Katie Lockhart

The dreaded layover. What’s that, eight hours to kill? In an airport? Yikes. The romance of The Terminal quickly wears off in a blur of uncomfortable seats, stale sandwiches, and those internal discussions about whether it is okay to drink a beer at 8am in the morning. You’re at an airport, and time is an abstract concept. As for the rest? Luckily, not all airports are created equal; some are better than others. The coolest airports in the world understand the needs of the modern traveller. Why wouldn’t they? There’s absolutely no reason why any airport worthy of the name shouldn’t be home to an indoor garden, an art museum, a massive waterfall or anything else. At the very least, it should have a wide variety of food and drink options and some pretty friendly staff, right? Right. Some of these airports are so awesome that they are becoming destinations in their own right, which is an extremely strange sentence to type. Eight hours to kill in the airport? Forget the booze; let’s get exploring. Here are the best airports in the world according to us. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in the world

Surrounded by working rice paddies and swaying palms, this resort is an hour and a half outside Phnom Penh. Its 24 rustic rooms and ten mod suites are built inside traditional Khmer stilted bungalows. But besides the shocking levels of tranquillity, a stay here does some serious good for the local community. The Farmhouse resort works in conjunction with the non-profit Smiling Gecko, a training resort where Cambodian children learn various skills, including farming, cooking and English.

You’ve probably never heard of the Anambas Islands, but that’s by design. This super remote cluster of lush islands is home to the ultra-luxe Bawah Reserve. Indonesia’s answer to the Maldives, this hideaway has 36 villas, split between overwater and beach. Arguably one of Asia’s most sustainable resorts, it has its own recycling, bottling and desalination plant, as well as a massive floating solar farm that powers 50 per cent of the resort. The cherry on top? The stay here is all-inclusive; yep, that means laundry and a daily spa treatment too.

Combining the best of both, The Datai is sandwiched between an ancient tropical rainforest and a postcard-perfect bay on the Andaman Sea. Its 121 luxe rooms, suites, and villas have thatched roofs, teak flooring, soaking tubs and ethereal canopy beds. Spend days here swimming in the bay’s gentle waves, taking nature walks through the flora, or enjoying a muscle-melting massage in the streamside spa. Creatures and critters are no strangers to The Datai, so keep your eyes peeled for the Dusky langur, a local monkey that is equal parts cute and cheeky.

Let’s admit it, Thailand is Asia’s resort hub. There are seemingly endless options among the nation’s islands and shores, but the Four Seasons Koh Samui is stunning enough to make you do a double-take. It’s so pretty that its sugar-white private beach fringed by palm trees is the setting for the upcoming season of The White Lotus. Book an Oceanfront Pool Villa with a private infinity pool and views over the sparkling emerald bay. Its signature Thai restaurant, Koh Thai, is an open-air dream. Gorge yourself on fresh tuna larb, tom yum goong and blue crab curry. Pst, don’t forget the mango sticky rice!

Swaying palm trees and sunset evenings personify this open-air beachside bar in Hiriketiya. Arguably Sri Lanka’s best place to drink, Smoke & Bitters’ tiki-inspired tipples pair perfectly with the food menu, highlighting smoked meats. Comprising local liquors like arrack, combined with ingredients like smoked wild bee honey, Ceylon vanilla and local pineapple, cocktails here are  a true sip of Sri Lanka. Given its reputation, this place is always packed, so book well in advance for a seat under the stars.

Hybrid Saigon is a true speakeasy – you’ll need a map and a microscope to find this secret bar. Hidden down an alley and inside another bar, Hybrid Saigon is cosy and calming; however, its drinks are anything but. Innovative and slightly chaotic, its cocktail menu is a masterclass in wacky flavours. Try the Black Tomato with white chocolate, tomato, mint, and Bacardi or the Maestro Mushroom with mushrooms, honey, chicken fat, and whisky. Hybrid is a place where being adventurous pays off and gets you drunk.

Upping Jakarta’s cocktail scene since 2021, The Cocktail Club is reminiscent of an old-school gentleman’s club. Leather chairs, billiard table lights, handmade tiles, and stained-glass windows decorate the space. More importantly, cocktails are grouped so you know exactly who among the expert bar staff is the mixologist.. Sample the Unjung Pandan, made with kaffir lime gin, housemade pandan liquor, absinthe and housemade coconut syrup from Kiki Moka. Or try the Surf & Turf Martini made with beef seasoning distillate, lobster bisque distillate, vermouth and absinthe by Erik Opung. You can’t go wrong with whichever bartender’s elixir you choose.