Traveling is exhilarating, and there’s nothing like exploring new landscapes, getting to know new cultures and embracing art, architecture, food, and festivities from around the world. There’s almost no downside to time spent traveling, except one – waiting around in airports. Whether you’re merely waiting for your gate number to be called in an hour, or you’ve got some serious time to kill on a stopover, why not make the most of it? Here’s how.
Make Use of the Wifi
Almost all modern airports are blessed with free wifi and if you’re headed somewhere remote, now is an especially good time to make use of it. If you’re something of a gamer, then an entertaining way to kill some time is to spend an hour or so in a great online poker room. While only a few years ago these games could be pretty dull, the technology has advanced recently, making the whole experience more stimulating. If you’re already knowledgeable when it comes to poker, then the chances are you’re familiar with a few online poker rooms, but if you’re new to the game, then it can be enjoyable to learn.
If you’re less of a gamer, then another brilliant use of time is to familiarise yourself with your next travel destination. A simple Google search for relevant travel blogs is a great place to start. You’re likely to find tips about places to visit and grab a bite that might not be such tourist traps. The planners amongst us might also enjoy spending this time locating some useful facilities, including the tourist office, the currency exchange bureau or the local pharmacy. You’ve got all the time in the world, so why not?
Create More Memories
Making a scrapbook of your adventures is a favorite departure lounge activity for creative types. If you’ve not packed a sketchbook among your travel essentials, then it’s surprisingly easy to create your own book. Although many of us mistakenly think that binding your own book is difficult, when you follow some simple steps, it’s easily achievable. Find a few leaflets, newspapers or discarded in-flight magazines, get your hands on a sewing kit and you’re on your way! Fill it with Polaroids, ticket stubs and other paraphernalia that you’ve collected on your travels. The keenest adventurers could create a whole library of travel scrapbooks from each adventure just by using time in the airport wisely!
Prep Your Skin
It’s no secret that the air inside airplanes is dry. In long haul flights particularly, this can wreak havoc with your skin. If you find yourself with even half an hour in the airport waiting room, then it’s well worth preparing your skin for the onslaught. Start by giving your skin a thorough cleanse, with a flannel and warm water if you can. If not then a face wipe will more than suffice. Next put on a hydrating mask and get sucked into a book, or make use of that free wifi that was mentioned before.
Once your time is up on the mask, wash off any residue (again, a face wipe is just fine) and splash some toner over your skin to close up your pores. Now apply a fairly heavy moisturizer and let it soak in. If you can, leave it on your face for the duration of the flight. If you’re flying long haul, then you could even reapply it with clean hands. You’ll step off your flight feeling fresh-faced and dewy skinned; a fantastic way to start any travel adventure.
