My favorite airports…worldwide!

Author: Karen
Date of Trip: August 2007

Just back from 18 days in France and the Paris Airport is huge…traffic problems can cause delays, so either stay at a hotel close to the airport before leaving town or leave extra early. Once there, there’s really not much to see or do, esp. considering it’s Paris! Plus the Arrival sections are not clean and a lot of strange looking people hanging around, so watch your bags and pockets! And not nearly enough seating at any of the small eateries outside the security checkpoints, so we put off eating, which was a mistake.

Favorite airports worldwide: Madrid – beautiful, extra clean, lots of stores and restaurants at all points in the facility. Excellent security. Munich – beautiful, very clean, excellent security, good restaurants and stores. Traveled through there 3 x and enjoyed it. London is nice, good retailers, but it’s just huge, with all the accompanying problems. Amsterdam – tremendous! Manageable size, lovely stores, ok restrooms, but overall very enjoyable and safe.

In the USA, I love the Phoenix airport! Manageable size, well laid out, clean, safe, great stores and many small eateries. Good place to change planes, avoiding Vegas and Denver. Oakland airport is a treasure! Manageable, so much easier than San Francisco! BART location, easy access for passenger pickup, easier to get on Rt. 582 and get going! And don’t knock Philadelphia….ok, occasional baggage problems, but manageable. Oversees Arrival Terminal is the pits, though…tooooo much walking, esp. if you’re carrying hand baggage, so travel light! Good stores in Arrival and Departure terminals, though and food available.