The world’s Top 5 airports, as chosen by Wanderlust readers
1: Changi Airport, Singapore
A city, nature reserve, shopping mall and hotel all rolled into one, Changi Airport has always led the way in showing what an airport can and should be. Light, spacious and a judicious mix of quiet corners and glitzy shopping, it has dominated the ‘Best Airport’ lists since opening in 1981.
The airport is always evolving. It features six gardens, a koi pond, movie theatres, an entertainment deck with Playstations and Xboxes, and, in Terminal 3, the largest slide in an airport. A new heritage zone features shopfronts mimicking the multi-coloured facades of old Peranakan houses and a 1960s-themed Food Street where you can feast on local favourites from Hainanese Chicken Rice to Bak Kut The.
The Changi website conveniently suggest things to do, based on the length of your layover, including a spa treatment or, if you have longer, a free guided tour of Singapore.
2: Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
Located on the island of Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong International Airport replaced Hong Kong’s notorious Kai Tak Airport, which was famous for its hair-raising approach over the tenement block of Kowloon. Mountains were flattened, acres of land reclaimed and Sir Norman Foster brought onboard to create an airport that, for a few years at least, was the largest in the world.
Now, it is the third largest airport, but there are still plenty of things to do between flights. There’s a SkyPlaza offering a wide variety of shops and restaurants, an IMAX theatre with the largest screen in Hong Kong, and 9-hole and 18-hole simulation golf games at GreenLiveAIR. The Giant Buddha, on top of Lantau Island, is only a short cable car ride away.
3: Zurich Airport, Switzerland
As well as the usual array of shops, including a specialty Lindt chocolate store, and a play area for kids, Zurich Airport has become something of a tourist attraction itself, courtesy of its observation decks.
Observation Deck B features a walkway where visitors can watch the pilots in the cockpit. Multimedia binoculars, called Airportscopes, provide background information on points of interest at Zurich Airport, while the miniature airport is a fun place for kids to play and learn.
4: Hamad International Airport, Doha
Opened in 2014 to replace the old Doha International Airport, Hamad International airport has quickly staked its claim as the most luxurious in the world, featuring gold-plated coffee kiosks, a pool with runway views, and a concourse that doubles as an art gallery featuring the work of international artists.
The shopping is high end too, with over 80 designer stores, including Armani, Chanel, Hermes and Bulgari, as well as shops selling gold. There’s a five star hotel with a 1,400 square foot Presidential Suite, a games room with pinball machines and table footballs, and a play zone for kids, complete with a full size Formula 1 car.
5: Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Schiphol bills itself as the ‘Most Relaxing Airport in the World’ and, laying back in the a beanbag, listening to pre-recorded birdsong in the Airport ‘Park’, you’ll be hard-pressed to disagree.
Elsewhere, automatic massage chairs called Massage-o-Matics throughout the airport offer a quick massage, complete with soothing music and serene images. XpresSpa offers a deeper massage, as well as various beauty treatments. The Meditation Centre offers a non-denominational and interfaith space, where you can pray, meditate, or just relax in silence.
If that all sounds too calm and inactive, there are exercise bikes in the Airport Park that also charge your phone, plus a casino where, if you feel lucky, you could put all your loose currency on black.
Article Source: http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/planatrip/inspire-me/lists/top-5-world-airports-wanderlust-reader-travel-awards
Image Source: http://cdn.wanderlust.co.uk/contentimages/wanderlust/magazine-cropped-dreamstime_xl_54031153.jpg?maxwidth=460
VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Nature reserve (n.) ~ a tract of land managed so as to preserve its flora, fauna, and physical features
2. Judicious (adj.) ~ having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense
3. Notorious (adj.) ~ famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed
4. Miniature (adj.) ~ (especially of a replica of something) of a much smaller size than normal very small
5. High-end (adj.) ~ denoting the most expensive of a range of products
6. Non-denominational (adj.) ~ open or acceptable to people of any Christian denomination
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. Describe the five airports mentioned above.
2. Describe th biggest airport in your ｃountry? What is its special feature, if there is any? If there is none, what kind of facility do you think should be added to make it more attractive?
3. Do you think its necessary for airports to add tourism facilities? Discuss your opinion.
4. What is the best airport you have ever been to? What makes it special?
