ok so i know i can't officially enter this contest but if i could, this is what i would suggest---Sailor's Thai in Sydney.

1. Sydney Airport: you'd have to have a layover here.
2. Sailor's Thai on 106 George Street in The Rocks neighborhood of Sydney.
3. The cab ride is easy from the airport like 15-20 minutes max. But there could be traffic. You can also take public transpo.
4. I would say you could do this all in 3 hours or less.
5. Sailor's Thai is seriously yummy food. We dream about it often. Plus it's right on the Rocks in Sydney which is in Circular Quay, overlooking the Harbor and the iconic Opera House.

If you only have three hours to kill in Sydney (and you've never been before), you could see the major sites just by going here. And get some good food. Sure beats airplane fare or a food court.

(1) Los Angeles International Airport
(2) Dockweiler State Beach
(3) Taxi cab to the end of Imperial Highway at the ocean... takes about $15. -or- take the shuttle to the Green Line (GreenLine Shuttle 625) to the Beach Cities Transit bus 109. Takes about $1.25. Either way takes 15-25 minutes.
(4) 15-25 minutes each way, then as long as you want to sit on the beach.
(5) You lay on the beach staring at the sky, watching planes take off and land over your head. It's an amazing vantage point for getting great aviation photography. It's terrific.

(1) Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
(2) Try the best BBQ on earth at The Salt Lick
(3) Cab or rent a car from the airport - about a 30 minute drive
(4) About an hour in the restaurant
(5) You really have not had BBQ until you've been to the Salt Lick. No, seriously. Rudy's is also pretty good, and a little bit closer to the airport if time is a big issue.

Buy a "Keep Austin Weird" t-shirt before your flight takes off again!

A fantastic stop over in Paradise would be Mauritius! Arrive at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (the name itself is worth a visit:).
Then take a quick taxi across the island to Port Louis, the capital. There, visit the local (7 day a week market) and try the most delicious dhol pourri ever (a flour based thin pancake filled with garlic, vegetables, a little meat and....chilli). Then, to cool down head for the beach in Mont Choisi and have chilled pineapple pieces dipped in chilli under the palm trees, whilst sipping a local beer.

Taxi ride back (an adventure!) to the airport via the little villages and towns scattered across the island and you could not be more relaxed (and well fed!) for your next leg....

 

Amsterdam Airport Schipol - voted best airport Europe time and again.  

In the city, rent a bicycle from Bike City - only 14.50 Euros - and cycle around to see the famous canals, the floating flower mart, wacky neck gables and, the best of all, mysterious bronze and iron sculptures that have popped up throughout the city.

The airport is just a quick train to/from Amsterdam, about 15-20 minutes for only 3.60 Euros each way.

The sculptures have been created by a still unknown artist who has erected them in the middle of the night for 15 years. Be sure to check out the bronze headless man carrying a violin case in Marnix Park. Very cool.

1.) Airport - Incredibly, Bloomington, IL (BMI)
2.) Activity - The airport itself, you don't have to go anywhere.
3.) How to Get There - If you are at the airport, you are at the activity.  It is the airport.
4.) Time Required - Less than 1 hour
5.) The airport is clean, newer, comfortable and very small; only 8 gates, I think.  There is only one TSA line and it closes (yes, closes!) for lunch. The airport has a variety of wonderful public art, ranging from painting, to sculpture, to mobiles, to writing.  I don't know if they change it up periodically.  I am not sure that I have ever found as nice a place to wait for a flight.

1 - Hong Kong International Airport

2 - Ride the Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon across Victoria Bay then walk along the Avenue of Stars and get a view of the best skyline in the world!

3 - FROM THE AIRPORT: Take the Airport Express to Central, then get on a ferry at the Central Star Ferry Pier to Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) on the Kowloon side
BACK TO THE AIRPORT: Hop in a taxi and ask to go to Kowloon Station where you can take the Airport Express back

4 - 3 hours depending on how much exploring you want to do

5 - The old fashioned Star Ferry is a great contrast to the towering skyscrapers, and it drops you off at the Avenue of the Stars which is Hong Kong's version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame with everything from Jackie Chan's handprints to a statue of Bruce Lee!  If you have time you can check out the Space Museum or Museum of Art which are just a few steps away.  For food, take a 5 minute walk up Nathan Road and try Hong Kong's famous street food like curry fishballs and stinky tofu!

Welcome to PDX: Portland, Oregon. Hop on the MAX Redline from the Airport and get off at the Chinatown stop 33 minutes later, one block from the garden. Portland Classical Chinese Garden, the nicest Chinese Garden in North America

Amidst the chaos and bustle of a busy, modern city and rigorous travel schedule, take 2 hours for a walk through the luscious foliage (without your shoes if you'd like to take advantage of the handlaid stone walk's reflexology feature). Stop at the authentic teahouse to drink a relaxing cup of organic tea while nibbling on vegan dim sum. Then walk the one block back to the MAX line and wait maybe 10 minutes for your train back to the airport.

