Downtown layovers
 

Does everyone think downtown layovers need to be reevaluated? A lot of them are run down, potentially dangerous, full of panhandlers, have poor food choices, noisy, and are a long drive from the airport. Some are still ok, but most are not good layovers anymore. Most people I fly with agree with this assessment. . The suburb or airport layovers seem to have much better food choices, are quieter for better sleeping, are safer for walking and jogging outside, and are closer to the airport.

No, everyone does not think this. Airport hotels are the worst. No thanks.

Any way we can get more layovers next to strip malls and Cheesecake Factories? Maybe even an outback?

There are a few downtown layovers that I did not like (LA, Jackson, Baltimore) but other than that I believe the opposite. The short layover hotels usually only have fast food or chain restaurants. Each of us like different things, if I were you I would either do turns or short layovers.

Good food choices at airport hotels means an Applebee’s and a McDonald’s. I have no interest in going back to that style overnight. I get that some people want to sit in a hotel room the entire layover, so a short drive is ideal, but downtown provides the option to slam-click as well as go find things to do.

and don’t forget a hotel van you actually have to wait for...and morning van times that aren’t specific to your report.

Domestically?

Small towns (quick van rides): Downtown layovers are AOK.

Major cities (long van rides): No thanks. Life is too short to spend 1-3 hours of a layover sitting in traffic in a van.

All American cities increasingly look the same anyway. Downtown safety is becoming a thing again. (aka "Murder-apolis". So much for Minnesota Nice.)

Internationally?

Yeah, better go downtown. Why fly international if you're not going to see some of the sights?

Your experience may differ.

Agree 100% with your assessment and examples (JAN and BWI are terrible downtowns)

DSM is a good example the other way...airport hotel only has fast food (and traffic noise) vs downtown, which has awesome restaurants and bars, greenway, baseball park, etc. Detroit is another one....Livonia layover sucks balls compared to downtown.

I am referring to domestic flying only..I do like some downtown layovers but the number is getting smaller and smaller. Indy, Boston, Little Rock, Houston, among others are good. Then you have the bad.....Jackson, Buffalo, Albany, Tallahassee, Baltimore, Dayton, Providence, NY, and St Louis, just to name a few. I have found most guys who like the downtown layovers are big beer drinkers. They always say this layover is horrible but I have a hole in the wall bar I like to go too.

I think the cutoff time between long and short layovers needs to change also. 12 hr layover I don't want to go downtown.. I'm not going to drink or go out usually. I just want to eat, work out, and sleep comfortably. 15+ hrs then maybe I'd rather go downtown. 12hrs isn't enough time imho.

But I'm also an anti-social millennial :D