It’s safe to say that more often than not, the worst part about traveling is dealing with the airport. And by “the airport” I mean literally any airport. All airports are the worst and every time I’m in one I can’t wait until I’m no longer in it. But while most airports are nearly unbearable because of all the people and all the waiting, some of them are just plain scary! Here are some of the scariest airports in the world that are definitely worth avoiding at all cost.

PARO AIRPORT, BHUTAN

Paro Airport’s main problem is its location. It lies between two 18,000-foot mountains which make for especially difficult landings. In fact, only a small handful of pilots are even legally certified to land a plane here. Visibility is also a major problem. Pilots literally have to maneuver between the curving mountains as they descent, they will only see the runway at the last moment, and landing is only allowed in the daylight. Oh, also, the airport has no radar system. No thanks!

LUKLA AIRPORT, NEPAL

This is a tough one if you were planning to climb Mt. Everest someday as this is the nearest airport. But there’s one major problem with this particular airport: the runway leads right to a 2,000-foot drop! No thank you. Not to mention the weather conditions in the area are so bad that heavy fog has led to climbers being started for weeks at a time. Better play it safe and just take the 11-hour bus ride from Kathmandu if you’re still determined to climb Everest.

PRINCESS JULIANA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ST. MAARTEN

Every time a plane lands at Princess Juliana Airport it looks like something out of a Michael Bay action film. That’s because the plane has to fly so close to the public beach below that it looks like an accident and the plane is about to crash. On average, arriving planes are traveling about 100 feet above the sunbathers below. I’ll be taking my beach vacation anywhere else, thank you very much!

COURCHEVEL ALTIPORT, COURCHEVEL, FRANCE

This small, mountainside airport is mostly used to service the ski resort nearby. But the runway can be so icy and the drop at the end of the runway so deadly that any pilot hoping to land there has to be specially certified to do so. Get this; this particular airport is so fascinatingly dangerous that it was featured in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.

CONGONHAS AIRPORT, SAO PAULO

Congonhas Airport was first built in the 30’s when the city of Sao Paulo was a fairly small city. But since then it has grown dramatically and now the airport is delicately tucked within the city’s skyscrapers. Even worse, there are often drainage problems in the area that make the runways slick and has led to some planes sliding right off the tarmac. In fact, in 2007, a plane lost control and crashed into a nearby warehouse. 187 passengers along with 12 people on the ground died. I don’t think I ever really wanted to go to Sao Paulo anyway.

Disneyland always has been and always will be the most magical place on Earth. But there is a lot to do while you’re there! And it’s easy to cram too much into your day and become exhausted. So it’s smart to take a break whenever you can, for you and your kids. Here are the best spots within the park to do just that.

THE DISNEYLAND RAILROAD

There are multiple stops throughout the park for this fun little train. There is a wait to board at times, but the ride in its entirety can take 18 minutes. Which can be a dream come true when your feet are killing you and you just need a dang break. Not to mention it’s a great way to take in all the park in a hurry and see all the sights.

DISNEYLAND BABY CARE CENTER

If you’re doing Disneyland with a baby or toddler this place is a must. It has everything you might need from diaper changing stations, small toilets for potty training, and private rooms for breastfeeding. Plus plenty of seating to rest your weary legs.

MAIN STREET CINEMA

This place is actually really cool and is a great way to trick your kids into taking a break. It’s a movie theater that is constantly playing six classic Disney cartoons. Including the one that started it all, Steamboat Willie!. It’s a great way to give your legs a rest, keep the kids occupied, and, sometimes most importantly, enjoy some well-deserved air conditioning.

THE OPERA HOUSE

Another great option if you just want to sit down in an air-conditioned room, the Opera House is currently showing The Disneyland Story: Presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. It also can be cool for the kids as it has large models showing what the park looked like in 1955, the Capital Building, and even a beautiful model of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

THE MARK TWAIN RIVERBOAT

You can never go wrong with a boat ride! Kids love boats. And this little riverboat rides takes about 14 minutes. Which may seem short, but can save your life when you’ve been running around all day. You’ll also get fun views of waterfalls, some fake but realistic looking animals, and even the Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

THE HUNGRY BEAR RESTAURANT

This restaurant has been in Disneyland forever and is a great place to take a break and grab a bite. It’s two stories so there’s almost always plenty of room. And it also has a great view of the Rivers of America.

