H

idden gems ought to be declared at customs. But what if the entire airport itself is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by tired travelers?

Early one spectacular morning, I landed at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport. By mid-morning, I was playing in the snow outside a Buddhist temple with, among others, a German firefighter and two Englishwomen. By noon, we were whisked back to the airport with ample time for our connecting flights. By far, it was the best layover I have ever experienced.

Groggy and gritty from a 15-hour flight from Atlanta to Seoul, I was drawn to a “free shower” sign enticing me from my snug seat in the “Rest and Relax” center. “There is no way that an airport offers showers,” I thought. “A sink and mirror, maybe.”

 I was soon enchanted by the expansive shower room encapsulating me. Closing the heavy wooden door behind me, I caught a glimpse of my widened eyes in the spotless mirror. The room embodied elegance and cleanliness. Its sparkling clean facilities, stainless steel amenities, and fragrant scents rivaled those showers (I have heard about) in five-star hotels. And this was an airport.

Flying on a student’s budget, I chose the free hand towels instead of renting the US$$4 bath towels. That decision enabled me to wash away the weary worries of a long international flight without having to tap into my financial reservoirs.

Refreshed and walking with a spry gait that only a shower can induce, I strolled passed the elegant stone décor, artfully planted flowers, and avant-garde cafés of the “Rest and Relax” center. After treating myself to a few minutes in the free Internet lounge, I was filled with the delirious desire to share my enthusiasm for the airport with everyone and anyone.

“Isn’t this airport amazing?” I spontaneously asked a young British woman, who was browsing through a brochure.

“It is!” she exclaimed. “Did you know that they offer free temple tours?”

With the word “free” buzzing through my head, I sauntered with my new traveling companion to the information desk and inquired about free temple tours. Alas, the information official informed us, the tour required a minimum of four participants.

Not willing to let this opportunity slip away, my new friend and I went about the airport, asking complete strangers to join us. Four naysayers and two amiable “sure, why not” responses later, we proudly returned to the information desk.

We were escorted past security and immigration and introduced to our English-speaking tour guide. Seeing that one of our group members had no jacket, our guide kindly lent her an extra jacket, free of charge. Soon thereafter, Korean road signs zipped past us as we bussed our way up a mountain.

Standing in the shade of a 1,300-year-old tree and running my fingers through the icy snow left me at a loss for words. Wasn’t I supposed to be sitting in an uncomfortable chair or idly wandering the airport halls, as I waited for the seconds to crawl by until my 10-hour layover was over?

Instead, I was breathing in the crisp mountain air, huddled for warmth with a group of Germans and Englishwomen, kilometers away from the airport. We quickly made our way around the temple of Yonggungsa and paused to gently ring the massive temple bell. Within the hour, our guide punctually returned us to the airport, giving us enough time to feast on some delicious Korean bibimbap before our connecting flights.

The entire time, I was beaming with a huge smile. South Korea’s biggest airport was the best I have ever experienced. Although I did not know it at the time, research has consistently validated that claim.

The Airports Council International analyzed over 350,000 passenger surveys from 1,700 airports worldwide. It has rated Incheon as the “Best Airport Worldwide” for seven years in a row.

What makes it so great? In addition to temple tours and tours to downtown Seoul, visitors can relax in a spa or watch movies inside the airport’s 240 seat theatre. For the more active adventurers, there is an ice-skating rink located within the airport.

Visitors interested in culture can browse through the Korean Culture Museum’s collection of artifacts spanning Korea’s 5,000 year history, listen to traditional Korean instruments, or meditate within the indoor flower and tree gardens. Within two miles of the airport are an outdoor golf course and a special foreigners-only casino featuring poker, blackjack and roulette.

Never before have I felt so pampered, cultured and excited to be in an airport. Forget direct flights; for my return trip, I am requesting another 10-hour layover in Incheon.