Hi Reader,

One of my favorite parts of a big vacation is finding a way to explore somewhere new along the way. On our trip to Kazakhstan, we spent two days in Frankfurt before continuing to Almaty. On the way home, we spent two days in Doha.

Both stopovers gave us time to see a new country and break up a long journey. Frankfurt also gave us a chance to adjust to the time difference before heading east. In Doha, we had another welcome opportunity to explore before flying home.

Two Days in Frankfurt

We stayed at Kennedy 89 and used our time to see Frankfurt and the Rhine Valley. We took a private tour in Frankfurt, then joined a Viator excursion along the Rhine Valley. The river portion didn’t go as planned, so the tour continued by road, with stops to enjoy the scenery and towns along the way.

Two days gave us a taste of Germany without making the stop feel rushed. It was a lovely way to begin a trip that would take us somewhere completely different.

Two Days in Doha

On our return, we stayed at Park Hyatt Doha, where we enjoyed a suite upgrade. We visited the Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif, the Corniche, Katara and The Pearl. One evening, we walked from the hotel to Souq Waqif, which made for an easy first outing.

We also booked a desert safari, adding a very different kind of experience to our short stay. Doha gave us a memorable final stop before our flight home.

How to Make the Most of a Short Stopover

A short stop can add a whole new destination to your vacation. Here are a few things that worked well for us:

• Choose a stopover long enough to leave the airport and explore at a comfortable pace.
• Pick a hotel that makes it easy to reach the places you most want to see.
• Plan a few highlights, then leave room to rest and enjoy the city.
• Use the stop to adjust to a major time change when your itinerary allows.
• Keep your sightseeing plans realistic. Two days is enough for a good introduction, even if you can’t see everything.

We love the chance to add another place to a vacation. Frankfurt and Doha made our Kazakhstan trip feel like an even bigger adventure.

Travel Tip

Keep your chargers, cables, and small tech items together in a slim organizer. I like this tech bag because it fits in my backpack without taking up much space.

​See the tech bag I use​

Where would you spend two extra days on your next trip?

Until next time,

Melodie
​Travel Must Do's​

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