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These are part of Dublin Bus' regular services, which means regular prices. Most people use the Airlink or Aircoach services, which are about €6 and €10 respectively. But these buses will bring you to the city centre for about €2. Downside is that the 16A isn't direct to the city centre - you'll take a detour through a few Dublin suburbs. But depending on traffic, you'll be at O'Connell Street in about half an hour to 45 mins. The 746 is better - it takes the same route as the Airlink, the only difference being that it can stop to pick up passengers along the way. It's also infrequent - every hour on the hour. I've often had to rush through the airport to try and catch it! The 16A is more frequent, about 3 or 4 per hour. You'll need exact change for these buses.
At the far left-hand side of the bus terminals in front of the airport.
This week's heavy snowfall has reminded me of the fragility of the UK transport system. When weather is bad, it's worth remembering to check your airport's website to see if your flight has been cancelled or not.
BAA, operator of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted (www.baa.com) offer a flight text service to keep you informed on the status of your flight.
This hotel is in Shatin. An ideal place to relax and collect your thoughts. It is a long bus journey from the airport but one that is both direct and I believe cheapest to reach, unless you can afford the Regal airport hotel. If you book online and in advance, the early bird promotion is a good deal. You can take a healthy stroll by the river or visit the wide array of shopping centres networked together just over the bridge.
Regal Riverside Hotel
Tai Chung Kiu Road
Shatin
Hong Kong (A41 bus from Airport)
Regalhotel.com
If you fly into Narita, go to the JR ticket office (on the lowest floor where the trains leave from) and there they have a combo offer allowing you to buy a Narita Express ticket (the train to get you into Tokyo) and get a Suica card (the Japanese Oyster card equivalent) at the same time. The best bit is that the combined cost is little more than the cost of the Narita Express ticket on its own and the Suica card comes with 1500yen preloaded on it and you don't have to pay the usual 500yen deposit. You need your passport to be able to take up the offer..
Singapore already has the best airport in the world - huge terminals, clean toilets, a rooftop pool and spa, free internet terminals and an efficient Skytrain to whisk you between terminals. Now it has a top class hotel right by T3. The Crowne Plaza is perfect for a quick stopover, though not cheap. I arrived at the airport late at night with a morning flight to London. Checked into the hotel, changed and packed, strolled into the terminal to check in (Singapore Airlines does 24hr check in - no queues), back to sleep then an unhurried morning exit straight through to departures.
The BAA and everyone involved in UK airports should visit Changi, learn some lessons then hang their heads in shame.
We visited Iceland earlier this year as an add-on to a visit to the USA - it really added an extra dimension to our trip.
We flew Iceland Air from Heathrow to Keflavik and then on to Boston.
Travelling via Iceland made the US security rules less stressful because there were fewer people for them to process.
On the way back we broke our journey for three nights to get a feel for Iceland. My top money saving and added convenience tip would be to go for hostels. By doing it this way you can also get a good deal on your car. We booked through hostels.is.
Tell them which hostels you want to stay at and what size car you want and they book everything for you. When you get to the airport, go to the car rental desk and the attendant will also give you an envelope from the YHA with your
accommodation vouchers in and off you go!
If you drive in Iceland be prepared for variable road surfaces outside the built-up areas.
Hostels: www.hostel.is/
Hostels and car: hostel.is/displayer.asp?cat_id=184
To get from JFK to Penn Station Manhattan:
Cheapest way: Airtrain to Jamaica Station and E subway to Penn station
Quickest way: Airtrain to Jamaica and then Long Island Rail Road to Penn station
Least stressful but long way: bus from terminal door to Manhattan
Most expensive and hair-raising way: TAXI
If possible fly to Newark instead - bus from terminal door to Manhattan is stressfree and quick and Newark is much less likely to have an excruciatingly long wait to get through immigration (unlike JFK).
Airtrain info: www.panynj.gov/Airtrain/
LIRR and subway info: www.mta.info/index.html
bus info: www.nyairportservice.com/
By far the most economical means of travelling into New York centre from JFK airport is by train. The density of traffic in the city can make a journey by bus or taxi painfully slow and expensive the closer you get to the centre.
Most people coming from Britain will arrive at JFK Terminal 7. There is a free bus to take you from there to the relevant stop on the JFK Airtrain, where you buy a $5 ticket to take you to Jamaica Station or Howard Beach Station. The Airtrain is a bit like London's Circle Line, i.e. it goes round and round, so check that you are going in the right direction. You'll get to Jamaica Station or Howard Beach eventually but it saves time to go the right way. At Jamaica or Howard Beach Station buy a ticket (machines or booth) and take the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) into Manhattan, from where you can take the New York Subway to all parts of the city. Buy a one, two or seven day Metrocard at the Subway station and you'll save money on single trips, both on the subway and buses.
JFK Airport, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), New York Subway www.mta.info
This is a great service that acts as a booking agent for transfer companies in the Chamonix Valley from Geneva Airport. The best thing is that they will find a transfer that is closest to your arrival time and also the cheapest.
