The Art of the Extended Layover
Booking an extended layover is one of my favorite travel hacks. I like to think of it as a bonus trip within a trip. It’s an extended, multi-day layover in the city or place where our international flights fly in and out.
We make the extended layover or “bonus trip” possible by finding and booking the cheapest international flights into Europe. We then catch a train or an inexpensive domestic flight to our main destination from here.
Greece was our main destination for this trip, but instead of flying directly into Athens from the United States, we opted to fly into London and out of Dublin. This saved us $1000 a ticket and allowed us to explore these fantastic places by turning them into extended layovers.
We stayed an extra two nights in London before flying off to Santorini and another four nights in Ireland before returning to the States.
Extended layovers give us a taste of places that weren’t on our original itinerary. Funny enough, Ireland ended up being an extra bonus because it turned out to be our kids’ favorite part of the trip. We all loved Greece, but we all felt that there was just something magical about Ireland. I genuinely love it when serendipity strikes and our extended layover suddenly feels like a main destination.
Here are a few things to consider when planning extended layovers.
-
Allow at least two nights. Anything less than two nights reduces the experience to merely traveling back and forth to an airport or train station. Give yourself at least a full day to explore and enjoy yourself.
-
Don’t overplan. This applies to your trip’s first or last leg. If it is at the beginning of your trip, you will most likely be jetlagged, and if it is at the end, well, you may just be worn out from your previous travels. It’s good to plan a few activities or sites, but allow some time to wander around and explore your bonus trip. Who knows what hidden gems you might discover?
-
Check with your airline and see if they offer multi-day extended layovers. Some airlines, like Icelandic Air and TAP Air Portugal, offer these extended layovers at no extra cost.
Adding these extended layovers only works if you have the time. I wouldn’t try to fit them into a short trip. Our trip was 18 days in total, 12 being in Greece, two in London, and four in Ireland. Have you done a bonus trip?
If you would like to read more about our travels, check out my post on the Ultimate Three-Week Europe Itinerary.
Mom of two and seeking sanity in the everyday. Let’s chat about family, school struggles, travel, and living our best life. Located in the San Francisco Bay area.
