Perfecting the Layover

For many travelers, layovers are the most dreaded part of any vacation or journey. The stops between flights have gotten such a bad rap that few believe much can be done to make that time worthwhile, even though it totally is. With a little pre-planning and effort, you can transform what is usually considered a waste of time into one of the most productive, relaxing, or interesting parts of your trip. All you’ve got to do is approach it with determination to make the most of a layover.

Choose your carrier (or airport) wisely

Depending on airport or airline, you can end up in a killer hub or a rundown wreck of an airport. One is clearly more fun to spend time in than the other. In general, you’ll do well to veer away from discount airlines since they tend to operate out of smaller and significantly less interesting airports. San Francisco International, for example, is a great airport for layovers (their SFOMOMA exhibitions are something to experience in their own right) and plenty of carriers operate out of it—it’s Virgin’s base and United’s only maintenance hub.

Explore the city

With a long enough layover you can get out of the airport and explore the city you’re waiting in, transforming your layover experience from a waiting game into an exploration of uncharted territory. There’s usually various forms of public transportation (like the light rail in Minneapolis that runs right through the airport) that can quickly transport you into the heart of a city. And if there isn’t public transportation, Uber is usually just a tap away.

If you plan carefully enough, you can even orchestrate a long layover in a city you’ve always wanted to check out, but which may not warrant a trip in and of itself. You can always take it to another level and stop in an entirely different country (Iceland, anyone?) if you’re flying overseas.

Get your shopping on

Whether you’re traveling over the holidays, to attend a friend’s wedding or a family member’s birthday, airports present opportunities to pick up little trinkets and souvenirs for acquaintances and coworkers. Getting your shopping needs taken care of while you’re waiting around is a great way to kill two birds with one stone: keep boredom at bay and check necessary shopping of your list. Plenty of airports, like London’s Heathrow Airport (that bad boy has over 42,000 square feet of retail space), have a healthy number of stores within their confines, and a lot of others, like Chicago’s O’Hare, are conveniently located near major shopping centers.

Work up a sweat

One of the worst things about travel is the strain it can put on your fitness routine. Fortunately, many airports are expanding their workout offerings, from yoga and meditation rooms to fully equipped gyms. So it’s easier than ever to get a few sun salutations or quick miles under your belt between flights. Even if you’re in an airport that offers none of these things, there’s almost certainly massage chairs. Those are worth $10 or so to help loosen cramping muscles after a packed flight.

Power up your productivity

We’ve all been there: You get on the plane, open your laptop expecting to enjoy that movie you downloaded or get some some work done, and you discover you have about 2 percent battery left. Avoid that by packing a powerstrip and charging all your devices between flights without taking up more than your fair share of airport outlet space. (And if you have outlets to spare on your powerstrip, offer them to fellow travelers and you’ll make some interesting new friends in no time.)

Once everything is powered up, you can catch up on any variety of things you’ve been meaning to get to during your wait time. Listen to that podcast your friend recommended, read the news stories you’ve bookmarked, or simply get ahead on next week’s work so you can have less to worry about during or after your vacation.

Treat yourself

Airports are notorious for their less-than-healthy food offerings. However, instead of devising ways to combat airport food, try responsibly indulging instead. We’ve all got those little things we treat ourselves to every once in awhile—like that decadent, sugary and calorie-packed Starbucks drink you allow yourself once every six months. Give yourself permission to order one and just sit there and enjoy your treat, which will almost certainly taste great because you have nothing else to do but sit, wait, and sip.

If you just can’t stand the wait, don’t

If you really can’t bring yourself to enjoy excess airport time, then just minimize it. Don’t check a bag if you don’t have to, and always check in for your flight online ahead of time. That way you can whiz past the check-in counter, through security, and right onto your flight as quickly as possible.

Originally written by RootsRated for Craghoppers.

Featured image provided by Andrés Nieto Porras