Tips to Enjoy Your Short Layover Inside The Airport

Every traveler will know that there are times when not all the flights they can book are direct ones, meaning, no stop overs. There are many reasons why some travelers choose to travel with stopovers because of time difference, physical exertion to go through long haul flights, cheaper fares, or the schedule does not work well with the preferred time of the traveler. What ever the reasons are for choosing a stopover over a direct flight, here are simple and very useful tips to enjoy the few hours you have inside a certain airport during your layover (granting you cannot leave the airport due to time constraints).


Check out the Duty Free Shop

Did you forget to buy something special for your family back home? How about checking out the shopping trends in that particular layover destination or buy a simple token for yourself while you are in a new airport in a different city or country?

Check out hot selling items in that particular Duty Free shop and you can compare them once you are in your destination or back home. You might even be lucky to snag discounts or deals in the Duty Free where you are having a stopover because some Duty Free shops run regular sales.


Grab a grub at one of the restaurants

We sometime need a break from airline food so my family and I usually buy food from the foodcourt or restaurants. Although skipping meals in the airplane is complete your choice and really mandatory for this matter. If you feel like trying out a different cuisine or want to check how the meal tastes like in a certain food outlet then dining during your stopover is another choice you can make while making the most of your stopover.


Relax at the Spa 

Yes, there are spas in most airports around the world; and no, they are not only for First and Business Class passengers. There are dedicated spas and lounges for the elite travelers but for people like us who travel coach, we can also enjoy the relaxing services offered at the spa in the airport. An example of this is Abu Dhabi's Tosa Spa in Terminal 3.

XpressSpa has plenty of accessible spas for travelers to use around the US, in Amsterdam, and in Dubai. Their spas are open to all kinds of travelers where you can enjoy a quick mani/pedi, hydrating facials, and even massages.


Take a walk

Sitting in a tight quarter inside the airplane can be very taxing. You need to get that circulation moving so the best way to do that is to also move. While some airports have gym facilities that are available to business and first class passengers, other travelers may decide to brisk walk around. You don't need your active wear to be stretch those legs and walk; however, I hope you are not wearing those killer stilettos while traveling too (trust me, there are people who wear stilettos while traveling).


Read a good book

Have you been trying so hard to read that book you told yourself but never had the chance to or stuck in that same page? Well, your few hours in the airport may just be the right thing to have to get on with your reading.



If your trip has to have a layover and this is nothing you can beat, just enjoy the few hours you have inside the airport to unwind and discover new things about the airport. You will be surprised to know that there are many ways to utilise the time that you have while waiting for your next flight. Enjoy it!

Ideas for a Fun Gatwick Layover

Photo credit: yahoo.com

Gatwick Airport is a popular transport hub and if you are flying through, why not schedule a layover? Stopping over at Gatwick will give you a chance to add another destination to your trip and get a taste of what the surrounding attractions have to offer.

A layover at Gatwick will be very convenient, as there are many transit options. You can take an airport taxi Gatwick to get quickly to the city centre, so that you can make the most of your time. If you are from the UK and flying out of Gatwick, you can drive up to the airport early to enjoy one of these attractions.

What are some of the activities that you could enjoy on a visit to Gatwick:

Tour of London 
There are a number of tour companies that offer full layover tours from Gatwick Airport. These tours are designed to cram in as many of the top attractions in London into the shortest amount of time. They will take you to the classic tourist sites such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.

If you are new to London and you have never seen the sights before, this could be a great option for you. It would allow you to see the most famous attractions in London in a very convenient way. However, if you have already visited London you will have likely seen all of these attractions before – so you will be looking for another option for a layover trip idea.

Covent Garden 
If your idea of a fun day involves shopping, eating and entertainment – why not head to Covent Garden. There are a number of cute street cafes where you can stop and have a coffee and watch the street performers. There is also a very interesting market that sells almost everything you could wish for.

Covent Garden also has the London Transport Museum, The Benjamin Franklin House and the Georgian home of the famous architect and collector Sir John Soanes.

Brighton
Head to Brighton, which is a short drive away and see a lovely and exciting seaside city. Brighton is a very popular tourist attraction and it offers the fun of Brighton Pier as well as the lovely pebble beach and more. All along the Palace Pier you will find the usual seafront arcade attractions – great for kids!

Brighton has an excellent Museum as well as many funky boutiques, friendly cafes and great bars. Check out The Lanes, which is an area of fun and interesting shops jumbled together, including some vintage record stores and great jewellery shops. Also, don’t forget to check out the walkthrough underwater tunnel at the Sea Life Centre aquarium.

Sussex Gardens
If you only have a few hours on your layover, you still have time for the short drive to Nymans where you will find some beautiful gardens. These elegant and beautifully landscaped 20th century gardens offer gorgeous views of the Sussex countryside and they even include a lovely Gothic mansion.

You could also visit the High Beeches Gardens, which include 27 acres of beautiful woodland and water gardens, filled with unusual and rare plants and trees. Also nearby are the gardens that surround the Elizabethan mansion at Wakehurst Place, which are home to the Millennium Seed Bank Collection as well as many other beautiful plants.

Bocketts Farm 
If you are travelling with little ones, a great idea for a Gatwick layover is to visit Bocketts Farm. This family friendly attraction is a great day out for the entire family and there are a number of friendly farm animals to feed and pet. There are pony rides, goat milking, tractor rides and even pig racing – giving your children a taste of life on a real working farm. Also, if you want to stop for lunch or afternoon tea, the Old Barn tearoom serves a selection of delicious homemade food every day in the lovely 18th century barn.

These are just a few fun ideas of what to do while you are on a layover at Gatwick airport. Of course, while you are on a layover in Gatwick you should always make sure to get back to the airport in time for your connecting flight. You can book an airport taxi Gatwick to get you there on time in the most convenient way.

About the author: 
Max Wheeler is a freelance writer and blogger. He frequently takes flights that stopover at Gatwick and has taken a number of short day trips in the area.