Long layovers, delayed flights, missed connections – they happen. I used to have such bad anxiety about the whole idea of flying. Since I started traveling more, I’ve gotten more comfortable with the whole idea. You have to just make the best of your situation. I recently have spent lots of time stuck in the airport, so I decided to share my tactics for keeping myself entertained.
1. Find a local treat in a gift shop or a favorite restaurant to try with an airport location. Twitter will be your best friend for this. I recently tried Cheerwine for my first time in Charlotte and it did not disappoint (and if you’re looking, it’s located in the gift shop across from Bojangles in terminal B.)
2. Buy at least 3 travel magazines (I usually pick up Afar, Travel & Leisure and National Geographic Traveler) and then plot your next 15 trips and hope you win the lottery. In my dreamworld, I’m heading on an Arctic cruise, a Patagonia camping trip, a luxury beach trip to the Maldives and a road trip that hits all 48 states.
3. Pamper yourself with test bottles at the Body Shop. Oils, lotions, makeup – it’s all fun. Try not to buy everything though because you may have to go through security on your way home and you don’t want to throw it away. If you have time & money, check out the spas located at most airports now for a quick layover pedicure.
4. Find a restaurant that serves REAL food. There are so much fast food options, but I enjoy having a sit down meal in a restaurant by myself. Plus, they offer free refills and usually a seat next to an outlet. Win.
5. Read this list of the 12 types of people who should be banned from flying and then take in the people around you and guess if you’ll be stuck next to one.
6. Play with the weird sand stuff at Brookstone. It’s addictive and amazing, but if they let me play with it for free, why would I buy it? If sand isn’t your thing, they have tons of toys and gadgets to mess around with.
If none of those are keeping you entertained, just pick up your book and head to your gate and enjoy being trapped somewhere with yourself, your thoughts and a whole bunch of crabby strangers. So much travel coming up, maybe one of these days I’ll actually wear shoes that require a shine – I love watching them work.
What do you do on layovers to entertain yourself? Or am I the only one that gets stranded monthly?
I'm sorry. I stopped reading when I saw the picture of CHEERWINE. Kidding, but I love that stuff.
I mostly read, wander, buy shit, and have a real sit down meal if I have the time!
I definitely read + plop down at a coffee shop or bar (depending on you know, how bad I think I'm going to need a cocktail for the next flight…… actually it's almost always at the bar.) I definitely manage to get stranded all the time, so you're not alone!
I try to read typically, but I am such a nervous flyer that I can barely focus. I need to probably get up and move around more, check out stores, etc like you suggested. I hate waiting around and thinking of all the things that might go wrong!
I read, but I honestly don't fly too often 🙂 Also I think I'm the only person who doesn't like cheerwine.
I've never heard of Cheerwine, but now I'm curious. I'll have to keep an eye out for it on my travels. I'm really odd and have learned to love airports. Each one is unique and I always find something.
I love airports, I'm weird. Maybe it's because I don't travel often? But my favorite thing to do is people watch. I guess I get all "Love Actually" like in the airport scene and jus watch all the passerbys. And I love the concept that the hundreds of people who walk by I will never see again. I guess I'm weird.