Why Do a Stopover Program?
Stopover programs offer travelers the opportunity to visit an additional destination for little to no extra cost by offering free or discounted rates on hotels, transportation, activities and more! There are many to choose from, so we’ve made it easy for you to compare the best stopover programs that fit your travels. The best thing about stopover programs? You can still book your flights with points and miles and reap the rewards of doing a stopover!
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Stopover programs can be a great way to discover new destinations that you may not have considered visiting before. If you are already planning on going to multiple destinations, it’s worth looking to see if that destination has a stopover program. For example, if you are traveling from North America to Asia, you could stopover in Europe for a few days to rest and explore before continuing your journey. This can help to reduce jet lag and make your overall travel experience more comfortable. You should also check if there are any additional perks for frequent flyer programs you are a part of. Let’s dive in to the best stopover programs!
The Best Stopover Programs
1. Etihad Airways Stopover Program
Etihad’s stopover program in Abu Dhabi offers the following options.
- 1-2 nights completely free in a 3 or 4 star hotel
- Stay up to 4 nights with a 40% discount in a 4 or 5 star hotel
- 1 night free at a hotel close to the airport if you have a layover between 10 and 24 hours
The airline also provides discounts on restaurants, theme parks and experiences, and even spas! We got a 4-star hotel with a gym, pool, free breakfast & more for 2 nights by doing a stopover in Abu Dhabi on our way from Zurich, Switzerland to Jakarta, Indonesia.
2. Qatar Airways Stopover Program
Qatar Airways’ stopover program gives heavily discounted rates on hotels in Doha, Qatar. Just check these out!
You just can’t beat staying in a 4-star hotel for $14/night! They also provide you with a free itinerary depending on how many days you are staying, and offer discounts on some amazing tours.
We flew with Qatar Airways on our way from Bangkok to Boston and participated in their stopover program, and it was unbelievable. We chose to stay in Souq Al Wakra hotel and it was beautiful (pictured below). We really enjoyed our time in Qatar and will definitely be using this stopover program again!
3. Turkish Airlines Stopover Program
Turkish Airlines stopover program in Istanbul gives you a free night at one of their partner hotels. If you are flying economy, you get a free night at a 4-star hotel, and if you are flying business class, you get a free night at a 5-star hotel. In addition to this, they give you some hand-crafted recommendations for how to spend your time in Istanbul. We like this program because you can definitely hit the key sights in Istanbul within 8-10 hours. Keep in mind that you need a layover of over 20 hours to qualify for this program.
4. Oman Air Stopover Program
Oman Air’s stopover program has free or discounted stays at 3, 4, and 5 star hotels in Muscat, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, and Mussanah. These hotels then come with benefits like free breakfast, free airport transfers, discounted spa packages, and discounted dining options. They also have a day tour option with complimentary transportation AND complimentary airport lounge access for those doing an 8-hour stopover in Muscat.
5. Air China Stopover Program
Air China’s Stopover Program has various cities, which is rare. It boasts programs in Beijing, Chengdu (Shuangliu), Chengdu (Tianfu), Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Chongqing, Wenzhou, and Wuhan. Travelers with a 6-30 hour layover are eligible for a free hotel with breakfast as well as transportation to and from the hotel. If you’re in a lesser known destination in Asia, and are flying 8+ hours to your next destination, it might make sense to stop in one of the Chinese cities with a bigger airport, explore the city, and get a cheaper flight to your next destination.
6. Emirates Stopover Program
Emirates offers a stopover program in Dubai that grants you discounted rates for accommodations, experiences, transportation & more. While their prices vary by season and demand, these discounts will help you soften the blow of the Dubai prices. One of the main benefits of the Emirates Stopover Program is that there is 24-hour hotel check-in/check-out, and it is priced accordingly. So if you wanted to check out at 4 pm, you wouldn’t have to pay for that night, you would pay per hour.
7. Tap Air Portugal Stopover Program
Tap Air Portugal offers a stopover program in Lisbon or Porto that grants you discounted rates (around 20% off) for accommodations, experiences, and dining if you enroll in their stopover program. Lots of airlines offer similar packages, so this doesn’t seem like a crazy good deal. However, if you do their stopover program, you will get 25% off on your second flight that is within Portugal. So you can fly to the Azores, Madeira Island, Porto, Lisbon, and more while only paying 75% of the regular price. We highly recommend this for anyone traveling from a European country that wants to explore the Azores!
8. Royal Jordanian Airlines Stopover Program
There are a lot of requirements for the Royal Jordanian Airlines stopover program in Amman, but they are mostly to avoid travelers from taking TOO much advantage of them. The main requirement is that there isn’t a connecting flight to your next destination within 8 hours (which you can configure with a little research). The airline is probably the reason for this, so they give you free accommodations, meals, and ground transportation. Not to mention, Jordan seems to be a very much up and coming destination in recent years!
9. Iberia Stopover Program
Iberia’s Hola Madrid stopover program offers a stopover in Madrid. This will give you discounted rates at partner hotels, discounts on recommended experiences and they will even give you a free transportation pass that lets you get around Madrid via bus, light rail, and metro. You also get a 25% discount on most flights within Spain and to Portugal and the Balearic islands. This would be a great idea for someone wanting to explore the aforementioned destinations; if you already want to go there, why not get some great discounts?
10. Ethiopian Airlines Stopover Program
The Ethiopian Airlines stopover program in Addis Ababa has a maximum layover time of 24 hours and there can’t be a connecting flight that takes you to your next destination. However, you will likely qualify for this program and get a free night stay at one of the partner hotels. Ethiopian Airlines also provides transit visas and transportation to and from the airport. Addis Ababa is a lesser explored destination and it would be great to take advantage of this program!
That’s a Wrap! The Best Stopover Programs
Stopover programs are a great way to explore a new city and its surrounding areas. With many stopover programs lasting up to a week, you can even see multiple places in the country, all while getting discounts that other travelers are not entitled to! There are many more stopover programs, but these are our favorite so far. Did you know you can also “create” your own stopover program? If you use the Google Flights Explore feature, you will often find that it’s cheaper than flying direct or consecutively. Pair that with any savings from miles/points on accommodations, and you have your very own stopover program! P.S. check out our favorite credit cards for travel to earn some of these points. We were ecstatic when we first found stopover programs, and hope you will be too!
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
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