Traveling is a whole lot of fun because it gives you the opportunity to experience a country’s unique culture and get to know its people. However, it’s difficult to enjoy your trip when you encounter a stressful situation. A long layover before your next flight is one example. Though layovers are common, figuring out what to do while waiting for your connecting flight can be challenging. You could just sit in the airport during the entire layover, but you can get restless if you’re doing nothing most of the time.
5 Things You Can Do During a Long Layover
Long layovers don’t have to be boring. You just have to use your time wisely to make the experience worth your while. In this list, we’ll take a look at five things you can do during a long layover, so you can maintain a positive attitude while traveling.
Catch up on Some Sleep
One of the best things you can do during a long layover is sleep. Traveling is fun, but it can take a toll on your body as well. Even if you’ve gotten some shut-eye during your last flight, sleeping on a plane isn’t always comfortable. But when you’re in an airport, you can at least use one of the benches with no armrests as your bed, so you have plenty of room to stretch.
If you’re looking for a more comfortable place to sleep, you can stay at the airport’s lounge. You might need to pay a fee to get access to it, but at least you’ll get more spacious seating, high-speed internet, and food while you’re there. Some airport lounges even have bedrooms to give weary travelers a good night’s rest.
For layovers that are longer than 8 hours, however, it might be better to book a room at a hotel. With a hotel, you’ll have a room all to yourself and get to enjoy the amenities and facilities that come with the accommodations. There are a lot of airport hotels that are reasonably priced and offer good rooms. Many of the hotels near NAIA, for example, have become go-to choices for travelers because of their accessibility and excellent service.
Get Some Work Done
Another thing you can do during a long layover is to get some work done. If you can do some of your job responsibilities remotely, you always use your laptop or tablet and finish your tasks while at the airport. If you need a faster and stronger internet connection, you can always do your work in the airport lounge. Taking care of your work during your layover will allow you to travel with greater peace of mind because you won’t have to worry about any unfinished tasks. This way, you can focus on enjoying your trip.
Binge-Watch Some Shows
If your studies or your job has kept you from watching your favorite streaming series or movies, a long layover gives you all the time you need to catch up on your favorite shows. Binge-watching is a great way to help pass the time. Plus, you’ll be entertained for hours, so you won’t feel bored while you wait. To make your binge-watching experience better, it’s a good idea to use earbuds or earphones. This way, you’ll be more immersed in what you’re watching without disturbing the other people in the airport. Just make sure to keep track of the time to avoid missing your flight.
Get in Touch with Family and Friends
Long layovers give you a chance to pause and check in on your friends and family. It’s easy to get lost in all the fun while traveling that you may forget to keep in touch with your loved ones. Giving them a call or setting up a video call is a great way to keep your friends and family updated on your whereabouts and travel plans. It also lets you share all the amazing and exciting things you’ve done on your trip so far.
Explore the City
One thing you can do to make your trip even more memorable is to explore the city where you’re having your layover in. This gives you a chance to get out of the airport, walk around, and discover what the city has to offer. The things you can do, however, will depend on how long your layover will be.
If your layover lasts for a few hours, then you’ll have enough time to taste the local cuisine and visit popular tourist attractions located near the airport. If your layover is beyond 8 hours, on the other hand, then you’ll have more time to venture out into the city and check out several points of interest that are a little further away from the airport. As always, be mindful of your time, so you won’t be late for your connecting flight.
A lot of travelers dread long layovers because they don’t like getting stuck in the airport for a long time. However, long layovers give you a chance to make your trip a lot more interesting. All you have to do is spend your time wisely. With the help of this list, you’ll have some ideas on how you can spend your long layover no matter which airport you’re in.