Making The Most Of The Airport

By Author: ash clark
Total Articles: 12
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The avid backpacker spends more time than the average person waiting in airports. Tempting discounted fares often come at the cost of extra-long layovers. Multi-destination excursions require frequent check-ins and security screens. Although long hours in the airport are probably not going to be the highlight of any trip, a backpacker can make strategic use of the time he or she has in the terminal.

First, view an airport terminal as free accommodations. In most parts of the world, airports are climate controlled, monitored by security, and equipped with chairs and floors that are cleaned regularly. That’s already more than most hostels offer. Booking a flight that departs in the wee hours of the morning will generally allow a backpacker to check-in around twelve hours beforehand, depending on the particular airport’s policy. Spend all day and evening in you destination, head to the airport after an awesome parting dinner, check-in, and roll out your sleeping bag for a free night in relative comfort and safety. The same strategy can be used for the first night of a trip if the flight lands late at night. ...
... Especially in major international airports, there’s typically no one rushing travelers out of the terminal. Find a quite corner and set-up your free sleeping arrangements.

Airline clubs are another great resource for backpackers. Depending on the airline, one-time passes can sometimes be purchased at a decent rate. They can even be acquired for free with certain promotions or credit card deals. A frequent backpacker might even be able to justify a membership to a popular airline club. Many offer nice restroom facilities (without lines), complementary wi-fi, snacks, beverages, even showers. A couple of hours in a snazzy club paired with a nap in the corner of a quite gate might just make for the most refreshing and relaxing few hours a backpacker experiences.

Charging stations, shuttle services, and, most importantly, an abundance of local employees with better than average communication skills are other valuable resources available to the backpacker in most airports. Don’t write-off a long layover as wasted time. A little creativity and a positive approach can turn an airport into a backpacker’s greatest resource.

About the Author-

Hi I’m Ash Clark and this is TheMostAlive.com - a space dedicated to sharing stories, photography and videos from unique destinations across our world. We hope they inspire you to discover the world you live in as well.Find out more about backpack travels please visit our site .