A church mouse on-the-go ($)

In case you are traveling for any reason other than leisure, the chances of being down to the last penny are high. And with all the indulgences of the duty-free zone, it might feel like money is the only key to a bearable long layover. Luckily, that’s far from the truth.

Without any monetary-based distractions, you can focus on the most interesting thing in your life—you. This means finally getting enough time to read the book you’ve been putting off for ages, rewatching a favorite classic, journaling, and meditating.

And if you’ve got company, such as family or friends, make sure to pack a compact board game, such as Uno, travel chess, or even Twister. No space for extras? Try the old-time favorites such as I Spy, Alphabet, or In My Bag.

A middle in the middle ($$)

Got a little more dough to your name? Then, your long layover options get a bit wider, in the commercial sense. The very first thing to consider is booking a transit hotel and getting on with all the quintessential home-away-from-home activities, such as bath soaking, trashy TV watching, junk food devouring, and so on.

But if you don’t feel like being a couch potato for hours, stay in the airport and take it as an opportunity to experiment. For example, find a restaurant that serves local cuisine or a shop with native clothing and accessories. Not your cup of tea? By all means, take it further and commence a scavenger hunt for the weirdest souvenir you can buy at the airport.

Finally, pay the Internet fee for a couple of hours, and use that time to video-call friends and family from the distant parts of the world. And when you are done, find a pampering station to get a shave/shoe polish/manicure so that you can arrive at your destination minty-fresh.

A silver spoon holder ($$$)

Money isn’t the answer to everything, but it sure opens many fun doors. From staying in the VIP lounge and relaxing at the spa to taking a private city tour—well-off travelers will have access to it all.

The same goes for enjoying fine-dining spots and luxury shopping. Some top-tier chefs and designers have limited edition offers for airports, and it would be a shame to let those pass by.

To cap it all off, you can hire a long layover time planner to assist you with organizing your schedule and finding activities tailored to your taste.

Long layover for the win

As you can see, a long layover isn’t the end of the world, especially when you commit to making the most out of it and do a bit of thinking ahead. Want to learn more about surviving a long layover? Reach out to us for a bespoke travel plan that will wow you to the bone.

By Daryna Putintseva

darynawrites.com