The travel hack giving travellers two holidays in one
When it comes to a long-haul flight, a stopover can be exactly what you need to stretch your legs and recharge before the next leg of your journey.
But some eager travellers are getting even more out of their stopovers, by booking a few nights in their stopover destination and effectively getting two holidays in one.
The “two-for-one holiday” trend is especially popular for those travelling from Australia and New Zealand, as it takes many, many hours to travel from Oceania to Europe, the US, or basically anywhere else in the world.
Rather than looking at layovers as a hassle that just prolongs your journey, data shows that travellers are opting to use them as a way to explore new destinations and extend their holidays.
According to data from travel search engine Skyscanner, there has been a notable uptick in bookings for long-haul flights to destinations such as Istanbul, London, Shanghai, and India.
When travelling to Europe or the US, many travellers stopover in Asian cities such as Hong Kong, Bangkok in Thailand, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, or Singapore.
Alternatively, many stopovers occur in the UAE and Middle East area, with some flights stopping in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or even Qatar.
It’s easy to book your stopover holiday when booking your flights. Just select your original flight to your final destination, but change your second flight to leave the stopover destination a few days later.
Skyscanner's travel expert Cyndi Hui told 9Travel of the travel hack: "With Australia being so far from many global hubs, taking the time to enjoy a stopover instead of rushing through airports allows Australians to truly make the most of their travel experiences".
"It's a savvy way to make the most of their travel time, turning what used to be just a stopover into a memorable part of the adventure."
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