A long layover for me is a bonus, and I look forward to making the most of the time.
If you are a frequent flyer, then you have inevitably had the experience of a long layover. Many travelers view this as a total drag, a necessary annoyance of travel day. Admittedly I am one of them. However, a change of plan and a shift in mindset has me heading in a much healthier direction.
If you find yourself with a long layover, whether it is scheduled that way because of the timing of your connection, or you get stuck due to weather conditions, there are many healthy ways to pass the time.
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Two Quick Tips Before You Embark on this Long Layover.
- Before you begin the fun, find your departure gate and make yourself familiar with its location.
- If you are one who gets side-tracked, set the alarm on your smartwatch for when you need to head back to your gate.
Here’s a comprehensive list of things to do if you are in for a long layover, plus what to pack in your carry-on to make the best of your bonus time.
Affiliate Disclosure: There are affiliate links throughout this post. This means if you click on a link and purchase a product through that link, then I will receive a small commission for the referral. And that is kinda cool.
Learn something new.
If you are traveling somewhere, and the language is different than yours, use your bonus time to learn a few essential phrases. With Rosetta Stone, you can learn over twenty different languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, and German. The locals will be so proud of you if you try to speak their language; all you need to do is try.
Take a walk.
Stretch your legs and get in your steps for the day (my goal is 10,000 steps). Download an audiobook or podcast, tuck in your AirPods, and go for a walk.
Window shop.
Although not all airports have worthy shopping, many are full of fun shops with unique gifts and touristy treasures like coffee mugs, magnets, and shot glasses.
Read a book.
Stuck in an airport, the perfect excuse to curl up with a good novel. Here are a few of the latest fiction books that I loved. Or some good ole fashioned motivation talk. If you forgot a book, most airports have the latest top ten on their bookshelves to purchase, and guess what? You have plenty of time to kill.
Research your destination.
Learn about the unique culture, the food, the weather, the language, quintessential activities, and experiences.
Get a massage.
Indulge in a little bit of self-care with a quick massage while waiting in the terminal. Relieve tension and from travel day, relax, and energize.
Check out Be Relax, with more than 52 spa locations in airports worldwide providing massage, manicures, pedicures, steam rooms, and showers. Some even offer facials, waxing, and they will style your hair. Maybe that’s over the top…maybe not.
Make dinner reservations.
Of course, you are already fully prepared with dinner reservations once you arrive, or are you? Use this bonus time to research restaurants close to where you are staying and make a well-informed decision for dinner. When you have a good plan in place, then time is not wasted, and hanger frustrations are limited.
Review your itinerary.
There is still time to book an experience or adventure. Review your travel guides and read your favorite travel blogs. Often purchasing a tour before you arrive is cheaper, plus you have a plan in place.
Make a TikTok with your teens.
Yes, I went there. Teens love TikTok, why not join the fun?
Play UNO.
Everyone knows how to play UNO. And you may even make some new friends.
Yoga.
With the rise in the popularity of yoga, many airports have created a dedicated peaceful space to practice yoga, stretch, or meditate. Research your airport to know ahead of time if there is a yoga room and where, bring a fold-up yoga mat, and find a place to destress. Here are a few popular airports for you to review.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Yoga Room Terminal 2
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Yoga Studio Terminal B and Terminal E
- Miami International (MIA) Yoga Room Terminal H
- London Heathrow (LHR) Yoga Studio Terminal 4 SkyTeam Lounge (you will need to purchase a day pass to utilize the SkyTeam Lounge)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) Terminal 3
Indulge in Champagne, but don’t overindulge.
Go shopping.
Many airports pride themselves in the shopping experience. Know before you go by researching where you will be spending your bonus layover time. Whether you want to purchase a designer bag or a simple city mug as a souvenir, these airports are the top.
- London Heathrow (LHR)~ The best airport for shopping, according to Skytrax World Airport Awards.
- John F. Kennedy International (JFK) in New York City ~ Brooks Brother, Cartier, Coach, Juicy Couture, and Ferragamo.
- Paris’ Charles de Gaulle (CDG) ~ Burberry, Hermes, Gucci, and Rolex. Not the prettiest airport, but fabulous boutiques for shopping (well, maybe just window shopping).
Eat a tasty and healthy meal.
Another idea many airports have picked up on is providing travelers a place to sit down and eat a healthy meal, a smart alternative to waiting for that airplane meal.
Chat with your family.
Enjoy quality family time; this is what it’s all about.
Journal your experience.
Travel journaling starts way before you arrive at your destination. And here are a few pre-arrival journal prompts to get you started.
- Set your daily physical and mental health goals and write them down. For example: Get up early, eat a healthy breakfast, and take a walk.
- Write down three ways you plan on stepping out of your comfort zone during your vacation.
- What are your expectations of the destination when you arrive?
- Create a playlist for your long walks in the mornings, either podcasts or music.
- If you haven’t already done this, create your daily flexible itinerary and write it in your travel journal.
Grab a cuppa tea or coffee, and people watch.
Airports are a people-watching mecca. You will see all kinds of happy travelers.
Check out the airport lounge.
Many lounges allow you to purchase a one day pass. Enjoy complimentary snacks and faster wifi to pass an hour or two.
Get your workout on.
Here are a few airports that have gyms for you to get a quick workout in while you wait. Pack a change of clothes and some toiletries to freshen up after.
- Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) Roam Fitness is paving the way to fill airports with state of the art gyms for a quick workout, shower, and freshen up during your layover. The first of this venture is at BWI between Concourses D and E, with many more to come in the future, including Atlanta, Denver, Miami, and San Francisco.
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Terminal1 is where you will find GoodLife Fitness, a 10,000 square foot facility providing cardio, free weights, and express workouts. A day pass is $17.
Explore a new city.
If your layover is more than 4-5 hours, consider leaving the airport and exploring the city; this will require a bit of pre-planning. Here are a few things to consider doing after escaping the airport.
- Book a guided city tour.
- Reserve a reservation at a popular restaurant and taste the local cuisine.
- Decide on an attraction, figure out the best way to get there (Uber or Taxi), and go for it.
- Make sure to be back 2 hours before your next flight. You will have to go through security again.
Get a room.
And if you have an overnight layover and the funds to do it, get a room and sleep it off, shower, and freshen up for your upcoming adventure.
Be prepared for your layover by packing everything you need in your carry-on bag. Here is a printable carry-on checklist, so you don’t forget a thing.
See what I mean? A long layover is a bonus, treat it as such.
Relax, indulge in some essential self-care, learn something new, hang out with your family, read a book, write in your journal, or escape for a day of exploring a new city.
I don’t know about you, but I am more excited than ever to step into an airport. I will never take the bonus time of a long layover for granted again.
What are your favorite things to do to pass the time during a long layover?
Stay healthy.
Have fun.
And send me pictures.
I love having a layover long enough to leave the airport and see some of the country! We’ve utilised these in Dubai and Hong Kong. Otherwise, if we are not in a rush, I definitely recommend having a massage or going for a swim (where the airport has the facilities). And, of course, I am reading up on my favourite travel blogs for last-minute inspiration for our destination!
Always reading my favorites, for sure. I never thought of going for a swim, that is a great idea. I wonder if some of those airport hotels will let you use their facility?
Some airports (e.g. Singapore) have one, but most time it is a connected hotel. Most hotels have a ‘day pass’ you can buy. It’s more a question of whether your layover is long enough to swim and shower, and whether you can deal with the wet bathing suit and towel in your luggage.
Good point on the wet swimsuit.
Agreed, Educated and Where the Crawdads Sing are great reads!
They were. What are your favs?
Great ideas! I love walking around and people watching!
I do, too, not just when I travel😉
Love all these ideas. I usually just people watch in the lounge but I like the idea of window shopping/getting my steps in. Love this!
All of the above.
I love these ideas for how to spend your time during a long layover. Thankfully, most airports have things to keep you amused but many of these ideas are perfect even if you’re stuck at a smaller airport. I love the printable for the carry-on luggage because I always forget something.
I always forgot something, so I had to create a checklist. Now, much better.
These are great ideas! I especially loved the one about getting a massage! Thanks!
Seriously, a game changer.
Great suggestions!! I often have long layovers when going back home, these are good tips! I also like to leave the airport if I can and have done so in Hong Kong and Singapore, which has free tours. A shower is also a blessing if I can. Though now I have two kids under 3 which makes things a bit more challenging 🙂
Oh gosh, yes, that would be a bit of a challenge. But, that gets better all the time, just keep going.
I loved reading this – I would have never guessed how many fun ways there are to stay entertained during a layover haha. I particularly like the massage idea!
One of my favorites. I would give anything for a long layover right now.
Thanks for the tips. I hope yo be able to fly again soon!
This is the kind of content I like. It’s absolutely beneficial and helpful. I always use my phone a lot when I am stuck in a layover that’s bad.
I know, me, too. I really try to step away and do something for myself. Find peace, get some steps in, shop, or just people watch. The phone can wait.
Great ideas here!
We definitely do the walking and window shopping – with small children I find the more you sit still the worse the waiting is! If there is a restaurant, cafe or bar we like to eat too as this passes time easily.
Would love to see more people making tik tok videos for the entertainment factor!
Yes, how fun is that? The idea, of course, came from my teenager.
I love to walk around and window shop. It’s a good exercise after hours sitting on the plane. Love to explore the cities of we have long overlays too.
Yes, sometimes we plan our layovers so we can check out a city, even if it is brief.
These are great tips! A long layover is idea as I can leave the airport and explore the city, however if time is short I’ll often incorporate many of these during my wait.
Nathalia | Nathaliafit – Fitness & Wellness Blog
http://www.nathaliafit.com
My best layover was a 12 hour stay in Puerto Rico. We booked a bus trip that took us around the city, let us explore some forts and even included time to grab some rum punch (which packed a BIG punch!). I actually like long layovers, especially if it’s somewhere I haven’t been. It’s like getting an extra mini-vacation in your vacation!
That sounds amazing. Puerto Rico is one of our favorite places to visit. And, yes, the rum punch can pack a punch, but I am a rum girl and I love it.
I often travel alone, and I’m often stuck with long layovers (there are no direct flights from Montreal to the Midwest, where I visit family). My favorite activities to pass the time are to grab a coffee, find a comfortable spot at a table, and draw while listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or music! I always bring a coloring book. I have anxiety, and drawing makes time fly by, so I don’t have time to freak out about being alone and missing my flight! But I never thought about going to explore and shop. I often have layovers in Atlanta and this airport is just huge! Next time I can cross the borders (thanks Covid…!), I’m gonna try to explore airports more!!! Great post 🙂
Thank you, Valerie. I was recently introduced to adult coloring books, I haven’t colored since childhood. I never realized how calming they are.