Airport Layover Ideas
February 1, 2010 by Travel Guide Greg
Filed under Travel Tips
What to do if you have a long layover? Do you have any airport layover ideas on how to fill your time? People are always telling us they think travel is no fun anymore because of the airport hassles, the baggage limits… and the airport layovers.
You know by now that we love travel… so we think much of that negativity is just your mind set. We try to make the most of every trip, and that can include layovers… and we have some airport layover ideas for you.
Sometimes we take the “red eye” from the West Coast to the East Coast to begin our trip… then we might have to wait all day for a flight. We sleep pretty well on planes… but really who gets that much sleep on the red eye? We usually find a nearby hotel that will give us a reduced “day rate”.
We can then take a nap in a real bed…. eat in a real restaurant (though airports now have a better selection than they used to) and take a shower. Using the layover this way gets us more rested, lets us get partway acclimated to a new time zone, and lets us arrive at our destination feeling much better.
Getting a little rest and quiet time on layovers during long trips can be a good thing. Many airports around the world have hotel rooms inside security… and you actually can rent them by the hour… no bad joke intended here. Some rooms come with showers and toilets in the rooms. Some just have a desk and a bed with showers and toilets down the hall.
If airports don’t have hotels inside security, some at the very least have shower facilities. We’ve made use of these from time to time too…. and on a long flight from Africa connecting through London, a shower and a change of clothes felt really good… maybe not as good as a full day in transit with time to sleep, but good enough.
Are you feeling fresh enough that you would just like to go shopping? Airports do have better shopping now than they used to… and many guarantee that the prices will be the same as you would pay in town.
What about airport layover ideas for just a few hours…. Do you have time for a massage at the airport? Maybe there is a gym at the airport or nearby where you could get a little exercise and a shower. Getting exercise will make you feel better on your trip.
Do you have enough time for some sightseeing? You might be able to take a train, subway or bus into the city or nearby attractions and see some sights. For instance, take the train into Philadelphia and see Liberty Square. The Le Bourget Air Museum is about a 45 minute local bus ride from Charles De Gaulle Airport.
If you have friends near the airport, one layover idea is to see if they can meet you for lunch or dinner. We have stayed connected with travel buddies that way… and sometimes a dinner is just long enough.
Activities off the airport are easier if you can leave your luggage somewhere. This is harder to do with today’s security levels, but some airport do have left luggage facilities. Check airport websites before your trip to see if your airport has one. Make sure you know when your connecting flight leaves so you don’t miss it.
Be creative in your thinking and you’ll come up with some airport layover ideas of your own. If you don’t… you can always read a book!
LayoverLink is the social network and airport information website that allows travelers to find other travelers while on layover. Users of the free site can also check lists of airport shops and restaurants, as well as airport delays and more.
http://www.LayoverLink.com