Layover for 12 hours ? – Here’s what
Do you have a ridiculously long (5 hrs or more) layover in a foreign country?
(Yes)
Do you know what to do with that time?
(no)
Do you know you should prepare for it and make the best of it?
(maybe)
Then great. Listen up (please).
Here are some tips I think are useful when knowingly (and unknowingly – flight delay?) engaging in a long flight layover.
Before travel:
- Pack for the layover (or any mishaps as a matter of fact) – extra clothes (a top and a pants/skirt), toothbrush, underwear etc. Put these in your personal or carry on bag as it’ll make it easily accessible when the time comes.
- Look at any travel advisories – go on your country’s website (and my Caribbean people go on the USA or Canadian travel advisory website instead) to find out if there’s something going on in the country that you gotta be aware of – politically, culturally etc. (just in case). You just never know, plus you gotta pack accordingly.
- Read up on the culture of the place – Are there any religious restrictions? (This is HUGE) Can you wear shorts? Your final destination may have the same ‘cultural’ norms as you’re familiar with but your layover stop may not. Different countries treat things differently. Even what you may deem the ‘simplest’ of things. One’s dress, language, and everything in between mean different things in different areas of the world. Be aware of that and do some research.
- What currency do they take? Do you have to change your currency or can you use your own? – Important thing to factor in. Some places may take the US dollar or EU currency straight off the bat but many places don’t. Come up with a budget of how much you’d wanna spend in the layover city and change it accordingly. Try your best to be on the ball. Cause it sucks when you have $5 in coins in a currency you may never use again.
- WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE? Google.
- Emergency numbers – get your consulate number (A ‘branch’ of your country in another country), friends and family numbers. Give the person in the closest country to you at the time your number and get theirs. (If that closest place is home in the Caribbean, it na matta. Still gi dem ya flight info or something. So at least they know)
- Do a little research on some easy things you may be able to get up to in the couple of hours while you’re there. You can do this online. Nothing extensive, but pick one or two things you can ask more questions about when you get there.
During travel:
You’re on the plane and about to get off (whooptie doo!). But this is only to your layover stop. A well known destination or not, it’s best to go for an adventure and get the lay of the land. A few things for you to think about:
- Are you allowed to leave the airport? MAJOR key. Cause if you’re stuck in the airport, that’s super unfortunate.
- If you may leave, probably means you have to check back in your bag which means your bags have to ‘check out’ in the mean time. At this point you can either 1. Lug them around with you all day or 2. Put them in luggage storage (if they have). What is luggage storage you may ask? Many airports that have these long flights/layovers cater to people who need places to store their bags while they galavant around town. Hopefully your airport has one and you’re able to store your things – ask around or check it out online before you travel.
- To be honest, once you come out of the departure area, I think the best thing would be to find an information centre and inquire about the following things:
- Place to store your bags
- Place to exchange currency (or do they take such and such currency or do I have to change it?)
- What’s the best thing to do if you only have X amount of hours in the city?
- Is there any public transportation into the city and how much is it?
- Best place to get lunch?
- Is there any place you can do a tour?
**N.B if there is no information centre around, I’d suggest either 1. Going to the check in counter to ask questions or 2. Approach a friendly face in a store around the airport, a taxi driver or anyone who you think would be accustomed to random tourists asking standard tourist questions. More than likely (being in the hospitality industry) they’d be willing to help and have the answers down pack cause this isn’t their first rodeo. (I like to approach older persons in the shops or at the counter – seasoned veterans and just generally tend to be nicer in my opinion).
Once you’ve left the information centre (or your person) and asked all your questions, you should feel a bit more comfortable roaming the place. Exchange your money, drop off your bags and begin to explore. Even if it’s a little taxi ride around the area or a 15 minute walk up the road. You came, you saw, you’ll conquer (what you can in the limited amount of hours).
My advice if you were in a new place in a short period of time would be this:
- Try some form of local food – Ask someone (even the people at the info desk) where the closest, more affordable authentic local food place is. Then go and get it.
- If you can, do half a day tour. Make arrangements with a tour office on site or with a taxi driver in the area. Use those hustling skills ya granny taught you and get something arranged.
- Have at least one conversation with a local person. A taxi driver, an employee at the airport, someone lookin friendly in the area where you got food. Ask them questions, hear their stories about their country. It’s one of the better ways to truly get to know a place, especially if there’s little time to explore it yourself.
Return to the airport (don’t be late now ya still have odda places to go), check you and your bag back in (don’t leave it in storage. You’ll be upset if you do), and begin the second, third or fourth leg of your journey to your main destination.
On my way to New Zealand, I did a 12hr layover in Fiji. It was greeatttttttt. Here’s what I did and how I chose to explore the island with the time.
Peace out,
-Global Gyal
What are your layover tips that you would share with newby and seasoned travelers alike ?
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