<It was so late and fuzzy outside and the cross-state buses had already stopped running, flights were rescheduled, officials take a rain check while passengers ruffled. Then I decided to spend the night at the airport and wait until 5 in the morning to catch a ride down to Chandigarh, India.
Countless travellers had already set up camp for the night and space was tight. There were people who had come prepared with thin foam mattresses while others were sprawled out on blankets, some were resting their heads on a friend’s shoulder while others were using their bulky carry-ons as pillows. I ogled at those experienced backpackers who looked so comfy with their yoga mats and neck pillows, and wished I’d also come more prepared…I eventually found a quiet spot next to some other travellers in a corner of the terminal, and I curled up on the cold ceramic floor for the night. It was one of those sleeps where I kept waking up every 20 minutes because my hip and shoulder bones were digging into the ground, so I would have to roll over to the other side every few minutes while the fluorescent overhead lights blinded me. I can’t say it was the best night’s sleep, but that was just one of the many nights sleeping in airports that taught me how to prepare for a good night’s rest.
First things first, you need to set your alarm. My friend once lay down at the airport in Abu Dhabi while I waited for my flight to Brisbane to board, and well, he nearly didn’t make it! Thankfully he was woken up by a woman who was getting on a flight departing for Nigeria.
If you want to get a good night’s sleep, I would suggest travelling with a few token items. First up, a neck pillow so don’t wake up with a kink in your neck and if you’re going ultra-budget on your trip and you know you’ll be spending many a night sleeping in airports, then you might even want to think about a light yoga mat. I’ve personally never travelled with one myself, but I’ve encountered many travellers who swear by them, so it’s something to consider. If you’re a light sleeper, you may also want to add an eye mask to your list.
I’m all about comfort when I travel and that’s why you’ll usually catch me flying in leggings or slouchy pants, a t-shirt, a hoodie, and running shoes. This right here is my go-to travel outfit. I can stretch, cross my knees, and feel flexible in it, which means it’s almost as good as wearing pyjamas, minus the disapproving glares. I also purposely wear layers in case it’s too cold inside the airport.
Lastly, in some airports sleeping pods are another great option to consider. These are ideal for travellers who want to catch some shut-eye on a layover that isn’t quite long enough to warrant paying for a hotel room. Pods can generally be rented by the hour, plus let’s face, it’ll make you feel like you’re in a Sci-Fi film.
