to a country where you need to spend several days in transit is that you can spend this time in an interesting country. It is advisable to do a little research in advance and plan on the places that you have to visit in the next two or even more days in a particular country. That way, you will not waste your precious time trying to look for directions once you are in that particular destination. List the best places you would like to go and the best neighborhoods to visit. Make sure to check the operating times of museums so that on the days when the exhibits are closed you will not lose your time. It is also possible to plan the transportation connections from your lodging to other areas of interest, especially since time is limited. Tourism boards are also useful to approach for suggestions of sightseeing activities based on your preferences or duration of your stay.

Allow Time for Transit

While selecting the lodgings and planning the other activities, make sure that the time allocated for transportation to get back to the airport for the next flight is adequate. Travelers are advised to arrive at the departing airport 32 hours before an international flight. This is for the purpose of accommodating public transportation timetable variation, airline check-in time and other unforeseen events. It would be the most unfortunate occurrence to miss an ongoing flight due to inadequate time to cover the airport. Construct some room for a margin for time in case you get to time out your plans at the stop over before going back to the airport.

It is also important to note that one should try as much as possible to spend little money during the stopover.

In addition to reducing the time spent on board, there is always the added advantage of having to spend less when one books a flight that has a layover. Additional time in transit results in costs of accommodation, meals, sightseeing, and means of getting around the city. Hence, it is crucial to avoid blowingthrough your funds while having a break at the stopover destination. Choose hotel rates that are cheap because it is off season for your stopover destination. Instead of calling for costly taxis or ordering for a ride-hailing service, take the public transport. Visit free attractions like museums and eat at inexpensive and relatively unknown local restaurants. This means that doing a little extra shopping and other expenses during your layover leaves more money for the last leg of your trip.

Enjoy the Journey

In conclusion, when planning to book a long stopover flight, the primary aim is to have lots of fun during the journey and not only at the destination. It is also fun to schedule time to get a glimpse of a new country or city before getting to the actual destination, thereby transforming the prelude to a journey into the journey itself. Even a day or more one spends discovering an exciting stopover location can prove to be the most memorable part of their travel overseas. Aim to remain flexible, be prepared to enjoy any extra time spent on the layover, and try to take advantage of any additional time that may be available while on the layover. The ability to interrupt long flights and spend some time in a new country is appealing about stopover travel.

But if you are to travel for several days or to a faraway country where you will need to take several long flights, you should plan to include a long layover. By noting the above tips during the time of your flight and hotel bookings, it is possible to get interesting and comfortable overstay destinations that are equally as cheap and provide a glimpse of various destinations before reaching the final desired vacation spot. Some advantages of stopovers include that it makes it possible to go on an amazing adventure while learning about places other than the destination.

• Get last-minute deals on flights! Call (833) 902-2087 to secure your tickets.