For many of us, the idea of a layover is terrifying. You’re traveling, looking forward to getting to your destination, and then… BAM! An unexpected delay forces you to stay in a hotel for the night, eat a few store-bought snacks, and potentially face a dingy terminal. However, there’s no reason to take a layover trip in a bad mood. Urgent business matters and/or an accident may force you to take an unscheduled stop, but you don’t have to set aside your plans to do so. In fact, a layover may be a great opportunity to get some work done, explore a new destination, or meet new friends.

Looking into The Bright Side of Layovers

The average American spends three years of their life traveling. That’s a lot of time-and a lot of money-on things like flights, hotels, and food. The good news is you can take a break from your travels and still get some of the benefits of travel since a layover (or layovers, as they are commonly called) is a wonderful experience. Not only can a layover be relaxing, but it can be used to your advantage as well. Here are a few general tips on how to make the most of your layover:

• Read your favorite book. When you are traveling, layovers can be stressful; they’re a rare opportunity to make some money, catch up on some unresponsiveness, or just rest. Though, if you are planning a long layover, don’t forget that you have time to read. Reading can help you relax, give you something to think about, and help keep you occupied during your time away.
• Reading a book is a great simple tip for surviving a long layover. It’s a way of being productive and taking advantage of the time you have away from your destination, and it also helps you to keep your mind off of the things you dread.
• Walk around the airport area. When you walk around the airport area, you’ll encounter various aircraft and operations-related features. At the gates, you might see planes parked with engines running or undergoing maintenance on the runway. Keep an eye out for ground power units, which charge aircraft batteries and provide essential power while they’re parked. You’ll also notice airport staff like ground crew, baggage handlers, and air traffic controllers bustling around. This short walk around will probably help you know more about how airports work.
  
• Chill at the airport’s lounge facilities. If you are a frequent traveller, you know that certain tricks make any trip a little more enjoyable-or at least tolerable. One of the best “do-it-yourself” tips is to take advantage of the international lounge facilities available at most airports. These lounges are normally for industry professionals bound for hubs, but you can use them for free.
• Call your friend or your family. For any business traveller, the idea of taking a layover while traveling makes you want to throw your laptop into the nearest trash can. But what if you could use the time to catch up with friends and family, or even get some work done? You can – and you can even keep your sanity, too.
• Take a quick tour around the city. While traveling, a great tip to know is to explore the city you’re in if you use a long layover. By exploring the city, you may get to know the local people’s culture and see the sites, which may help you to survive your trip.
• Get some power nap. In today’s world, most people work far more than they sleep. You may be going on a business trip or a vacation, but if you are stuck in an airport or bus terminal, you may not be able to sleep and may feel exhausted and irritable. You will feel refreshed and ready to take on your travel experience by taking a nap.

The amount of time it takes to get from one place to another is at the heart of the concept of “time.” Traveling is one of the most exciting ways to experience what makes the world around us so fantastic. While it can be tedious when you have to wait for a flight or spend hours stuck in a security line, traveling has plenty of advantages.