 Or if your flight gets cancelled til morning, hop on the streetcar line 5 blocks away and stay overnight at the zany, Jetson's-inspired Northrup Station Inn, 10 minutes away.)

When you are done, it's goodbye, Portland. Four perfect hours maximum and you've taken off some road weariness while getting a glimmer of what makes Portland an urban paradise.

1. Airport-- CDG or Orly, but preferably CDG.
   
2. Connection-- helicopter, or rent a car.  A4 exit Verdun Voie Sacrée, direction Saint-Mihiel, for 14 km.  At end of first village, Lemmes, turn left and look for sign to château.
   
3. Location-- Château des Monthairons just outside Verdun, France.  Incredible experience, vast wine list, gourmet dining.  Where else do they leave a carafe of excellent port by your bedside?  On the Meuse River, 35 acres of peace and tranquility in the French countryside.  Formerly a hunting lodge for royalty, now a turreted fantasy chateau.  Exquisite service and the world's most comfortable bar with fireplace.  Unbeatable honeymoon, too.
   
4. http://www.chateaudesmonthairons.fr  

Get some sun, listen to top-notch reggae, and have a sunset meal in just a few hours.

1. Touch down at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica - "The Gateway to the Caribbean." There's nothing like coming in on a big jet airplane out of the north, and seeing the mountains of Jamaica rise out of the clouds, and the turquoise waters right along the runway. Sangster is a big, clean , efficient airport, (for the Caribbean) with easy customs, and large terminals. Plus it's only 3 and a half hours from JFK.

2. Skip over the hordes of pasty Americans being corralled like sheep into the all-inclusives, and hop in a Cessna with Tim at Tim Air. www.timair.net

Tim will fly you and your honey along the coast, and touch down neatly at Negril Airstrip on the west end of Jamaica. The flight is beautiful, you can see Ralph Lauren's estate, and all the sorry tourists schlepping along the windy coast road in their tour busses. (With Tim Air it's only 9 minutes.)

3. Catch some rays while you dance and listen to the world's best reggae artists live on Seven Mile Beach. If you're hungry, lunch on a spiny lobster or three from the dread-locked guys who hawk them along the beach, and wash it down with a few frosty rum punches.

4. Head over to the Rock House Hotel, along the cliffs and on the far western tip of the island just before sunset. This stylish resort consists of only a couple dozen thatch-roofed villas on the rocks above an azure cove. Oh yeah, they also have the best restaurant in the country. Dine on deliciously roasted - and spicy - jerk chicken and cool your tongue off with a cold Red Stripe.

5. As the sun dips below the horizon, Tim lifts the small plane off the Negril airstrip, and points the propeller towards the lights of Montego Bay. Your belly is full, you have a nice golden tan, and a reggae tune floats through your head. In ten minutes you'll be back at Sangster International, and onto your next leg of the trip.

And you're sad to know that none of your next layovers will be even close to as cool as this one...

Have to make an overnight layover in Philly-- no problem!  The Philadelphia Airport Marriott is connected to terminal B of the Philadelphia International Airport by a skybridge, so you can just walk right over, book a room, and avoid exposure to any nasty Philly rain or winter weather. If you're tired and cranky, and just want to relax, this is the place for you.  The beds are comfy, there is free internet, you may use the fitness center if you have the energy, then visit the Riverbend Bar and Grill for a scrumptious meal (on a previous visit the chef was very experienced and the kitchen excellent)! In the morning, just rise, shine and walk back to the terminal to continue your journey!

1. Arrive at Memphis International Airport.

2. Take a 15 minute cab ride to Graceland - home of Elvis Presley - and take the grand tour of Elvis' home and final resting place. Then, walk across the street to see Elvis' automobile collection and private plane.  Cost is approx. $30.

3. Take another short cab ride to downtown Memphis.  Cab ride will take approx. 20 minutes. Have the driver drop you off at the Peabody Grand Hotel. You might even get there in time to watch the march of the Peabody ducks!  After exploring the majestic hotel, walk over to the "World Famous" Rendevous Restaurant for some scumptous bar-b-que ribs.

Depending upon how long your layover is, you can also visit Beale Street, take a trolley ride down to the National Civil Rights Museum, or just take in the beauty of the mighty Mississippi River.  All are in walking distance. This layover will only take you 4-5 hours, but the warmth of the people may keep you in Memphis forever!

(1) Shanghai Pudong International Airport
(2) A trip on the maglev train to the Zhangjiang Technology Center where you can satisfy quite literally all of your shopping desires (watches, clothes, DVDs, you name it) at low, dirt cheap prices.
(3) Take the world's first commercial high-speed maglev in the world (up to 268 MPH!) which will you take directly into the center of Pudong
(4) Only 3 hours, enough time to get back to the airport to catch your next flight. The maglev train runs every 20 minutes.
(5) Not only do you get to experience the fastest train in the world at reasonable prices (about $10 roundtrip), you'll see one of the truly local and vibrant markets which make Shanghai one of the most dynamic and fastest growing cities in the world.