Sometimes backpacking can get quite expensive and people’s budgets are stretched thin to the limit. One option to conserve valuable currency while travelling is to forgo the luxury and comfort of a four star hotel and opt for a low priced hostel, of which there are plenty. Still if anyone wishes to be slightly more adventurous and is on an even tighter budget, then the convenience and affordability of sleeping in the airport becomes apparent.

Before doing so, however, it is important to note that many airports are different and that this type of accommodation cannot be practiced in every country. Nonetheless, you will find that spending overnight in an airport, and especially an airport with shower and hygienic facilities, can be both safe and enjoyable. In fact, some airports even include all the amenities of a hostel (couches, showers, television, internet) and at zero cost.

There are even some good reasons for why sleeping in the airport beats the other affordable means of accommodation, namely, camping. For one, airports are typically heated and provide a roof over one’s head. If the backpacker finds themselves in freezing climates, or even chilly nights, then the warmth of the airport can be particularly inviting. Moreover, if the backpacker has undertaken their journey without bringing along a tent, and it is monsoon season, then the airport provides a dry alternative.

Typically, the airports in the most advanced and wealthy countries have the best reputations, facilities, and, because of the number of passengers who sleep in the airport on account of legitimate reasons (like getting stranded by delayed flights), security will leave you alone. These include the airports of Amsterdam, Helsinki, Oslo, Vancouver, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other mostly advanced countries.

On the other side of the spectrum, airports from poorer and less developed countries often offer the poorest accommodation experiences. Expect hassles from security looking for bribes, or out right robbery, terrible hygienic facilities, uncomfortable chairs, and possibly animal companions such as rats or mosquitos. Airports such as the Lagos airport in Nigeria, or the Bombay airport in India top the list of most awful and unadvisable places to spend the night.

Well, sleeping in airports might seem to be an immediate low cost option, especially for the budget travelers, but it is not necessarily a comfortable option. While staying for few hours or overnight at airports, you have to grapple with some specific problems, of which disturbance from noise is the most obvious one.

For those routine travelers who are accustomed to sleeping in airports, it is not the problem. For others it is. You need to follow some effective guidelines in order to have a comfortable overnight at the airports, especially if you are stuck at some of world’s cold region airports in countries such as England, Switzerland, Norway, Paris, Sweden etc. The floor is cold and in order to avoid the frigidness you need to have a blanket and quilt with you. Moreover, it is important that you take care of your luggage and other items. For safety purposes, you should chain your luggage well and lock it properly.

While you prepare yourself for a cozy night’s sleep, you should have some fast food, a water bottle, and other basic amenities with you. This is extremely essential, otherwise, the majority of times you’d end up looking for them and get little time to rest. If your flight is in the wee hours, then you can enjoy hot water shower in the airport’s toilet and get ready for the departure. One thing, which you should keep in mind while sleeping in airports, is to set your alarm clock, or else you’d end up missing the flight.

Sleeping in airports is the necessity, though for many it is also a source of adventure, a part of their travel. However, if you were with your family, then obviously it wouldn’t be an adventure! In order to avoid any last minute hassles, it is sane that you find prior answers to the questions such as, how to spend a day or night sleeping in the airport; what stuff should I carry with me… and many more.

On a safe side, it is important that you have the backup plan ready with you. Most of the airport officials take sleeping in airports with a serious note. You can be put through a litmus test and asked different questions such as why you are not in a hotel, when is your flight, etc. Therefore, you should have enough proof to support your answers.

If you have the flight delayed by several hours or is rescheduled for subsequent day, then you can very well imagine yourself entangled in a situation where you have at spend 18 hrs to 14 hrs on the airport premises. Sleeping in Airports under such conditions is tormenting. In order to past the time meaningfully, you can carry some magazines to read, a mp3 player with large headphones, water bottle, etc. The annoying chairs, which you find queued out there in the airport compounds at many places, are too uncomfortable and these might cause backaches.

In conclusion, the decision of whether to spend the night depends primarily on the airport, but also on the traveller’s finances and the current weather conditions. It is also important to note that most airports are located far away from the city centre and interesting sites, making them better suited as a place to rest up for a day or two, rather than a hostel/hotel alternative. The site linked below offers more detailed and specific information for any would-be airport overnighters.

Budget Guide to Sleeping in Airports