Popular Stopover Locations & Activities

 When you travel to faraway destinations such as Bali, the Maldives, the Seychelles, and even Thailand, it’s advisable to stopover in another city for 1-3 nights.  Since there is often no direct flight between the United States and these destinations, it can be very worth your while to explore another city for a few nights rather than enduring an exhausting layover.

Some of the most popular stop over destinations include Hong Kong, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.  While each of these cities offers something unique, all of them are uniformly rich in culture, fantastic resorts, and delicious food.

Hong Kong

Known for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbor, Hong Kong is a perfect gateway to Asia and the far east.  One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Hong Kong offers numerous attractions that are sure to excite even the most discerning travelers.

We recommend exploring Victoria Peak.  The highest point on Hong Kong Island, “The Peak” offers one of the world’s most stunning cityscapes.  Complete with views of glittering skyscrapers and Victoria Harbor, the Peak is an absolute must see in Hong Kong.  Love a good street market?  Venture over to Mong Kok (Hong Kong’s Chinatown) to take in fantastic street markets, bars, night clubs, and restaurants.  For an evening activity, be sure to take in the Symphony of Light laser and light show, which is shown nightly at 8pm.  Projected in concert with music from both sides of the harbor, the lights show is a fantastic way to appreciate the gorgeous Hong Kong skyline.  Whatever you do, don’t forget to feast on dim sum!

Singapore

Located just off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore is one of the major foodie capitals of the world.  Known for its delicious chili crab dish, Singapore is also rich in culture and commerce.  Check out the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, which is famous for its enormous infinity pool and the best skyline views in the city.  Don’t worry if you’re not staying at the hotel; you can see the pool from the hotel’s Ku De Ta bar.  Be sure to also peruse any of the popular hawker centers, including Maxwell Road, Newton Circus, Smith Street, or Old Airport Road, which contains arguably the best street food on the planet.

To appreciate how multicultural Singapore is, we recommend you explore its many ethnic neighborhoods including Little India, Arab Street, and China Town.  Each neighborhood has a religious building pertaining to the culture (a temple or a mosque).  We also recommend you revel in Singapore’s natural beauty at the local Botanical Garden, which houses a particularly gorgeous Orchid Garden.

Love to shop?  Check out Orchard Street, which has the finest shopping around.  We also recommend you indulge in a drink at the Raffles Hotel, which invented the Singapore Sling.

Abu Dhabi

Located on a T-shaped island which juts into the Persian Gulf, Abu Dhabi is the capital and second most populous city in the UAE.  Rich in culture and luxury hotels, Abu Dhabi offers tourists plenty to do during a stop over.  Visitors enjoy tours of the pristine sand dunes, visits to the local spice markets, indulging in fantastic shopping, and taking in a camel race.  (If you’ve never heard of one, they’re very similar to horse races, except with camels.)  If you’d like to explore the city of Dubai for a day, it’s just a short 90 minute drive from Abu Dhabi.

If you are interested in cars, you would particularly enjoy a visit to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the largest indoor and first ever Ferrari theme park, located on Yas Island.  There you can take a Ferrari for a spin, go on Ferrari themed rides, and even go on Ferrari roller coasters!  It truly is an auto lover’s paradise.

If you’re looking to see something that’s more culturally or religiously significant, we absolutely recommend a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.  This enormous and pristine white mosque is the largest mosque in the UAE and is the eighth largest mosque in the world.  It is the key place of Friday gathering and Eid prayers, and in fact, can be visited by more than 40,000 people during Eid.

Doha

Located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, Doha is the capital city and most populous city of Qatar.  While you can find many similar attractions in Doha as you can in Abu Dhabi, including sand dune tours, visits to local spice markets, and camel races (if you’re there in season), Doha offers other unique and important sites.  The Museum of Islamic Art, whose stunning modern architecture makes it a sight to see in and of itself, enjoys one of the best collections of Islamic art anywhere.  Its art spans works created over three continents and 1400 years.

If you’re looking for a more laid back way to enjoy Doha, we recommend taking a cruise or fishing on a dhow boat, enjoying some fabulous shopping, or visiting a hookah bar. There are a variety of souqs, or shopping areas, that are popular around Doha. One of our favorites is the Souq Waqif, which is an excellent area to find local spices, traditional garments, local made crafts and souvenirs, perfume, oud (incense) as well as, art. You will find a great variety of French, Malaysian, Indian, and other international restaurants offered nearby. Since Doha is alcohol free outside of hotels, if you’re looking for nighttime entertainment, hookah bars substitute for regular bars.

If you’re considering traveling to Asia or the Indian Ocean, and want to experience an amazing stop over experience, contact one of our destination specialists for itinerary suggestions and expert advice.

If you’re planning your 2035 travels and enjoy a good festivity, this post is for you! We’ve highlighted some of the most exciting worldwide celebrations, festivals, and holidays that are sure to make your travel experience even more special!

