It is inevitable.

At some point in your international adventures you will encounter a long layover.

We all try so hard to find itineraries that have this perfectly aligned and seamless travel. Connections long enough that we don’t have to run, but short enough that we don’t have to sit around an airport for hours at a time. The fact of the matter is that you can’t got your entire life traveling internationally and not find yourself at some point having a multi-hour connection…the fated long layover (dun, dun, duuunn…).

For the sake of this discussion, I’m calling long layovers anything over four hours. Here’s my reasoning for this: By the time you land and deplane (up to 30 minutes depending on the size of the plane), you will most likely have a security checkpoint that you will need to go through (add another 30 minutes or more). International flights typically begin boarding one hour before departure. So by my calculations, you’re two hours into your layover. Plan on a food stop and a restroom stop, and maybe you’ve got one hour left of a four hour layover.

But here is the deal for me, when it comes to layovers that are longer than six hours, I’ve only got two plays up my sleeve: Head to a lounge and get some work done or head out of the airport for a quick jaunt to check out the city I’m connecting through. If you’re new to this whole layover expedition arena, maybe plan on doing this on a layover longer than seven hours to give yourself a buffer. They don’t hold flights for people that leave the airport for a layover tourist trek. If you’re nervous about the whole leaving the airport idea, then go to an airport lounge. You’ll be happier if you do. But that’s another topic for another post.

So here’s the top three long layover trekking tactics.

  1. How you pack determines if you’ll play. This is pretty straightforward. Unless you know that the airport you’re passing through has a baggage storage service, you need to be prepared to either check your luggage, or have a type of carryon that you can easily wear versus roll. It’s not really that practical to go out of the airport rolling your carryon luggage with you. I can fit two weeks of clothes in warm weather travel in my Cotopaxi Allpa 32L Travel Pack. This bag literally transformed how I travel internationally. Because I can throw it on my back easily and comfortably, I’m not dependent on having a luggage storage facility, and wearing a back pack makes me a little less of a target when I’m out and about.
  2. Check out the options for jumping on a tour. So many options are available here! Many major international airports, especially in continental gateway cities have great tours available that you can book ahead of time, and then you simply meet up with your guide at a designated spot and they usher you around the city to the top spots based on your interests, and then bring you back to the airport in time to get through security and make your connection. Some airports even provide free tours. I’ll be jumping on a tour when I’m in transit through Seoul, Korea later this year. Joining a tour is a great way to begin venturing out of the airport. If you don’t know where to begin, Trip Advisor is a great place to see what may be available.
  3. Think “taste,” over “feast.” When you’re ready to venture out on your own, this principle will save you the sickening feeling of watching your plane roll back from the gate with you not on it. Your goal on a layover trek is to get a taste of the place, not see every site in just one day. I make it my personal objective to be back at the airport no less than two hours before departure so that I can comfortably get through security and get to my designated boarding gate. Keep in mind that many airports don’t even post the departure gate for a flight until one hour before departure. Depending on the size of the airport, it can take a long time to get to the correct gate once posted. See one or two sites that you most want to enjoy, grab a quick bite to eat and head back. There is no award for getting to the gate right before the main cabin door closes, so live with some margin in your layover plan.
  • I have had some amazing experiences in some of the most amazing cities by stepping outside the airport on a long layover. It is important to know what visa requirements exist before you land. You can have great plans to step out of the airport on a layover adventure, but being prepared will help you avoid disappointment.

    • In the next couple of posts, I will highlight some of my favorite layover experiences. First stop: London!