Always Pack for Naps
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Even if you don\u2019t have a layover planned, it\u2019s always a good idea to have what you need to sleep comfortably packed in your carry-on whenever you fly. Some people like to go all out in their \u201cairport nap kit\u201d and will include things like a sleeping bag and inflatable mattress or pool raft. You can do that, if you want, but all you really need to do to grab some shut-eye (even if you\u2019re not planning on it) is…<\/p>\n
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- An eye mask.<\/strong> Sporting a cute, silky sleep mask will help shield your poor eyes from those bright airplane lights. But, we all know that sleep masks can get uncomfortable after a while. That\u2019s why this pretty little invention, otherwise known as The Butterfly Hat by Betty & Bradley<\/a>, comes in a comfy pouch that transforms into your very own eye mask when you unzip it. Because why shouldn\u2019t you look good while you get some (much-needed) shut-eye? Check out their Instagram page<\/a> for more details!<\/li>\n
- Earplugs or earphones\/headphones.<\/strong> It\u2019s not a bad idea to bring both, in case you don\u2019t know if you want to doze off to silence or listen to something that will help you sleep.<\/li>\n
- Travel pillow and blanket OR a hoodie.<\/strong> There is every conceivable kind of travel pillow and blanket on the market, you just have to decide which one is best for you. If you find yourself without them, a hooded sweatshirt will make a good replacement for either one. It can keep you warm in the notoriously constant chill of airport AC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Figure Out Your Options and Find a Spot<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nOnce you find yourself in the middle of your layover, planned or unplanned, you need to know your sleeping options. Hopefully, you’ve done your research ahead of time, but if not (and we hate to state the obvious) you need to find a good napping nook. First stop, check out the seats. Is there a long row of empty benches you can spread out on? A big, smushy chair you can curl up in? Jump on that. If the airport you\u2019re in only has those awful plastic bucket seats then you may want to see if there are any business traveler lounges. Typically reserved for the fancier folks, budget travelers can sometimes get in on this action too. Non-members can usually buy a single day pass and maybe even get a reduced rate if it\u2019s late enough at night, and we guarantee you\u2019ll have some cushy furniture to snuggle down on. If there\u2019s no access to a lounge or you can\u2019t afford it, you can ask an airport employee if they have cots available for overnight sleepers. Some do (especially if you\u2019re a stranded passenger due to flight cancellations), so ask and you may receive!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also smart to slip off to dreamland close to other sleeping travelers because there’s always safety in numbers. Another good spot to look for is one that\u2019s close to where airport staff are stationed or routinely walk by.<\/p>\n
Get Comfy and Secure Your Stuff
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<\/a><\/h2>\nThis one\u2019s especially important if you\u2019re traveling alone. Snuggle into that big chair you found, but keep your luggage close — it\u2019s best to maintain contact with ALL of your belongings while sleeping in an airport. You don\u2019t want to wake up to find your iPad\u2019s been stolen, or worse, wake up to the TSA inspecting your abandoned, “suspicious” suitcase. If you have a bag, use it as a pillow, or wrap the straps around your arms or legs. If you\u2019ve got something clunkier, like a suitcase, lay it under your feet with the zippers face-down against the floor.<\/p>\n
RELATED:\u00a0Love Your Layover: A Survival Guide on What to Do Between Flights<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
Don\u2019t Lose Track of Time<\/h2>\n
It would really defeat the purpose of sleeping in the airport if you, you know, overslept and missed your flight. So make sure you set an alarm on your phone to wake you up when it\u2019s time. Or, for a more fun and social alarm system, take a pad of Post-It notes, write, \u201cWake me up at\u2026\u201d whatever time you need to get up, and stick a whole bunch of them all over your body and luggage. People will wake you up. This legitimately works, and maybe you\u2019ll make some new friends!<\/p>\n
Treat Yourself to a Post-Sleep Cleanup
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<\/a><\/h2>\nMake sure that when you wake up, you have time to freshen up before your flight. You can do the very basics, like wash your face and brush your teeth in the bathroom, OR, if the airport has the facility — take a quick shower. You can usually find them at hotels or business traveler lounges, but with with the rise in popularity of gyms at airports you also have the option of paying for a quick workout…just to use their showers.<\/p>\n
Think of It as an Adventure!<\/h2>\n
Okay, maybe spending the night in an airport overnight is pretty lame. But if you embrace your inner nomad and see it as an adventure, it can be fun! You don\u2019t need fancy sheets and posh hotel rooms — you just need yourself and your bag, as you head out into the great unknown. Trust us, with the right attitude — you can embrace anything you encounter on your travels.<\/p>\n
What nap hacks work for you when you\u2019re sleeping in airports? Tells us about them in the comments!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
To anyone who doesn\u2019t do much flying, sleeping in airports may seem strange. But snoozing away between flights is a pretty common experience for globetrotters and frequent fliers. A nap can be the best way to spend a long layover that makes a usually pricey trip more affordable, catch up on some Z\u2019s for those […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":97208449,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97168185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air-travel","category-travel-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97168185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97168185"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97168185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97209498,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97168185\/revisions\/97209498"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97208449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97168185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97168185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97168185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Earplugs or earphones\/headphones.<\/strong> It\u2019s not a bad idea to bring both, in case you don\u2019t know if you want to doze off to silence or listen to something that will help you sleep.<\/li>\n