There’s much to love about traveling, as we all know, but it’d be wrong to suggest that it’s all fun and games. It positively isn’t. There are times when we’re lost and confused, tired, or we realize that we’ve made some sort of fundamental error with our plans, and understand that life has to get a whole lot more complicated before it can get better. One aspect of traveling that all travelers have to contend with from time to time is that of the layover. We travel because we want to explore new places and meet new people, and yet sometimes we find ourselves sitting in an airport for nine hours. Not fun. 

But the positive mind finds hope in all situations. There are always ways to stay entertained during a long layover. Below, we take a look at a few tried and tested methods.

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Make Your Plans

You shouldn’t be too depressed about your stay in your an airport; it means that you’re about to do something exciting, or you’re preparing to return home after a trip. Nice! If you’re on your way to a new destination, then a long layover can be a chance to refine your plans and do those last-minute pieces of research to make your traveling all the more enjoyable. If you’re returning home, then you can go over all the good times you’ve had, and also think about how you’ll reconnect with all your loved ones once you return home. 

With Your Devices

Spare a thought for all the people who had a long layover before 2007, and the rise of the smartphone. They’d just have to sit there and read a newspaper — not all that exciting! Now, we’re able to enjoy all the riches of modern life, thanks to our smartphones, tablets, and laptops. If you’re sitting there with nothing to do, load up those top online casinos, online games, or watch some fun videos on YouTube. If you’re not feeling those forms of entertainment, you can use your devices to stay in touch with the people you’ve left behind. 

Browse the Shops

Sure, if you’re used to going to the airport, then you’re probably not all that enthused by the idea of airport shopping, but if you’ve got a long layover, then now’s the time to rekindle your interest. If you’ve blown all your money on your travels (as you should), then don’t worry so much about buying something or not: just take a browse, and see the difference between an airport and real-world store prices. It won’t be a highlight of the trip, but it’s something.

People Watching

When all else fails, return to the old favorite: people watching! You get all kinds of people at the airport, and actually it functions as something of a microcosm of society. People say traveling is good because you learn so much about other people, but remember that this includes the airport too. Get a good seat, and just watch — you’ll be rewarded!