The day has come, you’re finally leaving on that big trip after months of planning (or weeks if you’re like me). The only downside, there’s a long layover. Depending on the route you’re taking and how much you’ve spent on flights, you might have 8, 15, or even 20 hours stuck in the airport. We all know how easy it is to wind up scrolling social media for hours, but there are so many ways you can use this time productively. If you’ve packed your carry-on well, you’re already one step ahead of the game! Here are 10 ways to survive a long airport layover:
Airport Lounges
My number one biggest recommendation for a long airport layover, airline lounges. Don’t worry, regardless of what class you’re flying, these days you can often pay a fee at the door to enter. Depending on the lounge, they usually have free food and drinks, comfortable seating, free WiFi, and some even have showers! Before you leave, do some quick research into the airport you’re connecting through and if you’ll be able to utilize a lounge. This website is a very useful resource.
Get Your Steps In
If you’ve got the time, why not take a long walk around the airport? While some of them aren’t exactly worth seeing, there are so many airports that have endless wings to explore and amazing sculptures and art. Aside from seeing the airport itself, there is a ton of window-shopping to be done. You may get a few free samples of perfume, or if you’re lucky, some fancy whiskey or wine. You can kill at least an hour wandering around, just make sure you have enough time to get back to your gate!
Try a New Food
While the easy option would be to choose the always available McDonalds, this is an opportunity to try a new cuisine in whatever country you’re connecting through. Every airport will have a range of restaurants and fast-food options suitable to every budget. Provided you’re there during operating hours, my suggestion is to find the place with the longest line, it’s not like you don’t have time to wait!
Read a Good Book
Before you leave home, I’d strongly recommend finding a good book. If you’re absorbed by what you’re reading, hours can pass by before you look up. Not only is this a great activity for your long airport layover, but it’s also nice to have a book on the plane if you need a break from watching movies.
Catch Up on Some Work
If you have the ability to work from anywhere, now is a great time to do so. I like to set specific work times for myself where I put my phone away and focus on writing and other tasks. We all know that airport WiFi is not always the best, however some locations allow you to pay for a premium connection. This is also a great opportunity to use an airport lounge!
Research Your Destination
If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to do some research on the place you’re travelling to. Aside from knowing what the weather will be like, and a few top attractions you want to see, there are several other things to know about. Take your time to read about the best hole-in-the-wall local spots, as well as amazing small towns that you didn’t previously know about. Plus, if you haven’t already, find out if there are any important holidays while you are there. If one or more days is a religious holiday, this may affect the cost and availability of accommodation. There may also be a lack of options for travel, and many businesses may close for the day(s) to be with their family.
Download a Movie
This seems like a no-brainer, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten to the airport and forgotten to download a movie ahead of time! You definitely don’t want to eat through your phone data, and there’s probably a 0% chance that the main airport WiFi will cut it. Now is the time to finally watch the “Life of Pi” without falling asleep on your couch.
Start Your Journaling Early
So many people bring their journal travelling with them but end up losing motivation to write after the first week or two. Trust me when I say you will be so happy to look back and relive the little moments that you would have otherwise forgotten about if you didn’t write them down! If your long airport layover is before your trip, take the time to write down a few prompts for yourself to refer to. Things like:
– Name of the town
– Hotel/hostel you stayed at
– Tour you went on
– Local food you tried
Leave the Airport
This one will depend on the country’s visa/airport restrictions and of course, how much time you have during your long airport layover. If it’s possible to leave, if your bags can stay checked at the airport, and you have enough time to actually explore, do it! I often book flights with long layovers so that I can visit another country that I otherwise may not have. Before leaving, ensure that you can easily get to and from the airport. Many airports have a bus or train option which usually isn’t too expensive, but can definitely take up more time as opposed to a taxi service.
Catch Up on Sleep
Last but not least, take some time for a good old nap. This one may seem like a no-brainer but not everyone wants to stretch out on those airport benches. If you’re trying to avoid getting jet lag and you’ve planned a sleep schedule, you may have to hunker down at the gate for a catnap. Provided you’ve got carry-on essentials to help you sleep, like an eye mask and pillow, you can make almost any spot in the airport work. Before choosing a space on the floor, head to the information desk to see if they have any sleeping options available. These days some airports have free chairs/pods that are great for sleeping, or even an actual bed that can be rented by the hour.
Make those hours in between flights work to your advantage! Have a smooth trip/
