If you are taking a long-haul flight, chances are that you will have a layover that gives you just enough time to catch some sleep or watch a film – but not quite enough time to explore the area outside the airport. Layovers and changes can often feel tedious, but there are some things that you can do to make the whole experience more pleasant.
If you know in advance that you will be staying for the night, or even long enough to get some shut-eye, make sure to book a hotel near to the airport. You will want to get some sleep so that you can feel rested for the next leg of your journey and arrive at your destination feeling refreshed. It can be tempting to save some money and have a nap at the airport. However, you will thank yourself when you find a big bed waiting for you in a hotel after what was surely a long flight.
With mobile connectivity increasingly becoming more common internationally and providers relaxing their rules around roaming charges, you might want to take advantage of this time to relax by watching some films on Netflix. Online entertainment companies are increasingly catering for mobile players, which makes it easy to find high-quality games when travelling with only your smartphone. For instance, Karamba shows how to do it by providing a mobile casino app for iOS users as well as helpful instructions and bonus schemes for newer members. Similarly, the game Draw Something Free provides a mobile experience that resembles Pictionary. Again, it has attracted players on-the-go thanks to its smartphone-friendliness.
If you’re worried about time differences and how sleep might make you feel, why not spend some time stocking up on products to make yourself feel better during the next leg of your journey. Duty-free outlets at airports are often the best places to find skincare products such as moisturisers and masks, and they’re often much cheaper than buying on the high street. We’re not suggesting a foot spa in the aisle, but you will be able to give yourself a pamper session on the plane. So, even if you haven’t had time to grab some sleep, at least you can make yourself look and feel better with some products that you might not normally want to afford.
If you’re a bookworm, you will understand the plight of travelling light when you go abroad. It can be tempting to take lots of books with you. However, you don’t actually need to anymore. If you have a Kindle or any sort of book reading device, including your mobile phone, you can take hundreds of books on your journeys. That layover may be a good time to catch up on a good novel or brush up your language skills for your final destination. If you’re a foodie, make sure you download a good travel guide before you leave, so you can be prepared for when you hit the landing strip.
Layovers can be frustrating as they feel like limbo or wasted time; however, if you plan ahead, you can make most of this time. It might even become a little secret gem of your trip. Just remember, plan ahead get some rest, and ultimately do what you can to make it more enjoyable.
