The unprepared traveler dreads layovers. After all, being forced to wait for hours on end to catch the next flight sounds like torture. The good news is that there are lots of ways to make layovers productive, even fun, regardless of how long you’re stuck. Here are our favorites.
It can be an opportunity to squeeze in a mini-vacation
Some layovers leave you with a “quick” three hours of time to kill; others can last a whole day. The latter ones are your opportunity to explore a brand new place and add unexpected flair to your trip!
A layover lasting between six and twelve hours is perfect for getting out of the airport and exploring the city. Take in a few nearby sights, have a meal at a local restaurant, and relax far away from the boarding gate’s stiff seating. If you have to wait even longer, consider booking a hotel room for the day to have a nap and freshen up, then take a guided tour of the city you’re in. Or vice versa, depending on local time.
That said, don’t forget to account for the time you’ll need to clear immigration, security, and boarding!
It lets you live the lounge life
Lounges aren’t secret clubs reserved only for the high-flying elite. Many let you buy a day pass and take advantage of the amenities. And there are amenities aplenty, ranging from showers to much more comfortable seating, food, and workspaces.
You’d be surprised at how much more bearable layovers become after taking a shower and brushing your teeth. Don’t discount the quiet space and the complimentary Wi-Fi either.
Although if you’re going to use the Wi-Fi to watch your favorite shows, you’ll want to have the best VPN for streaming, just in case. A VPN will not only help you enjoy shows more smoothly, but also protect your data on unsecured networks. Airport Wi-Fi is a prime target for cyber crooks who create and monitor fake hotspots that look like the real deal. With a VPN on, you can stop any attempts at snooping or redirecting you to harmful websites.
You get to explore the airport
“Riveting,” you might think, but that’s likely only because you’ve never actually had time to properly explore. Airports are far more than the hectic trek from entrance to boarding gate. If anything, airports known as layover stops are actively trying to make your stay as interesting as possible.
Some double as museums or have gardens in which you can take a breather. Others provide wellness or gaming rooms, specialty shops, and even cultural workshops. A four-hour layover isn’t long enough for sightseeing, but it’s perfect for taking in what the airport itself has to offer.
You get to prepare for the next leg of the trip
Short layovers can fly by if you focus on getting a running start to the rest of the journey. For example, you can check current weather updates and attraction working hours for your final destination, download transit maps, or book tickets. You can also take the time to chat with friends and family back home or upload the photos you took so far to the cloud.
You’ll need a reliable connection for all of this, which congested and spotty airport Wi-Fi can’t always provide. If you know there’ll be a layover, it makes a lot of sense to buy a regional eSIM plan. This lets you affordably go online using local mobile networks, which are both safer and faster than Wi-Fi.
Plus, going regional means that you don’t have to scour the airport or your destination for SIM cards; you activate the plan before leaving home, and everything just works.
It provides guilt-free “you” time
You can’t control layovers, but you can use them to catch up on everything you wanted to do but couldn’t justify the downtime. You can finally pick up that book you’ve been eyeing for months, or journal about everything that happened on the trip so far.
Either way, it’s time you’ll never get back. What’s better, waiting in annoyance and anxiety, or indulging in some long overdue personal time?