Ever planned for a long layover? What’s different about the planning for an Orthodox Jew with an overnight layover? What about a whole family?
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So you found a great ticket and it even includes a great layover. Enough time to leave the airport and tour a bit. So you book a tour, and if it’s an overnight then a place to stay as well. But, if you’re an Orthodox Jew with an overnight layover, you’re not done yet–especially if you have kids with you. And timing will play an important role in your planning too.
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We have an upcoming 22-hour overnight layover. Although I’ve written a prior article about Layover Tips for Jewish Travelers, this particular layover has some unique aspects to it.
Unique Trip
On this particular trip, we’ll be leaving our hotel around 9 AM on a Sunday morning–and this is only 2 days after Pesach. So, not sure what the kids will be able to have for breakfast–or even if they’ll be able to. The flight will arrive at our layover destination around 3 PM. So much for lunch! It’s a relatively short flight. But from a small foreign airport. No food at the airport and no food on the plane. And not sure what we’ll be able to bring from the Pesach Hotel with us either.
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Next, we’ll have to pass through immigration and clear customs. Due to the length of the layover, there’s a high probability we won’t be able to check our luggage all the way through. (We won’t be shipping our luggage on this trip.) So, we’ll have to wait for our suitcases before clearing customs and then take time to store them at the airport. We really don’t want to shlep them into the city…for so many reasons.
We’re staying about a half hour from the airport, so all things considered, I anticipate getting to our accommodations around 5-6 PM. Even accounting for the time change, it’s still a 7-8 hour travel day.
We’ll have five kids with us. Not sure if I need to be more concerned about the cranky teenagers or cranky toddler or someone cranky in-between. Maybe it’s the cranky adults? 🤷♀️
Either way, someone will be cranky…probably (definitely?). I guess knowing what to expect is helpful, at least.
But, it doesn’t end there. When we leave the next day, we have to leave for the airport by about 10 AM, possibly earlier depending on our luggage situation. And, as kosher observant Jews, we can’t just pop over to the local bakery and pick up some muffins and coffee on the way to the airport (or even at the airport). The next leg of our trip is also a relatively short flight–yes, we have another layover. So, we’ll be waiting around to depart on an international flight from an another airport with almost no kosher food options. Then boarding a two-and-a-half hour (no meal service) flight to a four hour layover!
This layover airport does have several places to get some kosher sandwiches and some of the lounges even offer hot kosher food (some need pre-ordering).
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The four hour layover is followed by an 11+ hour flight. The long-haul flight should have kosher meals. But, I’ve traveled enough to know that doesn’t always happen. We are scheduled to land back at home around 10 PM (local time, but 7 AM the next day at our origin). Figure we’ll get home around midnight. There won’t be any food in the house because it was just Passover. But, there’s a local pizza shop that delivers and is open until midnight. I’ll be sure to order extra for school lunch the next day (am I being overly ambitious?)
So, the schedule of the travel is a bit unique, although not really. The unique aspect here, as relates to food, is the proximity to Passover. And the unique aspect as relates to minyan, is the destination.
Kosher Food
While making sure we have kosher food is always a concern when traveling, sometimes there are more things to consider than others. Remember, kosher food is not available at any of the initial stage of this overnight layover. And, the only kosher “establishment” in our departure city is our hotel.
So, how do you plan?
Your plan has to have contingency plans. And your contingencies have to have contingencies. If you’re traveling alone, this may not be necessary. But if you have kids, you know that “sorry, there’s nothing to eat” is not going to cut it.
So, what’s the plan?
We plan to take enough non-perishable food (and non-liquid: yogurt, apple sauce, peanut butter, etc.) from the hotel’s breakfast to last us at least until we’re able to get dinner at our layover city. Assuming we can get dinner at our layover city.
There are a couple of possible complications with this plan.
First, we may not make it to breakfast. Have you tried packing a family of seven out of a hotel on a Sunday morning after two weeks of yom tov? Have you tried getting teenage girls to be up and ready to go anywhere at 9 o’clock on a Sunday morning?
Next, we are assuming that breakfast will have sufficient quantities of non-perishables. And, since we can not assume our flight will not be delayed, we need extra food.
Finally (is there ever such a thing when traveling with such unpredictable variables as children?), there may not be any kosher restaurants or other availability at our destination. I know what you’re thinking: wouldn’t you already know if your overnight layover is in a city with no kosher restaurants? Yes, of course! However, this is so close to the end of Passover that they may not have re-opened yet.
So, what are the back-up plans?
