Adelaar Cruises
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Travel Bargains, Free For the Asking
Exotic Stopovers, Tours and More | Flying West to S.E. Asia and Indonesia
Exotic Stopovers, Tours and More | Flying West to S.E. Asia and Indonesia
Stopovers, tours, hotels and name brand goods are available FREE for the asking all around the world, if you know where and how to find them! If your holiday takes you to Indonesia or some other destination in S.E. Asia, why not add an additional exotic stopover onto your itinerary for free. Read on I’ll show you how to redeem freebies and other travel bargains when you are flying from the West to Indonesia and the rest of S.E. Asia (freebies traveling from the East will be in the following blog; stay tuned).
Airports and cities are more aggressively competing for your tourist dollars. Many major airports now offer onsite hotels, chain restaurants, major brand outlets and some even offer entertainment. If you’re smart and know how to take advantage of these specials, sometimes you can get discounts or even free offers. They would rather have you spend your time shopping and touring their facilities and leave a memorable impression on tourists than just get you checked in and on your way.
Changi International, Singapore (SIN)
Changi airport in Singapore is one of the shining jewels of international airports and probably the best example of this concept. Changi is a city within a city and if you know where to look there are many free options available to transit passengers.
Stopover
Singapore Airlines (SQ) offers a free stopover in their hub city Singapore (this means you can add a stay in the city without increasing the cost of your ticket). To take advantage of this, simply book yourself a multi-city itinerary. The imprint of Singapore’s colonial past can still be felt in the city today. In Singapore’s circa-1820 Chinatown stands the red-and-gold Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, said to house one of Buddha’s teeth. Singapore Airlines makes this even easier by offering special stopover packages with significant savings on hotels.
If you have more than 5.5 to 6 hours layover at Changi airport you have the option of two free city tours in Singapore. Be enthralled by the sights, sounds, and colors of Singapore during your transit. Take a walk through history at the Merlion Park. Experience a multi-sensory buzz in vibrant Chinatown or bustling Kampong Glam. Enjoy a panoramic view of the city, with a backdrop of the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay. For more information, go to Changi’s Free Singapore Tour* page.
Free Airport Amenities
If you like FREE MONEY, and who doesn’t, then Changi airports free duty-free voucher should not go unclaimed. Eligible passengers will receive 2 vouchers to be used at participating stores (i.e. duty-free liquor, shops, and restaurants). Each voucher is valued at S$20. To see if you are eligible for the vouchers, check out the Changi Free Transit Voucher page.
While you are wandering around Changi Airport, make sure you stop by the information booth to get your free Wi-Fi password and ask for directions to the Butterfly Garden, cactus garden, orchid garden and the free movie theater in terminal 3. The Changi App also has an additional page for discounts and other free attractions. After a long day of walking around Singapore and Changi, relax in their free electric massage chairs located throughout the airport.
Incheon Intl Airport, Seoul, Korea (ICN)
Incheon Airport boasts an impressive résumé, having been selected by the Airports Council International as the world’s best airport in air service quality for six consecutive years, best airport in Asia-Pacific, and best small airport.
Stopover
Going through Seoul via Korean airlines, why not add a little sojourn in the city of Seoul? Korean airlines waves stopover fees in 1 direction for their international passengers. Seoul is a city of infinite discoveries. The ancient capital of an ancient land, Seoul is a city where the traditional and the cutting-edge exist side-by-side in perfect harmony.
Korean Air does not have anything official on their site, but multiple people have reported about them giving a night at the Hyatt Regency Incheon (fancy!) to passengers with involuntarily long layovers.
Don’t have the extra time to stop over but have a long layover and nothing to do? Depending on the length of your layover, there are 7 city tours available. Notable sights include the Oceanside Haedon Yonggungsa Temple (pictured above), Incheon Grand Bridge, Shinpo Market, Namsangol Hanok Village, and Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Free Airport Amenities
Although not exactly free you also have a casino and golf course on the airport grounds available for you to kill some time. The shuttle that operates to these venues is free, so how much you spend at the casino is up to you! You can also take a spin around the ice skating rink. Although free to use, there is a small fee for skates, gloves, and helmets (approx. $5). But for goodness sake, be careful, you don’t want to hurt yourself before your dive holiday.
Note: Due to space limitations for Scubaboard threads,Taoyuan Airport in Taipei Taiwan, Narita Airport in Tokyo Japan, Adelaar Cruise Specials, and a list of additional airports that give you free nights for forced layovers can be found on our Travel Bargains, Free For the Asking Blog page.
*Free Airport Tours: Must Knows
- You don’t need a visa to take airport layover tours as you’re considered an “in-transit” passenger, although you may need to hand over your passport for the length of the tour. Be sure to check beforehand to ensure that your passport is not from an exempt country, as travelers from some countries are not allowed to leave the airport.
- Double check for extra costs such as museum entries, which may not be covered.
- Check what documents you need to board a tour. Commonly you may need to show the airline ticket of your previous and upcoming flight.
- Consider where to store your luggage if applicable (some tours may not have room or allow you to bring your luggage with you).
Prior to departure, you may want to check out our Pre-dive Checklist with 10 Tips for Diving in Remote Areas. We’ve provided some great tips for items to bring when you are traveling to dive areas like Komodo National Park.
