Surviving a Long Layover with Kids
October 26th, 2009 | by Kayt Sukel 11 comments
I’m a big fan of non-stop, direct flights. Scratch that, I’m a HUGE fan. But sometimes you are going to get stuck with a layover. Whether you’re looking to save a few dollars or just get a little further afield, layovers happen.
We recently had a 4-hour stop in Athens on our way back from Santorini that was too short to leave the airport but too long for me to just distract Chet with some Duty-Free Smarties and the bustling activity outside the picture window. It got ugly.
So what’s the trick to surviving long airport layovers with kids? I asked the experts on Twitter and Facebook. After a few joking (I hope) responses about Benadryl and the airport bar, folks came up with some great tips:
1. Technology can save your bacon
iPhone enthusiasts came out of the woodwork to talk about how travel is so much more bearable when you can pass the iPhone to the kids. I wholeheartedly agree and make sure that the phone is charged before any trip. I’ve uploaded several movies and also have a bunch of apps for Chet to play with – though lately he can pass hours merely taking snapshots of his toys and shoes. But you don’t need an iPhone to provide technological distraction. Leapsters, Nintendo DS and and portable DVD players also do the trick.
2. Get out of the airport
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher of We Just Got Back says if there’s time, get out of the airport! Do a little research beforehand to find out what kid-friendly attractions may be nearby. You never know what you may find – and it might be just the thing to keep energy up and boredom down.
3. Know where to look
Stopping in one of the big U.S. airports? Diversions abound if you know where to look! Carolyn Gatto (@carolynwjgb), shared @CheapFlightscom’s wonderful Airport Diversion Guide. I have a feeling it’s going to come in handy come holiday time – but respectfully request that someone create an International version. Soon.
4. Make your own diversions
You’re a Mom! You’re creative enough to allow your child to wear mismatched socks and yet still look hip – you can find a way to distract your child for a few hours. Catherine from Have Kid Will Travel (@HKWT) suggested doing an airport scavenger hunt.
My own Mom suggested packing a second goody bag of stickers, coloring books and other cheap junk to pull out at the gate while you wait – I usually create one new toy bag to distract Chet on the plane, why not also provide that same novelty for the lay-over? (Mom, why couldn’t you have suggested this before our Santorini trip?!)
5. Let them run amok
No play area nearby? Luckily, airports by their very nature can easily become one big kid’s playground. Find an open gate and let your kids jump off the chairs. Ride the moving sidewalks back and forth. Play tag. Find some open space and spin. Go outside the DVD/CD shop and dance to whatever music is playing. You may just help your child burn off enough energy that they’ll actually sleep on the next leg of your journey.
And if none of those work? Well, in that case, maybe a trip to the airport bar is in order. What say you, dear readers? Have any great tips for surviving a long airport layover?
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Mara on October 26th, 2009
Good tips – I’ve used them all except the first. I once spent two hours chasing my son on a series of moving walkways at Heathrow – he slept well on that flight, I’ll tell you!
Another suggestion for slightly older kids is to bring a pack of playing cards and a book of simple games you can play. Even my four year old can play Go Fish. The game UNO has also come in handy for that reason too. If you really want to up the ante, let them play for quarters that they can spend at the newsstand or on video games.
Lani on October 26th, 2009
Great. Another tip – let them have the digital camera (I have a cheap one just for them). They usually forget about the photos as soon as they take them but sometimes they snap a gem or make a new friend and they have fun doing it and you can just wipe it all out with one reformatting.
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Madeline on October 27th, 2009
great tips! And I agree 4 hours is a tough amount of time in an airport – especially an international one where it’s not as quick to get in and out of the airport. We also make the kids “race”. My husband stands at one end and I stand at the other and we tell them to run back and forth. Even in a busy airport we can usually find a stretch to do this. Looking forward to when they’re old enough to amuse themselves with an iPhone!
Lorraine on October 27th, 2009
Great topic to tackle because these tips can be lifesavers for parents. The layover most recently in my mind was three hours on the tarmac (i.e., torture chamber). I wrote a series of posts on that ‘bag of toys’ that you mentioned called Build Your Own Busy Kit http://bit.ly/4h5ewW, in hopes of providing some sanity saving ideas for parents on the road!
Travels with Children by minnemom » Finding More Fun: Family Travel Roundup, 11/02/2009 on November 3rd, 2009
[...] Long Layovers with Kids at Travel Savvy Mom. [...]
AirportBars.com on November 6th, 2009
great tips! now if only there was a day care attached to an airport bar… that would be rather helpful! will keep these in mind as we travel… thanks!
Susan M. on November 12th, 2009
We recently survived an 8-hour layover in Boston (on the way to an international flight) by checking into the airport Hilton for a half day. Considering that it gave us all a place to drop our bags while sightseeing a bit, shower, and nap before a long night on a plane, the $99 was absolutely worth it.
bruce on November 22nd, 2009
Visit LayoverLink.com, and check the “Airport Shops & Services” Tool to see if (and where) the airport has a children’s play area in any of its terminals. The site lists airport restaurants, shops and services info for more than 100 airports in the US and Canada. There is also airport delay info so you can get an idea of how much more time you may be spending in the airport due to weather or air traffic, and be better prepared.
MoschMosch - Frankfurt International Airport, Germany on March 4th, 2010
[...] I file it under the “necessary evil” category – especially since I often have to endure long layovers with my son where eating, at some point, is just going to have to happen. And hopefully, with luck, not out [...]
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