If you find yourself being stuck at the airport for longer, than 4 hours you will probably go crazy by just having to wait. On my recent trip to Morocco I had to change my flight to get ahead of the snow storm but then ended up having an 8-hour layover in Montreal. Here are some ways that helped me stay sane and kill time during this long layover.
Check out the Lounges
I was lucky enough to be traveling with someone who was a star alliance gold member. Which United air Canada is apart of. She was able to have 1 free guest and then for each additional guest it was 15 dollars. No time limit which was great. The lounge closed from 10:15-11:15 to set up for lunch. We explored the airport and did some shopping. I recommend just checking out some of the gift shops, duty-free and food spots. You can also sign up for Priority Pass which is a service that allows you to access some lounges. Check out the link for more information.When we arrived back for lunch, there was a chef who was making a fresh stir-fry with rice noodles. Pizza station, Fresh fruit soup wine and beer on tap and the FULL bar. We made friends with the bartender who was so great and made amazing drinks. My favorite cocktail was a Lychee Martini. He used Lycee infused alcohol, vodka, cranberry juice.
Binge Watch a Show
To kill time as well we took full advantage of the WiFi and watched shows on Netflix to set us up for the plane ride. Also traveling with some cards and you can play Uno and spades is a favorite among my friends.
I personally feel like 8 hours is not enough time to leave the airport and explore the city. If you have friends in the area, who can show you around and get you back in a timely matter. Go for it. I didn’t know anyone in Montreal so leaving was not an option for me. There are a lot of restaurants you can explore and shop you can do.
Go Shopping
While our lounge closed to set up for lunch, we found a cute store selling accessories and had a 2 for 1 sale. This broke my theory of everything being overpriced at the airport and allowed me to grab some cute earrings!
Take a Nap
Lastly, our lounge was super comfortable, so I did take an hour or so to nap to recharge. There are also showers located in these lounges so you will have time to refresh before you get back on the plane.
Have you ever had a long layover? If so what were some of your tactics to help the time go by fast.
Packing List
This trip I was always able to organize myself before the trip. In the past, I typically wait until the day before to pack my bag! I was scared that I was going to forget something so I started packing almost a week before. I made a list of everything that was needed, and I’m sharing my packing list with you all below. Of course, this doesn’t include any of the essentials that you always pack (body wash, toothpaste, etc.)
Check out my travel Packing List and happy packing. I also am linking below where to purchase some of the items mentioned in the list.
Links:
Until next time!
Dope!