If we are concerned that we won’t make it to breakfast or that there won’t be enough food available, we can prepare ahead of time. Remember, we’re taking non-perishable food with us. So, we can gather up some food ahead of time. We just have to avoid liquids and produce. (Fruits and vegetables are ok when traveling domestically and liquids are ok when not traveling by air.)
We’re also going to use the hotel tea room to stock up in case we won’t be able to get the same “to-go” options at our layover city for the next leg of the trip.
Now what about the availability of kosher food in our layover city? There are several kosher restaurants and at least one grocery. We can definitely check the hours of operation ahead of time to ensure that Sunday won’t be an issue nor the morning hours before we leave. However, what about the proximity to Pesach?
Usually when we travel we use one of the apps or other resources I have previously recommended. And, always confirm the accuracy ahead of time. But, with only Shabbos between the end of Passover and our anticipated layover, it’s likely that the restaurants will not yet be fully functioning.
I’ve already been in touch with a local rabbi. He has confirmed that the restaurants will “probably” be running. But no guarantees. We will check again as it gets closer and prepare “just in case”. We can’t take any chances when traveling with small children.
The same will be true for the entire trip. We will have to bring enough with us:
- for the time between leaving the hotel and arriving at our layover accommodations: definite
- during the entire overnight layover: possible (depending on restaurants being open)
- for the time between leaving the layover accommodation and arriving at the second layover airport: probable since there is one lounge in the departure airport that has kosher food, but again, so close to Passover may be an issue
- during the time at the second layover airport: possible (airport might not have restocked on kosher food post-Passover; inbound flight gets too delayed or other complications that limit the time at the airport)
- for the long-haul flight back home: possible since there is supposed to be meal service but it’s not always reliable or sufficient
- just in case: definite since you can never be too prepared for almost 48 hours of travel with limited access to kosher food
While most travelers look forward to exploring local cuisine, taking recommendations from foodies, or just relying on street food, as an Orthodox Jew with an overnight layover you have to be prepared. Hungry children (and adults) can quickly devolve to being hangry.
Minyan
Orthodox Jewish males pray three times a day, preferably with a minyan (quorum). While there are times that this is not possible, it’s not ideal. Some people have been known to go to great lengths to avoid missing the opportunity that a minyan offers. This can range from changing/cancelling travel plans, picking a particular route or itinerary, or even chartering a private jet and bringing along your own minyan.
5 Tips to Ensure a Minyan on Vacation
However, such lengths are not necessary if your overnight layover is in a city with a regular minyan (and you’ll be there when it is scheduled). There are apps and websites that can help you find minyanim (always verify the accuracy). However, some cities or synagogues, may not just let you in. It’s unfortunate, but there are various security concerns in different locales.
My son was recently in Mexico City and the security guard at one synagogue didn’t let him in. He didn’t have ID on him (not sure it would have helped anyway) and the person who was authorized to over-ride the security guard was in the middle of his own prayers. There were enough other shuls, so my son just went elsewhere.
However, in some cities all synagogues will have this type of security. Or, in the case of our layover city, there is only one shul with a weekday minyan–so there’s no option if he’s not let in. And, in any case, it’s quite common in many parts of the world that a synagogue will have security concerns.
So my husband and son have to register ahead of time with the synagogue. They were told to contact the office a few days in advance and send in a copy of their passports. Only then will they even be told the schedule of the services.
Many places may require this only if attending on Shabbos since you can’t carry your passport with you. Others require it all the time. But this is something that you have to plan for and arrange ahead of time.
Some places may want you to register for a completely different reason. It’s possible they don’t always have a minyan. But, if they know you’re coming they can take it into account when trying to ensure a minyan that day.
Another thing to keep in mind is location. Even if you won’t be staying over Shabbos, if you’re staying overnight you should consider staying in the immediate vicinity. Do you really want to spend time getting to shul in the morning or getting back at night? Besides, chances are that the kosher places are in the same area as the shul anyway. Or, you may rather stay in the “touristy” area so the family has more time to tour while the men go back and forth to shul.
While most travelers can just get off the plane, get their passports stamped, and be spontaneous about the rest of their stay, an Orthodox Jew with an overnight layover has to be very focused–even ahead of time. Knowing what is and is not available and what arrangements need to be made are the difference between a memorable experience and a miserable time.
Amazing Lasting Family Memories Game
An overnight layover is not a full experience in a city. It’s barely a taste. But, we are blessed to “be forced” to connect with the locals by joining their minyan and eating in their restaurants (rather than familiar fast food chains). This turns a long layover into a mini-immersive adventure.
Being an Orthodox Jew with an overnight layover presents some unique challenges. These tips will help with the advance planning needed to ensure a quality experience–both physical and spiritual.
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