THE beginning of the long holidays draws near, and with this come the season of out of town travels and delayed flights.
For those who need to travel by plane, the most dreaded part of the trip is the long wait at the airport. I’ve had so many airport misadventures in my life that I’ve often wished I could simply apparate and disapparate like Harry Potter. I lost count of the number of times I’ve been told to wait for several hours, only to find out that my flight has been further delayed, or worse, cancelled.
To keep myself occupied while waiting, I read a book or watch a Netflix series. This helps in overcoming boredom, but only temporarily. With the airport getting noisy and crowded, getting lost in a book becomes a challenge, while putting on earphones means risking not hearing the airline announcements blaring from the speakers.
NAIA Terminal 3, among the country’s busiest airports, is the place where the greatest misfortunes take place. So on your next trip, to prevent having your patience extended to breaking point, here are some of the activities you can do to make your idle hours worthwhile:
1. Get a relaxing massage
Hauling luggage is no joke; it requires great strength. This is also among the most draining parts of a trip. Commuting to the airport also adds to the stress of traveling, especially when braving the heavy Manila traffic. So instead of enduring the muscle pain that’s bound to arrive, you can indulge in the spa services of SM Kenko Spa, the first authentic Japanese Health Spa in the Philippines, and the Siloam Day Spa.
I’ve recently learned that NAIA 3 now offers chair massages at Lily’s Shiatsu Stations. Unlike the Siloam Day Spa, the chair massage is more affordable and convenient to use. The rates for the six-minute to 30-minute massage range from P40 to P110 only.
2. Dine at a chic café
NAIA 3, once considered a runner-up for the world’s worst airport, also has hidden gems that make your transit more bearable and memorable. Instead of wasting your money on overpriced airplane food, you can try the famous ensaymada from Mary Grace Café, or order the fancy tacos at Manila Life Café by Marriott Manila. Aside from heavy meals, both cafés also offer pastries, desserts, and other treats which you can bring as pasalubong.
When you’re traveling with a limited budget, you can always hang out at the 3rd floor and dine at the fast food chains in the Food Hall.
3. Take a refreshing nap
The long interval between flights renders travelers exhausted. The horrible Manila traffic also makes the transit from one terminal to another a nightmare. To save time and money, travelers can simply check in at the Wings Transit Lounge, located at the 4th floor of NAIA Terminal 3’s Mall Area.
Travelers who wish to sleep or take a shower can avail of the family, twin bed, or capsule rooms offered at P950 to P1,800. Open for 24 hours, the Wings Transit Lounge allows travelers to stay for 7.5 hours.