Layovers can be inevitable during a trip. The cost of one may be less if you have to switch planes and sit in a terminal en route to your eventual destination. There are times when a layover is completely inevitable. In these circumstances, use them to your advantage. This piece will break down four specific ways to take a layover and turn it into a productive period.
Charge Up!
This one is a no-brainer. There’s a high likelihood you’ve got electronics with you — whether it’s a phone, iPad, tablet, or laptop. You may have used one of them extensively during the first leg of your trip. Take the time to find one of those charging areas in your terminal. The last thing you want to do is land at your eventual destination with a dead phone. You’ll eventually find somewhere to charge it, but it could be a hassle when ideally getting off a plane and immediately booking some sort of transportation to your hotel. Additionally, being on a lengthy flight without your downloaded music or movies can be annoying.
Nourishment
Having a layover provides your traveling party the opportunity to stock up on some essentials. We’re talking snacks, drinks, and any accessories you may need for the flight (such as a neck pillow). Virtually all major airports have sit-down restaurants and bars. If you have a lengthy layover, why not enjoy a meal without having to rush through it? It takes away the pressure of having to account for a meal and getting to your gate. Also, you avoid eating some potentially less-than-appealing airplane food in the process.
Sightsee
Here’s where you can get creative with your flight booking. Picking a flight with a long layover allows you to go out and see a new city — or even country — for a brief yet enjoyable time before getting back on the flight to your final destination. Veteran travelers will intentionally book flights with overnight layovers as a way to not only break up a long journey but also see somewhere new. If there’s a 12-24 hour layover in a city or country you had no plans on ever visiting in your life, do yourself a favor and experience this travel hack at least once. Who knows…you may end up loving the place. If not, you’ll only be there for a short time anyway!
Organize
Get all of your ducks in a row, so to speak. When traveling, there’s a good chance you’ll be bringing various documents (or even a passport). When getting off the plane, it’s not super ideal to be stressing over finding the address of your hotel or AirBnB. Make it easy on yourself by having all of this information accessible. If you’re sitting at the gate, combing through these important items is a smart thing to do.
