Aviation
Airports with Amenities
Some of the best pampering, shopping, entertainment and, yes, food can be found at airports around the world – you just have to know where to look.
Toronto’s First-class Passport
The recent $4.5-billion makeover at Toronto Pearson International has set high expectations for Canada’s busiest airport, voted the world’s best in 2006 by the Institute of Transport Management. Departing travellers with time to spare can take away a slice of upscale Toronto at the Passport of Yorkville food court. Enjoy one of the famed thin-crust pizzas at Wolfgang Puck Express, hop online at the Expedia.ca Internet café or grab a drink at Yorkville Juice Bar or Starbucks. You can even get a mini-makeover of your own at one of the airport’s four 10-Minute Manicure shops.
Austin’s Taste of Texas
At Austin-Bergstrom International, almost all of the restaurants (like Matt’s Famous El Rancho, the Salt Lick, Amy’s Ice Cream and Harlon’s Bar-B-Q) are well-known local eateries. Enchiladas, ribs and full-fat ice cream aren’t exactly diet-friendly cuisine, but your taste buds will forgive you. Of course, you can always burn off those calories with some line dancing, since the airport regularly treats travellers to live concerts with local musicians.
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LaGuardia
The gritty New York of yesteryear is alive and well at LaGuardia’s food court in the Central Terminal. However, for a tad more refinement, head next door to celebrity chef Todd English’s Figs restaurant. It boasts a fully stocked bar and an ample wine selection that pairs nicely with its reasonably priced Mediterranean-inspired dishes, like pan-seared salmon with couscous or fig and prosciutto pizza. If you’re more bored than hungry and on your way to another U.S. city, consider renting a DVD player and a movie or two from the InMotion Entertainment shop. You can drop off rentals at any InMotion location or return them by mail within the U.S.
A Change of Pace at Singapore Changi
Voted the best airport in the world by Business Traveller magazine readers for the last 20 years, this East Asian hub is a destination in itself. There are 160 shops to browse, with prices guaranteed to match those in the city or you get double the difference back. We suggest picking up some swimwear and taking the plunge into Changi’s rooftop swimming pool and whirlpool. If you’d rather get some shut-eye, there are several snoozing options, including a rainforest-themed napping lounge and wellness centre. Afterwards, stretch your legs with a stroll through any of the six thematic gardens scattered throughout the complex. Better yet, if you have more than five hours to spare, you can sign up for a free two-hour sightseeing tour of Singapore.
Go Dutch at Amsterdam Schiphol
From a meditation centre to a branch of the city’s famed Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has amenities galore. Our personal favourite are the marriage services for jet-setting couples dreaming of an aviation-themed wedding, with the option of renting part or all of an airplane to host your post-nuptial party. For something uniquely indulgent, skip the casino and try the Back to Life Centre’s dry aqua-massage, an enclosed bed you can lie in fully clothed while 36 water jets put your body in a warm, tingly state of bliss.
(Giancarlo La Giorgia is a Montreal-based freelance journalist and the author of the non-fiction bestseller Canadian War Heroes: Ten Profiles in Courage.)
Useful information
Passport of Yorkville food court, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1, level 3, pre-security
10-Minute Manicure locations, Toronto Pearson International Airport, two in Terminal 1, level 2, post-security; two in Terminal 3, pre-security
Concerts in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Central Terminal, concourse level, post-security
Food court, LaGuardia Airport, Central Terminal, lower level, pre-security
Todd English’s Figs restaurant, LaGuardia Airport, Central Terminal, lower level, pre-security
InMotion Entertainment, LaGuardia Airport, Central Terminal, shopping concourse, pre-security
Singapore Changi International Airport’s rooftop pool, Terminal 1, Transit Mall East, level 3
Singapore Changi International Airport’s wellness centre, Terminal 1, Transit Mall West, level 3
Singapore Changi International Airport’s sightseeing tours, Terminal 1, Transit Mall East, level 2
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol wedding services, schipholweddings.nl
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol meditation centre, Departure Hall 3, top level
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Rijksmuseum, Departure Hall 2, ground level
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol massage centre, Departure Hall 2, ground level
Getting there
Air Canada, in co-operation with Star AllianceTM member airlines, has a vast network of flights around the world. Book now. Plus, take advantage of our great deals on hotels and car rentals.
TOP PHOTO: CHAR LEE / DREAMSTIME.COM
AUSTIN: S. STEVENS / CITY OF AUSTIN AVIATION DEPT.
AMSTERDAM: ARON BRAND / DREAMSTIME.COM
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