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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Best Layover Mini-Vacations

Who needs the boring airport when you can get out and explore?

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(Newser) – Stuck with a long layover? You don’t have to idle in the airport. Condé Nast Traveler presents its readers' best suggestions for killing an hour or 4:

  • Honolulu: Take a 25-minute cab ride to Waikiki Beach to enjoy the sand, surf, and views of Diamond Head crater.
  • London: Get downtown on the Heathrow Express in just 15 minutes, then take the Underground to museums, Big Ben, or the London Eye.

  • San Francisco: Public transportation will get you downtown, just a short walk from Chinatown or the famous cable cars, in about 30 minutes.
  • Minneapolis: Did someone say shopping? You can be at the Mall of America in about 10 minutes.
  • Los Angeles: The airport can be tough to deal with, but luckily it’s just half an hour’s cab ride from the Santa Monica Pier, which offers 2-hour trapeze classes.
  • Vancouver: Take a $25 cab ride to Granville Island, a popular public market—you can rent a kayak when you’re done perusing the local goods.
  • Singapore: You might not want to leave the Changi Airport: It features a rooftop swimming pool and Jacuzzi, a variety of nature trails, and a movie lounge.
For more suggestions, click the link below.

A cable car makes its way down Powell Street headed for Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009.
A cable car makes its way down Powell Street headed for Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
La Monica Ballroom Redux at the Santa Monica Pier.
La Monica Ballroom Redux at the Santa Monica Pier.   (Photo: Business Wire)
In this Feb. 1, 2006 file photo, visitors pack Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.
In this Feb. 1, 2006 file photo, visitors pack Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.   (AP Photo/Lucy Pemoni/File)
An illumination of part of a message reading
An illumination of part of a message reading "Happy Birthday Big Ben, 150 years, 1859-2009" is seen projected on the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster in London, July 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
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4 comments
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Deebles
Sep 14, 09 5:45 PM CDT
What? Those aren't layovers: they're vacations. I can just see me renting a kayak for a minute. As for London? Have you stood in line for the Eye? Granville Island--people plan for that, they don't leave the airport. A layover is a chance to get wrecked in the airport bar and read a book. Good grief, now we feel bad for not taking in a museum during a layover. Reply
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Yourself
Sep 14, 09 5:56 PM CDT
"killing an hour" shit, it takes that long to get through security, who the hell would have time to do ANY of these? Even the beach idea would require too much time if it's 30 minutes away. that's an hour round trip, plus security screening, waiting for the cab, maybe getting stuck in traffic. no offense, but this article sucks. as Deebles said above me, these are short vacation ideas at best, not a layover time killer. Reply
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JoeQ
Sep 15, 09 12:22 AM CDT
Yeah, I did the London thing and the Honolulu thing. Train to Soho. Taxi to Waikiki beach. Worked great. Just budget over an hour to get back through security when you re-enter the airport. Security is a zoo, especially in the USA where the DHS aims to displease. LAX? Naaaah. Santa Monica is much too far away. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
JoeQ
Sep 15, 09 12:23 AM CDT
Oops, not DHS, TSA.
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