The best cities to plan a stopover
<p>There are plenty of things to consider when planning a stopover (however brief) on your next long-haul journey – quality of the airport, distance from the city, length of the connecting flights, whether or not you need a visa and the cultural offerings, just to name a few. Here are some of the most exciting and practical cities to break your flight.</p>
<p><strong>Dubai</strong></p>
<p>The airport itself is spectacular, with an exclusive terminal just for Emirates aircraft, endless designer stores and restaurants, and a five-star hotel if you just want to stop and sleep. It’s also one of the best destinations for connecting flights, serving more than 20 cities in Europe with direct flights. You might think the city itself is all malls and hotels, but you can also explore the historic souks or venture out into the desert for camel rides, falconry demonstration or dune bashing in a 4WD. If you’re staying overnight, don’t miss the opportunity to dine under the stars in a desert camp.</p>
<p><strong>Singapore</strong> <em>(pictured)</em></p>
<p>An old favourite, this one is frequently voted best airport in the world in the prestigious SkyTrax Passengers’ Choice Awards, you could spend a week in there and never be bored. There’s lush indoor and outdoor gardens, vertical green walls, a rooftop swimming pool with a sun deck and cocktail bar, free (yes free!) foot massage stations throughout, a butterfly garden, two free movie theatres, a 24-hour gym and shops, shops, shops. If you must leave, jump on one of the free two-hour city tours that depart four times a day.</p>
<p><strong>Guangzhou</strong></p>
<p>Quality can be variable, but China Southern is a four-star airline of an international standard and flies regularly from New Zealand's major cities through its hub of Guangzhou. New Zealand passengers can access a visa-free 72-hour stopover and the airline is working with local travel providers to offer stopover packages that explore local sights and sample authentic Cantonese food. If you want to stretch your legs, the beautiful White Cloud Mountain is just outside the city and a great spot for hiking.</p>
<p><strong>Abu Dhabi</strong></p>
<p>It’s often thought of as Dubai’s quiet little sister, but Abu Dhabi is a fascinating city in its own right. The local carrier, Etihad, is also one of the largest players in the New Zealand market and has a top notch product (especially if you have enough money to fly in the mini-apartment style Residence first class suite). Depending on how much time you have, you can play nine or 18 holes on one of the city’s world-class golf courses, visit the Ferrari World theme park or marvel at the magnificent Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque. If you want to spend the night, Etihad frequently runs specials offering a free night of accommodation for its passengers.</p>
<p><strong>San Francisco</strong></p>
<p>Ask any traveller who frequents the US and they’ll tell you that Los Angeles LAX airport is a nightmare and best avoided. So veer a little further north and go via San Francisco. The airport just won the category for best staff in North America and was chosen as the fourth best overall in the region in the SkyTrax awards. Outside, it’s only around 20 kilometres from the city so you can leave your luggage at the Airport Travel Agency and catch the BART train system into town. Ride a classic cable car, visit Alcatraz or have lunch with the sea lions at the Fisherman’s Wharf overlooking the famed Golden Gate Bridge.</p>
<p><strong>Mauritius</strong></p>
<p>Why go via a big, congested city when you could spend a couple of days on one of the world’s most beautiful tropical island en route to Europe? Air Mauritius flies from Perth to Mauritius and either it or Air France flies onward to Paris, and it’s about the same flight time as going via Asia or the Middle East. The airport itself isn’t much, but this Anglo-French island in the middle of the Indian Ocean is pretty much paradise. Explore the vibrant markets and see a stuffed dodo in the museum of the capital St Louis or just check into a beachside hotel and sip daiquiris in the sun.</p>
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