5 hours between flights
 

on an upcoming trip... can we do anything (we have 2 children aged 9 & 7) ? <BR>

Where - When - International or domestic connections ???? You need to repost with more info. 5 hours can seem more then it really is - it's not enough time to do anything special and too much to sit in the a/p but you really may have no choice. With small kids I'd be reluctant to go anyplace outside of any airport but again, it depends on the airport.

As Jill said, you have to be specific about airport, etc - but in my experience, since the first plane very seldom actually gets there on time, those nice long buffers tend to be shorter than you would hope......

this is Washington DC - flying in from Orlando, connecting to flight to Europe

If it were me, I'd stay put. Maybe walk around outside for some fresh air, play some games with the children, etc. But for an international flight, I wouldn't want to chance leaving the airport. (But I'm not a big risk-taker!)

I have flown into that airport before, if I remember right it is very big. Nice restaurants, shops, and hotel attached. Stay put, don't risk missing connection, there is enough to keep you and the kids occupied in the airport. <BR> <BR>If all goes well you will really only have 3 1/2 hours to spare.

If you're talking about Reagan Airport, you might catch a cab over to the docks- Huge floating permanent seafood market- Kids would probably like it...very close to airport.

I think you're probably flying out of Dulles. Unless you are arriving at Dulles from Orlando, you will spend most of the time changing airports--you need to check on that. Most of the large planes leave from Dulles or BWI. Even if you are arriving and departing from Dulles, you only have 3 hours and Dulles is far out in the Virgina countryside. The traffic getting back to the airport starts about 3 pm and can be really brutal! I would stay put.

When we connect to Europe from Chicago thru Dulles, we usually have 5 - 6 hrs of layover. We have taken the kids(12 & 8) a few times. By the time you take the shuttle from the flight arrival to the main terminal, have a meal, walk around the shops in the terminal, read a paper or book while the kids play electronic games or read, it is usually time to get back on the shuttle to go to the international departure gate. Just be aware, when it is time to take the shuttle to the terminal, that the shuttle bus may get full because a number of flights leave at the same time, so you may have to wait for the next shuttle. Also, the shuttle goes to a central point in the terminal & you may still have to walk quite a ways to your departure gate, leave enough time for that.

Don't know if this will help here, but Expedia has a section called 'Stuck at the Airport' that is kind of a guide for what to do with long layovers at various airports. You have to click on the 'Business Tools' tab to get to it, but it lists about 3 dozen airports (all US) with maps and other info -- Dulles is included. Hope this helps . . . but don't miss the shuttle!

tx all for your replies... we will stay at the airport !