THE BRIDGE ON THE THUNDER TRAIL

This isn’t the best spot to get a real break in the park, but it includes two very important elements. A big tree that can provide much-needed shade on a hot day, and a peaceful waterfall that can calm down the rowdiest of children. It’s not necessarily ideal, but it can still save your life if you’re really hurting.

     Michelle Higgins of The New York Times is proof of this slightly overlooked hack when she visited the Grand Canyon in August with her nine-year-old daughter. She booked a two-night stay at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona. Upon arrival, her $299-a-night double queen room reservation was upgraded to a two-bedroom, two-bath suite with a kitchenette, a fireplace, and dual balconies facing the Boynton Canyon.

      Apart from those, she was informed by the receptionist that their daily breakfast could be taken either in the room or at the hotel restaurant. Moments later, a golf cart serviced them to their spacious suite where a service attendant arrived with a fruit and cheese platter and a personalized welcome note. Such VIP treatment wasn’t due to Higgins being a famed personality but to her old-fashioned way of booking – with a travel agent.

     When most travelers have turned to independent booking as it credits flexibility, control, and cost-cutting by booking through websites, luxury travelers with a minimum spending of $300 a night could use a travel adviser/agent for better deals, specifically ones from large consortia like American Express, Signature Travel Network, or Virtuoso for their longstanding partnerships with travel companies. Senior Vice President of Preferred Partnerships for Signature Travel Network Phil Cappelli claimed, “We buy a considerable amount from the travel providers and are able to secure additional benefits for guests.” Perks referred to can include airport transfers, complimentary breakfasts, late checkouts, spa treatments, and room upgrades, among others. When using a travel agent, the aforementioned extras come at no additional cost.

       For American Express Platinum card members, long as they book through American Express Travel, they are given access to the benefits (which vary by card level) whether they talk to an agent; book online; or through the app. Same goes for Virtuoso.com and Signature Travel Network with shipboard credits and exclusive, personalized perks offered to users.

     The relationship these travel agents have with tourism services (e.g. hotels, cruise lines) is a two-way street; as the agents drive up sales to reap benefits for their clients, they also receive commissions. To lower the risk of encountering a travel agent who’d prioritize his/her incentives before your experience, it’s recommended to respectfully ask how he/she is compensated. 

     Going back to Higgins’ experience, with thorough research prior to consulting Beth Washington at McCabe World Travel, a Virtuoso member, she was able to stumble upon the cheapest, nonrefundable rate of Enchantment worth $623.38 and an option offering flexible cancellation worth $718.76 for two nights. Virtuoso’s rate was the same as the latter, incorporating daily breakfast (a $30 credit per person, per day) and $100 credit for spa or golf. Since Higgins’ daughter wasn’t eligible for spa sessions because of her age and golf wasn’t really their thing, the Virtuoso adviser offered the credit to be applied to food and beverage instead.

   In lieu of going through the hassle of planning a complex vacation by yourself, travel agents are relied on by tourism sectors like cruise lines, aware that purchasing a cruise experience involves multiple choices like room categories, restaurants, and land excursions.

     To get the most out of your luxury vacation whilst keeping your savings at bay, below are the three mentioned travel adviser consortia and their perks that come with booking through one of their members:

American Express Platinum Card Members

     Perks inclusive of early check-in and room upgrades when available; complimentary daily breakfast for up to two guests; $100-valued “unique amenities”; guaranteed late check out at 4pm; and five times the usual number of AmEx points or the ability to use Pay with Points on prepaid stays at Fine Hotels and Resorts Properties on AmexTravel.com could help you save about $550 at 1,100 hotels worldwide on a two-night stay.

Virtuoso

     Similar to AmEx’s benefits, Virtuoso also offers complimentary meals and Wi-Fi services and depends on the hotel’s availability for upgrades, early check-ins, and late checkouts. Additional perks may include complimentary airport transfers, spa treatments, and other meals – all with estimated savings of more than $500 per stay, available at 1,400 hotels in 100 countries.

Signature Travel Network

     With up to $500 savings on a two to five-night stay in luxury hotels, you can get complimentary full breakfasts, food and beverage credits, spa treatments, airport transfers, room upgrades, early check-ins, and late check-outs, varying by hotel.