Departing from Marrakech airport:
Once you pass through airport security you can only use your dirhams to spend on food in the cafes.
All the other shops including the duty free shops are NOT allowed to accept dirhams and only accept hard currency such as euros.
If you did have excess dirhams you can change these in the airport before you go through security.
Especially when the cigarettes are so cheap in the duty free shops, you'd be kicking yourself if all you have is dirhams to spend.
Marrakech airport
Unusually – only London and New York share the virtue – Japan’s capital has two major airports – Narita and Haneda. It is almost certain, if you’re flying from the US or Europe, that you’ll arrive at the former but remember to check your ticket especially when you’re leaving the city. They are very (very, very) far from one another so, arrive at the wrong one, and you’ll be in trouble.
Narita may be accessible but Tokyo’s city centre is anything but from Narita. A little known gem of trivia is that the two are almost 2 hours apart (!); and a taxi (of any kind) is ruinously expensive (over £200). Important tip then: if you’re not a CEO, take the train. It’s quicker, infinitely cheaper and unsusceptible to the horrors of Tokyo traffic.
Depending on where you are staying, it may actually take you longer to take the 'airport express' train than the coach. The coach takes from 70-90 minutes but saves you travelling to the train station (particularly during rush hour) and can often pick you up from the hotel.
Ask at your hotel
Faced with the prospect of navigating a domestic train system in a foreign language could be a daunting task. However, taking the bullet train (shinkensen) is no where near as scary as it may first appear. Go to the tourist information centre in the main stations and you will be given a step by step process and timetable. Get yourself a seat reservation and buy your ticket at the machine or at the desk. Much quicker taking the train over distances up to several hours than trekking all the way to the airport.
Instead of bankrupting yourself on a taxi fom the airport to your hotel, get one of the reliable and regular limousine buses from the airport directly to your hotel
Info in Tokyo airport, book on arrival
Japan's mobile phone system is not compatible with most non-Japanese phones. This includes Blackberrys and tri-region phones. Make sure you don't get caught short by checking to see if your phone gives you a signal when you get off the plane. If not, you are able to rent a phone at the airport (it's easier here as you can return it just before you head home and the language barrier is not an issue).
Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/service/list/svc_19.html
Singapore’s international gateway, Changi Airport, has been open for business for 26 years and, in that time, has collected 250 international aviation awards. And it’s easy to see why. There are only two major terminals; check-in is very close to where you enter; security is a stone’s throw from check-in; and the lounges are comfortable, full of friendly staff, and a short walk from security. All of this means you can (for once) afford to turn up late – if you’re flying First or Business, an hour and a half before the flight is more than sufficient. The airport has numerous shopping and eating outlets, so you can actually get yourself or your family something useful on departure, including top brand name products from Prada, Gucci, Bulgari and Hermes. In addition, Changi has six open-air gardens, numerous business centres, internet and games facilities, prayer rooms, showers, a gym and even a swimming pool (!). Plus, this is an airport which, unlike “Tokyo” Narita or “London” Stansted, happens to be in the city it purports to serve. You can reach it by high-speed train (only 27 minutes to the centre), buses, taxis, limos, airport shuttles and the standard car rental companies. Going by road is good - ask your hotel to book you a car in advance and you can experience the luscious greenery of the East Coast Parkway.
Got a long stopover in Singapore? If you are staying more than four hours, you can take a trip into Singapore (it's not so big, so you can zip in and out of the city). However, if you have a touch longer, you could visit one of the many spas in the city (you can find many in the top hotels). High standards, and relatively inexpensive, it will certainly leave you refreshed for the next leg of your journey.
Jump on a taxi from the airport, make sure you check with your airline first to see if you have enough time
After a long flight from Heathrow (or anywhere else for that matter), there's nothing better than an outdoor swim in a rooftop pool without even leaving the airport. If you have a few hours stopover in Singapore airport, follow the signs for the spa - it's a bit of a trek, but very much worth it. For about GBP8 you get a swim, a towel and a free cocktail by the pool. Generally very quiet and wonderfully relaxing. Even better if it rains!
Singapore airport - follow the signs for the spa.
A great way to break up a bleary stopover at Singapore airport is to take a dip in the rooftop swimming pool. It's 'Balinese style' - more beach lilo than Olympic lanes. It's a much more relaxing way of getting the blood flowing after a long-haul flight than drifting round the duty free shops, especially if you don't have enough time to get into Singapore itself. The humid climate means you can use the pool pretty much all year round. It's open from 7am to 11pm and the small entrance fee includes a hot shower and a free non-alcoholic drink. And there's a poolside bar. Every airport should have one.
The swimming pool is on third level of Terminal 1. If you are in Terminal 2, take the sky train to Terminal 1. Travel time between the two terminals via the sky train is two minutes. The wait for the sky train is about one or two minutes.
Not so much a recommendation but more of a warning... The airport Maglev train is great for the experience but please be warned that it doesn't go straight into the city. This may come as a surprise to newcomers to the city. You will have to transfer to a taxi once you arrive at the station and therefore make sure you know where you want to go (ie have your hotel's address in Chinese) once you get off.
At the airport
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