For young travelers, lodging expenses can often be one of the biggest strains on a limited budget. Fortunately, with the rise in popularity of alternative lodging accommodations such as AirBnB, VRBO, and more, this is also one category where students can save money. For those who fall into this category, there is another way to penny pinch and save your budget while traveling: sleeping in airports!
Because late night, early morning and red eye flights are popular options for young travelers trying to save money, it is a natural second cost cutting step to make your hotel reservation one night shorter and stay in the airport.
This is not a new phenomenon: people with cancelled/ delayed flights or even layovers have been sleeping in airports for years. Many airports are understanding of airport sleepers. This opens up the opportunity for students and other young travelers alike to save some cash. Should you choose to stay the night in an airport, here are some tips, tricks, and (dare I say it) hacks to help make your stay more comfortable, just short of stringing up a hammock like this guy.
Picking your spot
When it comes to picking a spot to set up camp for the night, the goal is to pick a place that is well monitored to protect yourself from thieves, yet not too busy that you will be in the way of other travelers. Terminals often have the next flight departure time listed on the monitors. Find one that is not in use. It could also be a help to scope out multiple terminals-- some might be more recently renovated and have comfier benches. Some airports even have cots that they put out for travelers, but this is only in the case of cancelled flights, so don’t rely on them being there.
Dressing for it
In terms of clothing, it is important to be comfortable. Sleeping in airports is not always the most comfortable (it is free, after all) so wearing padded clothing, or more layers than usual, is always a good option. Wearing layers will also allow you to adjust depending on the temperature of the spot you choose for your airport overnight. You might even want to ball up a sweatshirt for a pillow! Some might even choose to bring a small blanket. Small comforts like that can significantly improve your comfort during an airport overnight stay.
Food & Water
Airports are not always the best place to purchase food for the cost conscious traveler, but doing so can always make an airport more comfortable. However, it is important to remember that they close! Some airports might have vending machines, but overall, make sure to stock up on snacks and drinks for the night ahead of you. To keep yourself on budget, bring snacks with you to the airport. Airports only have restrictions on liquids, but you can still bring solid foods to snack on during your overnight experience.
Entertainment
So you’ve set up shop, secured your snacks, gotten comfortable… what now? If sleep eludes you, being in an airport can be a fun thing! If you don’t believe me, check out this list of airport themed shenanigans you and your travel companions can get into. If not, airports are always an ideal place for people watching, card games, re-teaching yourself how to play piano and much more. Should you be traveling alone, come prepared with a good book, or some downloaded movies. If you’re really worried about being bored in the airport, you can research the entertainment offerings at some of the world's best airports here.
Lounge Option
If the floor just really is not doing it for you, or maybe you’re dying of thirst because TSA made you dump out your water bottle, most airports have travel lounges that are open 24 hours or close for only a few hours at night. While this might be counter intuitive (you are staying at the airport to save money, after all) it could be a good option if other lodging options are well out of your budget. Plus, you get the added benefit of free food and drink (often including alcohol).
Overall, sleeping in an airport is never ideal, but if you keep a good mindset and go with the flow, it could be a great adventure and a real option to save some money while traveling. Don’t let anything stop you from seeing the sights and exploring the world!
For more information on sleeping in airports, check out this website! They have even more tips on how to make sleeping in an airport a reality. You can also read about the experiences that other young travelers have had here. Happy cheap travels everyone!