With summertime a month away, many people are planning fun vacation trips. This summer is bound to be very busy, with travel going up 16% higher than last year. Traveling can be a very fun experience, but getting to your destination tends to be quite difficult. Even if you think of yourself as a seasoned traveler and pretty familiar with airport layovers, it can dampen your travel experience. However, airport layovers do not have to be boring, and you don’t have to remain seated on uncomfortable benches doing nothing. Fortunately, there are tons of entertaining things to do to help you kill boredom during those dreaded long layovers.
- Get out of the airport and explore
A long layover might seem like a buzzkill, but it can be advantageous to you. You can add one more country or city to your travel list by going out to explore. However, you have to be careful when doing this. It’s better to stay at the airport if you have a transit time of 2-3 hours or less to avoid missing your flight. However, if you have a much longer layover, eight hours or more, and you can enter another country without any visa requirements, you can use it as the perfect opportunity to explore. If you are traveling domestically, you can also step out to check out a new city. You only have to make sure you stick to areas within a short distance of the airport and be strict with your time, as you can easily get carried away and miss your flight.
Suppose you are too worried about leaving the confines of the airport— there is a solution! Many airports across the US have undergone several renovations that include adding unique local features. For example, the Nashville International airport is best known for its upbeat restaurant scene and fantastic live music. Before booking your flight, be sure to research some of the best layover stops to visit.
- Get some rest
If you’re one of the few people comfortable falling asleep anywhere, then one of the things you can do during a long layover is to catch some much-needed sleep. That is if you don’t mind sleeping on those hard airport benches. Sleeping also helps reduce your chances of being jet-lagged when you reach your final destination.
However, it can get pretty difficult, especially if your layover is during a busy time. You might find it harder to find a free spot to stretch your legs while waiting for your next flight. The good thing is that many airports now have several resting spaces to help you rest. If you have a few bucks to spare, you can book yourself a room. Some of these rooms have showers to keep you refreshed and ready for your next flight.
- Catch up on your favorite TV shows
Long layovers are the perfect time for you to binge-watch and catch up on your favorite TV shows. All you need is a stable internet connection and your streaming platform. You can choose to download your series ahead of time on Netflix or Hulu, which will not require using any internet connection. The problem with streaming services is that they are not all available in certain countries. Sites like Disney Plus and YouTube TV have limited global access. So, you must get a VPN if you want to know how to watch Youtube TV outside US. VPNs can set your location to any city and give you access to any content airing in a city or country that you otherwise wouldn’t have had access to.
- Treat yourself to a good meal
If you have a long layover, ensure that you spend some time researching the airport website to see if there are any cool restaurants you can pass the time in. And if you’re not a fan of airplane food, it might be a good opportunity to treat yourself to a quality meal before boarding your flight.
Most airports these days have some cool restaurants that offer various types of meals that are far more delicious than plane food. Also, if your layover is in another country, it’s the perfect chance to try out some delicious local foods to expand your culinary tastes. There are also major global chain restaurants if you’re not up to trying new things.
A long layover might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to take away your vacation excitement. Instead, think of it as the start of your vacation. You can do several things to make the most of your time. Hopefully, these tips will help make your next layover more bearable.
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