Traveling from Phoenix to Uganda: Flights, Travel Tips & What to Expect

May 19

3 min read

Updated: Aug 27

Traveling from Phoenix to Uganda: The Overseas Trek

I was super excited to have the opportunity to visit Uganda for the first time, with my very own private tour guide. With work and life obligations, I wasn't sure I would be able to make this visit a reality. As time passed, I realized it was now possibly never. I traveled from Phoenix Uganda from LAX via Southwest Airlines, then continued on to Istanbul via Turkish Airlines. After a six-hour layover, I continued on to Rwanda and finally arrived in Entebbe, Uganda around 4 AM on a Friday morning after two-days of travel.

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The Booking

For this trip, fares were provided by skiplagged, which referred me to Hop2 for booking. Never having heard of or experienced Hop2 prior to this reservation, there was absolutely a concern about the quality of service. However, my experience was extremely positive. Hop2 customer care is available 24/7 and can be accessed via email, which works perfectly for the busy traveler. They proactively contacted me ahead of my departure, offering to confirm seat preferences and secured them on my behalf.

Turkish Airlines Flight Experience

My first Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul was not bad. The seats are a bit cramped. I had reserved window seats for all flights. I sat next to two gentlemen on both long-haul flights complaining of knee pain, so if you are over 5'5", you will likely want to invest in the extra legroom seats. For shorter passengers, this will just give you a little extra standing room, as the underseat storage in the front is eliminated.

Istanbul Layover Hotel

The Istanbul Airport is filled with what seems like endless opportunities to spend your money from shopping, dining, lodging, lounging, or showering. Upon arrival, I had about six hours before my next flight. I made my way to the Yotel-Airside where I was able to reserve a room for one hour for 150 euros. I closed my eyes as I swiped that charge, which in my opinion was a bit excessive. I was thankful to have a hot shower and a bed to stretch out for a nap before proceeding with my travel. This also made a huge difference in eliminating any jet lag when arriving in Uganda.

Ashlee Kidde at the YOTELAIR Airside Hotel inside Istanbul Airport during a layover en route to Uganda.

In addition to the abundance of options to kill time in the Istanbul airport when flying on Turkish airlines, if your layover is more than six hours, sometimes tours of the country are available and should be considered when booking.

Touchdown Entebbe

Arriving in to to the Kigali and Entebbe the plan departs onto the runway. In Entebbe, we were ushered to the line for customs. I noticed some travelers had contacts that were allowed to meet them in this area, escorting them to their next destination. Even with choosing the shortest line, one must pack their patience. Finally it was my turn, I provided the agent with all of my documents. She was surprised to find that it was my first time to Uganda. When she learned I was meeting my husband here she welcomed "our bride" home.

Entebbe Hotel Stay

After retrieving my bags, which felt like they were the last to exit the plane, I was finally reunited with my husband. He selected the Tezor Hotel in Entebbe for the first leg of our trip. The Tezor truly felt like a home away from home. There is a bar and restaurant on site, and the staff is beyond kind. After settling in we took quick nap and freshened up. We were awakened by the sounds of roosters combined with the songs of Celine Dion coming from the outside bar/lounge.

Planning Tip: Getting to Uganda is only the first step. Once you've landed, you'll still need to decide where to stay, how to get from Entebbe to Masaka or Kampala, what to pack, and how to organize your itinerary. If you're planning your own trip, I've put together a comprehensive Uganda Travel Planning Guide that walks through everything I wish I'd known before my first visit.

→ Read my Uganda Travel Planning Guide

Free International Travel Planning Toolkit

Whether you're planning your first trip to Uganda or your fifth international adventure, my Travel Planning Toolkit helps you stay organized from the moment you book your flights until you arrive at your destination.

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