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How To Survive An Airport Layover

Let’s face it: airport layovers are the worst. Hopefully with these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to make the hours go by faster! There’s always something to do in a venue and city as big as your next stop. Keep your sanity and have a little fun while waiting for that big gas-guzzler to arrive and bring you to your next destination.

Sleep or Visit A Lounge

overnight layover
This one seems a bit too obvious, but taking a nap and watching something on Netflix in an airport lounge is something to take advantage of. Some airports have lounges where you only have to pay a daily fee instead of paying for an annual membership. If your layover is 8+ hours, lounges can be your best friend. There are often bars in there as well as showers.

In lounges, the types of alcohol they serve are usually domestic beers, house wine and liquor as well as premium beverages. If you’re just getting there in the morning, they offer breakfast items, pastries, fruit and more awesome things to snack on before your next flight up.

Work out!

Not many people have ever considered working out in an airport, but if you don’t want to miss a workout on your vacation but seem to have a few airport stays, you may want to consider. Since there are many miles of square footage, there are plenty of airport works you can do such as:

  • Power walking
  • Pushups
  • Yoga

Many people like peace and quiet at airports despite the hustle and bustle, so it’s easy to find somewhere quiet to meditate or workout. Even in lounges, you can find areas to work out in and then shower in!

Visit a local restaurant

overnight layover lounge

If you’re in the area, hit up a local Uber driver via the app or simply call a cab to visit a unique restaurant in the area. Who knows, you may be back to visit the area on another vacation due to your quick taste at a local eatery.  Try a cuisine that’s completely new to your palette and see how daily life for the local residents are. Become cultured within a few hours during your layover and let the spontaneity take you over!

Pay It Forward

pay it forward

This may not be common, but when you reach your layover destination, head to a gift card kiosk and buy $5 gift cards to universal restaurants (Dunkin Donuts/Starbucks, McDonalds, VISA) and hand them out to others waiting for ones that may seem tired in the airport. After all, many people are probably broke from buying their plane tickets! You never know what something small can do for someone.

You might as well bring a little joy to others while waiting to arrive at your next destination.

Scavenger Hunts

Even adults like scavenger hunts. Make a list on your phone and separate into two teams. When you’ve found something from your list in the airport, take a photo of it. First team to get back gets the window seat(s)! Maybe the winning team can win one of the gift cards you bought to pay it forward.

Conclusion

There are plenty of things to do to have fun and survive an airport layover. Some are more obvious while others may trigger other ideas on ways to have fun at the airport. Stay in shape, learn more about the local culture and pay it forward during your next vacation or travel days. You never know what adventures may arise!

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