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Layover survival? Just pitch your tent

DAVE MCGINN

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 9:12 PM EST 20/08/08

Thanks to increasing delays and cancellations, travellers face long waits at their departure gates - sometimes so long there's time for a snooze. But the new Mini Motel can at least make airport sleepovers more comfortable. As long as you don't mind a little attention ...Read the full article

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  1. Robert Brion from Calgary, Canada writes: I tend to sleep in the buff, so I can't imagine it would be a good scene when I arise and get a coffee from the closest coffee stand while scratching my bum.
  2. Jarrett Moffatt from Winnipeg, Canada writes: I have one of these ($70.00 after shipping from eBay). The thing is really awkward to setup, and it's flimsy. There's also no bottom to it, which means that if you have long arms, they are going to stick out of the tent, which adds to the silliness of it all.

    I'm not really sure why I bought this, but it sounded so cool. Maybe I will use it one day, but in an airport? I'm not so sure.
  3. David any from Swirling Dirvish, Canada writes: Every time I fly I stay in the airport every time. Like it is better value to spend the night in a hotel,wake up at 3:30 and shower and arrive at five...wait in line for two hours...no real sleep anyhow...sh$t. I know I won't sleep... Shower at 9:00pm get to the airport at midnight..sleep on a couch till 4:00pm...wake up...coffee at timmies etc.
    Look...I still feel like SH&t but my pockets aren't as empty.
    Salute!
  4. Edrico Alberto from Edmonton, Canada writes: I once stayed overnight at the Vancouver airport. Got into the airport about 1:00 AM after going through immigration, and had a 6:00 AM flight out. Amazing how that big airport got so empty after 1:00 AM.
  5. Neon Cab from Canada writes: Why not just use a conventional bivvie sac from MEC or a yoga mat? The pool raft idea is great though, since it packs well.
  6. Nathan Cool from Vancouver, Canada writes: The worst is Calgary's airport. They blare an announcement everywhere about leaving your bags unattended and they won't let you stay in the checked area past 1 AM. The also design the seats to be uncomfortable for lying down.
    Alberta hospitality.
    Toronto's T3 is bad too.
  7. Ed Smythe from Toronto, United States writes: Pitching a tent in an airport? Not quite the mile high club, but hey, it's the next best thing!
  8. J F from Vancouver, Canada writes: This is just another fine example of excessive consumerism of unnecessary junk that will eventually find it's way into the landfill. I travel lots and have been stranded before....just deal with it and rough it out (ipod, gravol and a sweater is all you need).

    Actually the best place to be at an airport during delays/cancellations is near the customer counter...hilarious to watch people freaking out and going ballistic on the staff.
  9. Wandering Willy from Kelowna, Canada writes: Hit the airport bar and get really drunk.
  10. Snowed in in Barrie from Canada writes:
    I always thought every airport terminal should have a pod hotel like they have in Japan.
  11. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: My luck finally ran out after five years of shuttling between Chicago and Portland, Oregon every 4-6 weeks and ! got caught by the huge storm on August 4 (no Civic Holiday nor Simcoe Day down here so it was personal holiday time). Despite that O'Hare Terminal 1 (United) is severely aging, in part to lack of contribution for upkeep by that fading airline, the padded benches were flat enough to stretch out as long as you're not too tall when your legs hang off the end.

    http://cbs2chicago.com/local/thunderstorms.flight.delays.2.787467.html

    http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6307132

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26035947/
  12. hp540 . from toronto, Canada writes: you prissies.

    so you're stuck at the airport overnight...whatever. I've slept on the floors of countless international airports. I don't need a stupid tent that probably weighs a lot and smells like cheap plastic.
  13. Will Joseph from United States writes: A comfy place at SFO is the bench seats near the Subway restaurant upstairs - it's deserted at 1AM; the eateries are closed.
  14. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: nahhh all you need is bigass headphones to block out noise, and a bag/clothes to put your head down on. Find a quite spot against a wall and go to sleep. Isn't air travel grand?
  15. Tracy Bracy from Toronto, Canada writes: Oh ye ok. Since when can anyone even put their hand in their pocket at an airport without security walking by. You have to spray glue in your eyes and sleep with them wide open, sitting up with a magazine glued to your hands.
  16. sam pitroda from Canada writes: Sleeping in public? You have to shut off thousands of years of evolution to do that.

    Nature designed us to be aware of our surroundings even in sleep. The sound of a twig cracking could be a sabre toothed tiger looking for his next meal. Your adrenaline is supposed to shoot up prepping you to fight or flee.

    Me , I've NEVER been able to sleep anywhere noisy. I'am amazed that people are able to switch off their evolutionary responses so well!
  17. Stephen McPherson from Newmarket, Canada writes: As I age, and air travel deteriorates to the equivalent of a cattle drive, I understand NFL commentator John Madden's anti-flying position more and more. I've logged hundreds of thousands of miles in planes, trains and automobiles, but air travel has deteriorated to the point where I avoid it like SARS or the plague. If I can't walk, ride (my bike, horse, etc.) or drive to get there, it's just not worth the greif and agony. This story in the Globe just reinforces my thinking that the world would be a far better place without passenger air travel. The benefits are many and the losses - well very few to be sure.
  18. Katherine R from Canada writes: The tent seems like more trouble than it's worth. And tacky.

    The article says that Singaporean students study in the airport because it's quiet. Not true - they study there because it's air conditioned (Singapore is muggy and over 30 C everyday), has great food and people live near the airport. Rather than going to the nearest McDonald's for group study, some Singaporean students go to the airport.

    I must say, Singapore's airport makes it a treat to arrive 2 hours early for a flight. Wonderfully relaxing, beautiful environment, tons of comfortable seating, any food you could imagine.... it's the best airport in the world by far. Arriving in North America feels like a time warp to the 70s - junky and dated.
  19. Mike *** from Hamilton, ON, Canada writes: I’m semi-surprised that no one commented on what I thought to be a very clever pun: “...perhaps the Mini Motel will take off.”
  20. Jim Goodwin from Canada writes: I would think that one of the advantages of the mini tent would be securing your carry on bag, and would keep some of the light out as well.
  21. Imperial K from Toronto, Canada writes: Great idea!

    Air travel continues to become a nightmare that you must endure. Frankly, drug yourself up with liquor or prescription meds, and pray for traveler's amnesia to strip your mind of the cattle car in the sky. ;)
  22. gordon foster from Canada writes: Tokoyo's Narita airport has showers and day-rooms and the distances between gates are walkable. But isn't everything designed better in Japan?
  23. Anon -East Coast from Canada writes: sam pitroda from Canada writes: Sleeping in public? You have to shut off thousands of years of evolution to do that.

    Pfft to evolutionary advances. It's a damn good thing I'm able to shut off evolution, like the will to eat everything in sight. I wouldn't be able to fit on the airplane if I couldn't.

    Look, just cause you're a light sleeper doesn't make you more fit to live than the rest of us. Try sleeping with someone else in the bed. If you can't learn to ignore snoring and the jimmy legs, then you won't get too many chances to reproduce and pass on that advantage.

    I enjoyed the article, but now I've got a hankering to watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

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