As welcome as cheaptravel options, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, and cheap vacation packages are,they can do nothing to mitigate preflight stress often the result of long linesor extended delays.
The following are ways to de-stress while at the airport,according to Smarter Travel:
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Exercisenot only tends to significantly reduce stress but also allows passengers bloodto pump before being squeezed into small airplane seats. Everything from yoga rooms to fitness gymsare popping up at airports.
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Rockyour anxiety away. Increasingly airportsare offering rows of rocking chairs as an alternative to their ubiquitoustandem sling seats in boarding areas. More comfortable seating is becoming common even at airports withoutrockers.
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Purchasean airline lounge day pass where you can enjoy comfortable seating, soothing music,free snacks and drink, as well as Wi-Fi. Although annual passes to airline and airport lounges can be quiteexpensive, a day pass is usually within the reach of most travelers. An added stress relaxer can be found atairline affiliated lounges that usually staff a desk where guests can makeflight changes without being forced to stand in long lines.
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Relaxat airport spas which are increasingly offering everything from simple chairmassages to mani-pedi combos, haircuts, waxing, and even facials. Increasingly, airports are housing local spasin addition to spas that cater to airport customers.
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Nappingis a great way to rejuvenate. Relaxationrooms and in terminal short stay hotels offer travelers the opportunity tosleep in rooms in increments ranging from minutes to hours. Minute Suites has appeared at several airportsand offer comfortable sofas, pillows, fresh blankets, and a sound maskingsystem that creates peaceful environments.
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Unwindwhile listening to live music. Selectairports have started scheduling live music Monday through Friday often incooperation with regional music acts. Nashville International posts its live music schedule on its homepage.
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Enjoya meal at one of an ever increasing number of good sit down restaurants at manyairports. Linger over your meal vs.devouring a sandwich balanced on your lap at the gate. You can usually find good restaurant optionsby checking an airports website, browsing an airport app, or checking out anairport map. Zagat or Yelp reviews areincreasingly available for some airport restaurants.
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Dosomething unrelated to your trip. Volunteers at Los Angeles International, Miami International, and SanJose International wander the terminals with friendly therapy dogs happy tosnuggle and charm passengers. Digibookiosks at select airport allow travelers to download movies and TV shows. Depending on the airport, travelers havestarted finding giant slides, museums, and in some cases even golf courses.
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Find aquiet spot at airport prayer and meditation rooms. Such spaces tend to be peaceful, quiet, andhave few occupants. Since such locationsare not typically in heavily trafficked parts of airports, travelers need tolook on a map or directory to find them.
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Loiterat a terminal meeting point and watch travelers reunite with loved ones. A dose of airport reunion joy can do wondersfor blood pressure and restore a little faith in humanity.
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