On your flight to your backpacking destination you can choose from a variety of stopover possibilities. A stopover is a good chance to stop by and see another city or country on your way. Additionally, a stopover can reduce jetlag as you can already acclimate with a new time zone.
Popular destinations for stopover flights
No matter where you are heading to there might be several stopover possibilities. Each of them offers different possibilites for a short stay on a stopover. Depending on your route choose your favorite stopover city and spend some days exploring another culture. Here you find a list of popular stopover destinations and airlines.
Stopover Fiji
- Dubai (e.g. Emirates)
- Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airlines)
- Singapore (Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Emirates)
- Hongkong (Cathay Pacific, Qantas)
- Bangkok (Thai Airways, Emirates, Qantas)
- Kuala Lumpur (KLM, Malaysia)
- Seoul (Korean Airlines)
- Auckland (Air New Zealand)
- Fiji (Air Pacific)
- Beijing (Air China)
- Bali (Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines)
- Honolulu (American Airlines, Continental Airlines)
- Shanghai (Air China)
- San Francisco
- Las Vegas
Some airlines offer stopover packages, e.g. Emirates in Dubai if you are staying for 3 nights. Cathay Pacific had an offer of a free city tour in Hongkong if your connecting flight is at least 6 hours later.
Planning your stopover: checklist
As well as you should be informed about customs, visa and other stuff before entering your backpacker destination you should also prepare your stopover stay with care. There are some things you should check before booking your stopover flight to Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney or anywhere else in the world.
- How long does my passport have to be valid? – Your passport might have to be valid for at least 6 months after your departure of your stopover destination
- Do I need a visa for my stopover? – Check if you need a visa whilst doing a stopover. As soon as you leave the airport you might need a visa.
- Are there any restricted goods? – Check if there are any goods you are not allowed to bring in the country of your stopover, e.g. things made of wood, food, etc.
- Can I take medicals with me? – Depending on your stopover destination you might need a prescription for all medicals you want to take with you (in English!). Check if there are any restrictions concerning medicals.
- Do I have enough time for a stopover? – Check if you have enough time for a stopover or plan a night or two. You surely don’t want to risk missing the next flight on your route. We do not recommend leaving the airport if you have 6 hours or less til your ongoing flight.
- Do I need special clothes for my stopover? – Of course you already checked the weather at your backpacker destination but what about your stopover city? Maybe it gets cold in the evening so you need a sweater or jacket or maybe there are special rules about clothing (in Arabian countries you might need to cover your arms or legs).
- Do I need additional vaccinations? – Even if you are just staying for one day you should be informed about vaccination for your stopover flight.
- What about foreign currency? – Depending on the length of your stay or your personal needs you might need money in the currency of your stopover country. You could exchange money at the airport or get cash from a ATM.
- What can do I during my stopover? – Do sightseeing on hop on hop off busses, visit traditional markets, do river cruises, see a city from a bird’s view on observation desks, relax on the beach or do some adventurous stuff or whatever you like to do.
