Top 5 Tips on How to Survive a Stopover

One of the most frustrating and trying parts of traveling is the stopover. Imagine waiting for hours upon hours in a busy airport for your flight. Add to that the anxiety of reaching your destination as soon as possible. While it is impossible to go completely crazy while waiting, here are some tips to alleviate the frustration and anxiety that goes with the stopover wait.

1. Read something

Poring over a compelling novel or biography will definitely help you pass the time whenever you find yourself waiting at an airport. If you are not really one for reading books while waiting, you can pick up a magazine and really read through the articles instead of just looking at the pictures. Books and magazines are available in almost every airport (if the airport selections are not up to your tastes, make sure to bring a book you would love to read when traveling). Reading on your smartphone, Kindle, or iPad might be a good alternative if you do not want to buy books or magazines at the airport, but you would have to worry about eyestrain and using up the battery of your devices. Playing games on your mobile devices might seem like a nice way to pass the time, but you do not really add something to yourself, except maybe better Tetris skills.

2. Explore the airport

Airports are one of the most exciting places in the world, even if might not seem so at the first few minutes of your stopover wait. Some airport terminals offer a wide variety of attractions for passengers, including small galleries and scaled down museums. My personal favourite is playing a geography game with myself—looking at the boards and guessing which acronym stands for what airport. Sounds boring, but different strokes for different folks, right?

3. Exploring the local surroundings

If you have to wait for your stopover for more than six hours, then you have plenty of time to step out of the airport and explore the nearby city. While some airports have excruciatingly complicated security measures, there are places that are worth the time and effort to explore. Short-term or day visas are available for travellers who want to explore the local surroundings for a couple of hours. Six hours is plenty of time to grab a meal in a local restaurant and do a bit of walking to see the city.

4. Pamper yourself

To make the wait for your stopover less frustrating, you can always pamper yourself. Go into a bar and enjoy high-quality booze (preferably not available at home). Have a wonderful meal. Enjoy a massage or luxurious beauty treatment at the airport spa. There are also airports that offer passengers the use of a sleeping suite or a day room, where you can enjoy an energizing nap on a comfortable bed, a hot shower, and other amenities to freshen up for your long flight (and for reasonable rates).

5. Talk to people

Socializing never hurt anyone (except maybe the painfully shy), and talking to people while waiting for your stopover is a great way to pass the time. Maybe you will make new friends or meet your future girlfriend or boyfriend.