From Kathleen Crislip,
Your Guide to Student Travel.
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While the author of the site, "Sleeping in Airports", actively encourages the reader to plan on sleeping in airports as a part of a travel itinerary, do know that it's definitely a drag -- besides which airports frown upon being used as free hotels. Resort to it if the best other option is sleeping in the street.

However, circumstances do sometimes arise that force you to sleep in airports. Read tips such as finding comfy spots and keeping your belongings safe, as well as some funny stories. Also offered is "Insider Information", tips from airline / airport employees.

Airports are rated thus:

• H*ll (sleep not happening; safety questionable)
• Tolerable (like it sounds)
• Excellent (not bad...for an airport)

A sample tidbit contributed by a Heathrow (London) airport sleeper:

"This was my first sleep at an airport. I found a nice out-of-the-way bench, no armrests, at the top of the escalator which leads to the restaurant area. No security hassles, noise from actual human activity was negligible...however, for the rest of my life, I will be haunted by the theme music from the SEGA driving game which was at the bottom of the escalator...considering the costs I would have incurred (taxi at that late hour, hotel), it was worth it."

I've slept in airports myself, one memorable time as a result of wicked weather, plane delays and having no money whatsoever. My lost luggage was on its way to Taipei and I was in San Francisco after a warm week on Maui, and I subsequently did this sleeping in the airport thing on a conveyor belt while wearing a swimming suit (and a Delta blanket). And I concluded that spending the night in an airport for the sake of free lodging is not worth it -- however, being totally penniless makes for meeting plenty of other poverty-stricken bedfellows in any airport.

Check out Sleeping in Airports if you gotta sleep in airports. Airports are individually assessed and good sleeping spots pinpointed (conveyor belts do make appearances). And do bring a travel pillow -- makes sleeping in airports a whole lot easier.

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