5 Tips for Sleeping in an Airport

Visit any airport and you'll no doubt see people sleeping: on chairs, floors, and in small spaces you may never have thought of. And while trying to curl up under fluorescent lights to the tune of luggage being rolled along doesn't exactly sound conducive to a restful night's sleep, sleeping in an airport doesn't have to be all bad.

Sleep expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins of the NYU School of Medicine’s Center for Health Behavior Change tells Condé Nast Traveler that things like packing an eye mask and a set of earplugs and turning your phone to airplane mode to block incoming calls (yes, even though you’re not yet in the air) can help get you in the sleep zone and maximize your airport shut-eye experience. And if you can’t nod off, Robbins says, try meditating.

“Meditation can assist with the stress that ensues from travel," she says. "Download an application on your smartphone or computer to learn meditation and relaxation strategies. Or, simply close your eyes, and start to clench muscle groups as you breathe in, and exhale as you release. Move from your toes, to your calves/quads, and up to your shoulders.”

Here's what else you can do to ensure a safe and blissful shut-eye.

Make sure your belongings/valuables are hidden. You’re asking for trouble if you leave your phone in your lap while you’re sleeping. Take measures to ensure that valuables, including electronics, jewelry, and more are tucked away in luggage or back pockets out of sight. Be sure to also face the zippers on your luggage toward you so that someone can’t come by and open your belongings while you’re snoozing. You can also opt to store your luggage, which many airports offer for a nominal fee, if you're a heavy sleeper and worry that someone might snatch your belongings while you're out like a light.

Scope out a safe and comfy spot. You don't have to curl up on that linoleum floor. Many airports, especially those with newer spaces, have furniture designed for sleeping if you can't quite spring for a nap pod. (Korea's Incheon International Airport and Amsterdam's Schipol Airport, for instance, have couches and bean bag chairs, respectively, and even New York-JFK's Terminal 5 lets you stretch out with a view of the runway.) When it comes to where to sleep, find a spot that is visible to airport staff and others, but not somewhere people congregate—close to the bathrooms, near food options, or by information booths. Looking for an extra dose of security? Identify a security camera (or two) and park yourself nearby.

We asked the experts for their best tips and tricks.

Have a backup plan. No airport sleepover would be complete without a midnight snack. Keep in mind that some facilities won’t have kiosks open 24/7, so that sandwich you’re starving for in the middle of the night might not be available. Bring snacks or buy some before you hit the after-hours. Also, not all airports are friendly to sleepers. Do your research in advance, including to stake out where the best spot to park it might be (pro tip: sometimes arrivals areas have more comfortable seating and are less crowded than the more obvious departure ones). Have a backup plan for where else you might stay if you get kicked out of the airport and have lots of time to kill. Some hotels looking to get rid of inventory will offer last minute rates.