What to Do in December/January

Ring in the New Year in style! Renowned for being one of the most spectacular events in the world, the New Year’s celebration in Syndey includes fantastic fireworks set against the sparkling Sydney Harbour.

What to Do in February

Jet off to Hong Kong to celebrate the Spring Festival, more commonly referred to as Chinese. New Year! Hong Kong is a perfect gateway to Southeast Asia, and their Chinese New Year celebrations are top notch. While different regions of China enjoy various traditions, the New Year’s Eve Dinner is extremely important for the Chinese. Surrounded by family, most people enjoy fish or dumplings, which are thought to bring prosperity. Stunning fireworks, which are used to drive away evil, are launched at midnight on New Year’s Eve. You may catch a glimpse of the dragon dance, or even watch the arrival of New Year Markets, which pop up with New Year goods, including clothing, fireworks, food, and small arts.

What to Do in March

March is a fantastic time to venture to Fiji, and not just because its tropical weather will provide an escape from the chill at home!  Fijians celebrate Hindu holidays, and during March, you can watch as this island paradise celebrates Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors!  The main highlights of Holi include joyous street celebrations in which groups of people smear each other with brightly colored powders and water, regardless of their caste, race, or gender.  People exchange greetings and dance merrily in the streets.

What to Do in April

Regarded as the longest holiday in Thailand, the Songkran Festival, which is celebrated mainly from April 13-15, is actually the Thai New Year celebration. A day before the celebration, Thai women meticulously clean their houses and remove the garbage from their homes for good luck. Buddha images are carefully washed. The festival would not be complete without the Water Fight, in which travelers and natives (including children) arm themselves with water guns and shoot water at each other to symbolize the cleansing and rejuvination of their bodies.

In Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city, there are many side activities during the Songkran Festival, including beauty pageants and talent shows. In a similar fashion to April Fools Day, women often pull pranks on men during this holiday.

What to Do in May

Bali’s most important festival is the Galungan festival. It’s both a feast and a festival which is held throughout the entire island to symbolize the victory of Virtue (Dharma) upon Evil (Adharma). The Balinese get all dressed up in their finest outfits and jewels, believing that during this ten day period their gods, including Sanghyang Widi (the supreme deity), will descend to Earth.  Barongs prance from temple to temple and village to village in celebration of the Galungan with the gods.

What to Do in June

June is a perfect time to venture to southern New Zealand to observe the Southern Lights in the night sky.  More difficult to spot than the Northern Lights, the Southern Lights will usually present themselves as a greenish glow, and June is an ideal month to observe them.  Wait for a clear night and venture as far south in New Zealand as possible. Cast your gaze to the sky and marvel in the natural beauty.

What to Do in July

Like Americans, Maldivians celebrate their Independence Day in July. During these festivities, all major cities in the Maldives celebrate with parades filled with music and brightly colored costumes. School children, as well as the National Security Services and National Cadet Corps, put on artful and festive performances.

What to Do in July/August

July and August are perfect months in which to visit Bora Bora and the islands of Tahiti! During these months, all of French Polynesia celebrates Heiva, an annual festival that has become emblematic of Polynesian culture. “Heiva,” which comes from the Polynesian words meaning “to assemble” and “community places,” celebrates traditional Polynesian activities, including festivals, music, dancing, singing, canoe races, and other sporting events.

What to Do in September

If you couldn’t make it to Tahiti in time for Heiva, not to worry!  September offers yet another Tahitian celebration: Tahiti World Tourism Day, which is celebrated on September 25th of each year! Since tourism is a major source of income for the Tahitian government, the locals use this day to make the tourists feel especially special.  Tourists enjoy a multitude of traditional foods, handcraft demonstrations, and sporting competitions on Tahiti World Tourism Day!

What to Do in October

October is a great time to venture over to the Seychelles so that you may partake in the annual Creole Festival.  This six-day long festival is a salutation to the traditions and the cultural heritage of Seychelles as reflected in its dance, music, cuisine, customs, and crafts. The most important cultural event of Seychelles, this colorful and energetic festival is held on the islands of Praslin, La Digue, and Mahe.

What to Do in November

Want to enjoy an awesome sporting event in November?  Head to Melbourne, Australia for the Melbourne Cup!  Referred to as “the race that stops a nation,” the Melbourne Cup is a 3200 metre horse race that starts at 3pm on the first Tuesday in November.  It is the highlight of the sporting calendar for Victorians, Australians, and many international horse racing fans.

What to Do in December/January

If you’ve already done New Year’s Sydney, we recommend ringing in the New Year in Fiji! Fijian locals are said to be the happiest people on Earth, and their festivities certainly bolster that idea. Fijian New Year’s celebrations can continue for a week, or even a month, in some areas. It is common practice in Fiji to beat drums and shower one another with water. Fireworks and an annual Street Party is held in the heart of Suva, the nation’s capital, to welcome the New Year. It is one of the largest New Year’s celebrations in the South Pacific.

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