While most people like to say that they love to travel, what they typically mean is that they like being in new places. The actual travel part of a vacation or trip is usually the most stressful part. From having to be at the airport hours before your departure to finding ways to kill time when you’re in the departure lounge, there are some quick and simple ways to make your journey easier. No matter if you have lots of hours to kill, these tips won’t just transform your airport experience; they can set the tone for the rest of your trip as well. If you don’t just want to enjoy your holiday, but want to find ways to enjoy the journey as well, then here’s how you should plan your time in the airport.
1. Explore your surroundings
If you’re going to be sitting in the departure lounge for a while, then you can always kill some time by checking out your environment. There are always going to be stores to browse, and you might even be able to start some early shopping. If you don’t have any form of entertainment with you, you can usually pick up a few magazines or a book from most airports.
2. Have a survival kit
Being prepared for any eventuality is the key to a better journey. Having supplies close to hand can make even long flight delays much more manageable. Your emergency kit should contain:
- Some healthy snacks
- Baby wipes
- Toothpaste and a toothbrush
- A book
- Your medications
- A face mask to help you sleep
- Headphones for music or some peace
3. Go with the Flow
There’s nothing that you can do to speed up the travel process, so don’t let the wait time get to you. This is especially true if you encounter delays. Getting agitated or angry isn’t going to make planes suddenly be able to fly faster. Instead, accept that you have longer to wait than you thought, and use that time productively. Contact Fairplane.co.uk to see if you’re entitled to any compensation from a delayed flight. Most importantly, never take your frustrations out on airport staff. It’s not their fault, and they can make your journey much more difficult if you’re an annoying passenger.
4. Catch some sleep
The best way to kill some time if you’re stuck in the airport is to get some sleep. Set your clocks so that they match your destination, and try and get into the sleeping patterns early. It not only means that you sleep through your waiting time, but it also reduces the potential impact of jet lag too. Make sure that you pack a travel pillow in your carry-on bags, and you could snooze until your departure gate finally opens. Some airports even have short-term hotel rooms available for a few hours at a time, and what better way to ease the stress of travel than by being in a hotel bed?
Airports are amazing hubs of activity, and you could spend all of your waiting time just enjoying some people-watching. No matter how you choose to entertain yourself, remember that sometimes the journey is the reward.