"If you reject the food ignore the customs fear the religion and avoid the people you might better stay at home." James A. Michener

If you are on a budget AVOID AIRPORT FOOD!

At many airports the food and drink can be hellishly expensive (We were asked to pay £9 for a single slice of Pizza in one airport - needless to say we went hungry).

Nonetheless there’s nothing like a tasty snack or meal to make time move a little quicker so I always tried to buy some favourite snacks from a supermarket on the way into the airport. I would say that this probably saved me around £100 over the duration of the trip. It might not sound a lot but it worked out to the cost of three nights accommodation!

Of course not all airports are nightmarish and there are some that are actively recommended.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The traveller's lounge at US$ 17 buys you access to free food, tea, coffee, beer, internet, magazines, TV, access to massage chairs, mini golf putting green, and showers.

And the best airport that I have ever visited in the Singapore Changi Airport which offers so much. (Lisa's journal has much to say about this airport!)

A cool website to visit lists the ten best airports and the ten worst airports from the eyes a budget traveller. It makes fascinating if somewhat scary reading and can help prepare you.

The Top Ten Best Airports

1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Schipol, Amsterdam, Netherlands
3. Athens, Greece
4. Auckland, New Zealand
5. Helsinki, Finland
6. Hong Kong, China
7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8. Oslo, Norway
9. Seoul Incheon, South Korea
10. Vancouver, Canada

The Ten Worst Airports

1. Cape Town International Airport, South Africa
2. Bombay, (Mumbai), India
3. Cairo, Egypt
4. Chicago O'Hare, Illinois
5. Delhi, India
6. Jakarta, Indonesia
7. Kiev, Ukraine
8. Lagos, Nigeria
9. Moscow Sheremetyevo, Russia
10. Paris Charles de Gaule, France