It goes without saying that time spent in the airport is usually the worst part of any trip -- the term "layover" is basically a dirty word to frequent flyers. But airport advancements in recent years have made time spent there a bit more bearable.
Simple additions and amenities go a long way -- for proof just look to airports with free Wi-Fi. Taken to a larger scale, though, additional amenities have made some airports destinations in their own right.
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Abroad, airports have stepped up their offerings in a major way. Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is one of many that rent personal sleep suites or pods, some of which come complete with a shower and TV. At Munich Airport you can ice skate in the winter or play "beach" volleyball in the same area when the weather heats up. If golf is more your speed, Hong Kong International Airport has a nine-hole professional-level course so you can not only practice, but actually challenge yourself and elevate your game while you wait for your flight.
In the U.S., big airports have made improvements of their own. From New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to California's San Francisco International Airport, and many in between, U.S. airports have been making changes big and small in order to improve the experience for travelers.
When it comes to some of these improvements, you might not believe these places and things exist in airports.
-Diana Gerstacker, The Active Times
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