mar
04
| by Sean O'Neill | Thailand, Airfares & Flying, Airport Check-in | 10 |
(Photos: Sean O'Neill)
(Sean O'Neill)
I had never heard of Samui Airport until I visited it last month during a trip to Samui, an island off the eastern coast of Thailand. It instantly became my favorite airport in the world. Here's why:
• At the departure gates, free pies and fruit juices (blueberry, orange, or pineapple) are offered at a counter. And they were delicious!
• The lounge is full of wicker chairs and couches with plush upholstery.
• A children's playground lets kids unwind, but at a quiet remove from the other waiting passengers.
• The airport takes advantage of the tropical weather by having an open-air design. Fresh-cut flowers decorate all sections.
• Airy, modern, and superclean bathrooms.
• An airline representative circulates through the departure lounge, pre-clearing passengers for departure and thus circumventing the need for lengthy waiting boarding lines.
• Free Wi-Fi.
• The TVs are silent, with closed-captioning. And they're tuned to sports news, not financial or political news.
To quote another passenger I overheard, "This airport is so pretty, I'd spend the night here."
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