The next time you have a layover at one of these airports, keep your swimsuit handy.
Layovers are objectively one of the most pesky component part about traveling . You could hit up an drome lounge to shoot down time , for sure , butaccess to loungesis increasingly unmanageable these days . before long you ’ll have to deal a kidney for that sweet WiFi access from a prosperous seat ( plus free booze ) .
But there are other ways to mitigate the boredom , especially asairports are becoming destinations in themselvesandamping up their amenities . No more hang out at drome bars or spending your time pat yourself with tester at tariff free . These day airports offerlibraries , manicure , massage , movie theater of operations , and more . O’Hare in Chicago offer ayoga room , airport like SFOdouble as artistry galleries , and Istanbul’sairport museumhas actual historical artifacts .
But recently a friend told me about an agreeableness he ’d experienced that I ’d never dared to stargaze about . When flying out of the Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic , he made certain he was early , and had his swimsuit handy.—because he was going to spend his special time in the airdrome ’s VIP Lounge pool . “ I was the only swimmer , so never really crowded , ” says my champion of the experience . “ Plus that day it was in the upper 80 degrees in Punta Cana … so the swim feel smashing . ”
Punta Cana International Airport
The airport pond feel like the stature of decadence , but in Punta Cana you do n’t in reality have to fly business enterprise or first class to get at the lounge . My friend used his Priority Pass , but anyone can walk up and pay the $ 50 USD entry fee ( swim pools , it seems , are n’t exempt from the aerodrome St. Mark - up ) . Then it ’s margaritas and cheery skies , as you swim in the infinity pool , catch plane take off below .
It turns out , there are a few drome with swim pools accessible to the public , stark to kill time between flight . We ’ve listed four of them below where you could fleece the time away . Can your lounge do that ?
Terminal B VIP Lounge, Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), Dominican Republic
Punta Cana International Airport take hold its position as the second busybodied and most connected airport in the Caribbean , so a reprieve from the crowd is all but a necessity . The high muckamuck lounge in Terminal B ease the frustration of traveling by offer its very own outdoor eternity puddle , with unobstructed view of the runways below . If you have a boarding pass from Terminal B , approach is granted through rank program like Priority Pass , Lounge Club , Lounge Key and Diner ’s Club . If you ’re pay , it ’s $ 35 with an American Express , and $ 50 otherwise . Children 2 to 7 years sure-enough are $ 15 .
Aerotel Singapore Transit Hotel, Changi Airport (SIN), Singapore
Changi Airport ’s reputation precedes it . It ’s more like a monumental interactive mall that happens to offer flight . It ’s also one of those aerodrome that actuallyisa destination in itself , with visitors come in daily just to see thenature - themed coordination compound , Jewel , which includes wedding venue and the world ’s marvelous indoor waterfall . But if you ’re more about get in the weewee itself , theAerotel Singapore Transit Hotelcan lodge your needs , with its own out-of-door swimming pool which the public can get at for around $ 21 USD .
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Oryx Airport Hotel, Hamad International Airport (DOH), Doha
Near the C , D , and E gates in the Doha airport you ’ll notice the Oryx hotel , have by Qatar airlines . In it , on the 4th story , is theVitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre . $ 48 will gain you access for four hours to a virtual playground , including a squash vine court , golf game simulator , spa , and hydropathy consortium . You ’ll also find a narrow 25 - metre swimming puddle encased in glass , like swim in a rhomb . You wo n’t have aspect of planes here , but you ’ll be get on one of those shortly enough .
TWA Hotel, John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), New York
One of the well - kept secrets in New York is the TWA Hotel at JFK aerodrome . A midcentury innovative masterpiece designed in 1962 by Eero Saarinen , it was a cutting - edge Jet Age pattern that elevated the standard of what an airport terminal was expect to be , and today feel like step back in time . The architecture alone is worth a day stumble or stop . But for AV geeks , the rooftop provides some of the best aeroplane spotting in the reality — so much so that it is the viewpoint of pick whenplanespotters L.A Flights are in town . The rooftop , infinity pool , and pool bar are open year - rotund and accessible to the populace for reservation in 1 hour and 45 minute increments . Prices are subject to change , but currently it ’s $ 50 for adults and $ 25 for children 2 to 12 .
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Photo by Eric Laignel, Courtesy of TWA Hotel