Long connection? Delayed flight? Arrived early for your flight? Here are some tips that will help you pass--and dare I say enjoy--your time at the airport:
Get the Lay of the Land Either before your trip or when you land, get a sense of the airport: what's there, what's not, what appeals to you, what doesn't. I can't tell you the amount of times I've settled on a place to eat, drink or lounge only to find out later there's a much better place 5 mins down the concourse. Taking a few seconds to plan ahead could mean the different between an enjoyable vs unenjoyable airport layover.
There's an App for That If you're at an airport in the US, there's an iPhone app that can tell you everything you need to know about the airport. Download GateGuru to guide your way.
Sleep Many major domestic and international hubs have airport hotels attached. Replenishing lost sleep is a commodity when traveling, so don't rule out this option. Most airport hotels have day, hourly or overnight rates.
Lounge Around Many airline lounges offer day-passes for those not indulging in business or first class. If you've ever immersed yourself in the serenity and service offerings of an airline lounge, you know that paying a little extra for lounge access is worth it--in food and drink alone--not including everything else.
Take a Tour Earlier this year I had a layover at the İstanbul Atatürk Airport, excited at the prospect of being in Istanbul for a few hours, I found out about Turkish Airlines free tours of the city. Turns out I didn't have enough time to indulge, but the opportunity is there, regardless of whether it's organized/available via THY or self-directed. Check out your airport or airlines touring options before you go!
Relax Most major airports have mobile spas offering nail service, massage and hair dressing. Some airports (like Singapore's Changi) even offer the opportunity to don your bathing suit and sit poolside avec un bev. If you're feeling particularly energy-filled, many airport hotels even offer a workout/shower service.
People watch People watching at airports is like a global lesson in trends. It's so underrated. I love playing the "where is that person from" game and spotting 'styles du moment.' This 'game' is even more fun with a specialty coffee or cocktail in-hand.
[photo by ocean yamaha]
ITALY - [trip style = sightseeing] In the fall of 2009 I stopped over in Lucca, Italy with my husband and two friends. One of the best days we spent there was an amazing afternoon biking around the fortified city's walls and randomly stopping for lunch at a restaurant that "looked good"--and it was. Rather than getting stuck in a tower or dungeon tour, we were outside, admiring the city from every angle, lunching at a local haunt and riding bikes like many of the locals do.
KENYA - [trip style = adventure + safari] Also in the fall of 2009, before going to the Masai Mara, my husband and I spent 3 days in Nairobi. We were there for a wedding. On day 2, we researched local attractions and found an elephant orphanage that was 
PERU - [trip style = urban] Spring 2008 took my husband and I to Peru. While in Lima I was more impacted exploring and experiencing different neighborhoods on foot, than touring the city's nether regions (catacombs) gazing at age-old bone piles. In Lima, I preferred to stay above-ground, especially given the earthquake that happened a few months before we arrived.
Whether you call this travel trend secret hotels, undercover hotels, blind booking or opaque booking, it's all the same 'educated risk' formula: price-conscious consumer books or bids on a hotel without knowing its exact location.
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An iphone bug repellant? You've got to be kidding me. No joke. It exists and some people actually think it works. If you don't want the pesky little blood-suckers zing'ing around your ear or circling your head, download this app. Apparently the mosquitoes get scared away by one of three high-frequency tones the app can emit---not sure if this means that city mosquitoes are scared off by one tone and country mosquitoes another? Some of the app's reviews say it works well with fruit flies and ants, some say it's effective with mosquitoes, some say it bothers their dogs and others think it doesn't work. What have you got to lose, a few bug bites? Trying it out sounds good to me.
Bug Spray App Details