HEADS!UP: the long layover

If you’ve ever been in an airport during transit, I’m sure you’ve seen it before. By it, I mean people using the threads of their imagination and creativity to create a sense of comfort as they doze off into La La land. You’ve seen them take up multiple seats in their make-shift plastic-feel beds, or laying on the ground using their luggage as a means of providing some type of pillow. And if you’ve ever had to spend some time in the airport, then you’ve probably found certain ways to make time go by as well. Now to some, this may seem like purgatory.

However, this is NOT always the case.

A long layover can actually be somewhat of an advantage. Granted you’ve got enough time (sometimes upwards of 5 hours or more), then sometimes it provides you a chance to make a small trek out into the areas surrounding the airport. By booking directly with airlines such as Air France or KLM or Turkish Airlines, they often provide lengthy layover periods that you can work into your flight plan. In the past year, I’ve been able to go out into Paris, Amsterdam & even Beijing during my layovers. I like to almost call it a travel hack of some sorts.

Of course, doing your research is a vital part of venturing out of the airport. The LAST thing you would want is to miss your flight. Time management becomes even more emphasized seeing as how you must always factor in travel time and then provide yourself a cushion in case the lines at the airport move as quick as molasses. Some cities may require visas in order for your to leave the airport. Prioritizing exactly what you want to see is vital as well. You may not be able to see everything, so one must be selective and know exactly what they want to try and conquer during the time allotted.

All in all, with a set plan, and sometimes a little luck, you may get to visit or RE-visit (as I have) places that you’ve dreamt of seeing before. I’ve been able to visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall Of China, the Eiffel Tower, and venture out into Amsterdam’s canal routes all on layovers. It’s a great way to transform what would otherwise seem like wasted time, into a chance to be a little more adventurous.