What to Do During an Airport Layover

For the avid and amateur traveler alike, a long layover where you are stuck in the airport can be a real drag. Once you’ve made the obligatory phone calls, often there is not much left to do but sit and wait. Airports, however, are some of the most fascinating places you will ever enter, and you should soak up your experiences while you have the time. You may not be able to see the whole city, but you can definitely get a feel of the place by just exploring the airport. Take advantage of this time, and you will have a travel experience worthy of writing home about.

Do Some Research

When you find out where your layover will be, do some research about the airport. With a simple Internet search, you can probably find out all sorts of information about the airport itself, including a map that details what you can find and where it is in relation to your terminal. With this research, you will be ready to see the sights that the airport has to offer.

Ask Around

The best source of information, especially if you didn’t have time to do any research, is the people who work at the airport. Airport employees are generally very friendly, and want you to explore all that the space has to offer, so don’t be afraid to ask around and see what they think are the best places to visit. You can also use this time to upgrade your seat or see if you can get on an earlier flight. You never know; if you get to the counter early enough, they may just have some seats available.

Do Some Walking

After sitting and being cramped in the airplane, it can be a good idea to get those legs moving again. Briskly walking around the airport while toting your carry-on luggage can be a great way to burn some calories and get the blood flowing in your legs. If you sit still for too long, blood clots can form in your legs, and you don’t burn many calories while you’re seated anyway, so take advantage of the time you have on hand to stretch and walk.

Shopping

Airports have great shopping because they know people who need things will have to buy them from the airport itself, since they can’t leave once they’ve passed security. Did you forget a souvenir or do you need some reading material? Visit the stores in the airport to stock up. You can also get food, sanitary items, medicine, and some souvenir-type clothing from there. Go ahead, splurge a little. You can get gifts for everyone on your list right from the comfort of the airport.

Meet New People

Everyone at an airport has the same goal in mind; they want to get to where they are going. If you are the outgoing type, go ahead and try to make a few new friends. Who knows, you might find someone who has the same interests as you, or a possible job contact, or even a pen pal. At worst, they will think you are weird, but you’ll never have to see them again, so why not strike up a conversation?

For the Kids

Fewer things could be more daunting than being stuck in an airport with your kids. To keep them occupied, try doing a scavenger hunt. Make a list of things you can generally find in airports, and have each adult take a kid to find them. The first person back with their filled-out list wins.

In today's face-paced life, rarely do we get the time to sit back and think of doing something different. An airport layover offers that very chance to us, so instead of just sitting around and waiting, use this spare time in the best way possible.

Camping as an Affordable Vacation Alternative

When the Yearly Vacation Can’t Happen

In certain circumstances, some families may find that their usual vacationing plans are no longer financially feasible. Airplane journeys, hotel stays, and tourist activities require disposable income, and any number of events can threaten those extra funds. An economic downturn, a lost job, or a new, unexpected medical expense are just a few examples of reasons that a usual family vacation could turn into a non-starter. Financial difficulty, however, doesn’t mean that life can’t still be fun. No matter where you live, there are inexpensive vacation opportunities to be found.

Camping Close to Home: An Inexpensive Trip

Camping is one of the best choices for families looking to save a little money on this year’s vacation. Not only is camping an exciting and fun family activity, it can be accomplished on a very low budget. The biggest expense incurred on a camping trip is often the cost of transportation to and from the campsite. Staying close to home, however, keeps travel costs down. Look into natural areas and campsites near to where you live. Often, there are beautiful camping opportunities to be found right in your backyard. In addition to saving money, camping close to home can help you and your family cultivate a deeper respect for your particular corner of the world.

Keeping Camping Costs Low

Once you have chosen a campsite and arranged transportation, costs for a camping vacation are almost negligible. In the United States, most campsites have a small fee for using the campgrounds. This fee can vary depending on what style of camping you choose. If you have an RV or camper, the fee may be a little higher than if you are using a tent. To save money, pack a tent in the back of the car and sleep under the stars. Camping in a tent has the added benefit of bringing campers closer to nature and adding an extra adventurous feeling of "rouging it."

What to Do on a Camping Trip

Depending on what you and your family like to do, you might need to factor in small costs for recreational licenses. At many campgrounds, licenses are needed for fishing, hunting, boating, and other activities. These are usually inexpensive, and if you are camping at a state or national park in the U.S., you can rest assured that your money is going toward preservation of the park and its ecosystems. One thing can be said for certain: these licenses will be far cheaper than movie tickets, museum admission, restaurant bills, theme park passes, and all the other costs associated with a typical vacation.

What to Eat on a Camping Trip

There are a number of different ways to arrange meals on camping trips. Some families choose to pack coolers full of all the food they will need for their trip, cooking over campfires and eating non-perishable goods. This is often the cheapest way to go, and adds a little excitement to the trip. For an easier but equally inexpensive option, choose a campsite that’s near to a grocery store or market. That way, you can purchase fresh food from the market every day or every other day, and you can avoid the hassle of planning every meal in advance. Another choice is to spend some of the money you saved by going camping on eating out. This option can add some luxury to the trip.

The Unforgettable Camping Experience

For those willing to spend some time relaxing in nature, camping trips can be very inexpensive. A little research and advanced planning will uncover the best options for you and your family. No matter what style of camping you choose, you can be assured that your camping trip will be an unforgettable experience. You may even decide to go camping every year!