In this situation, thrifty tourists, who have become noticeably more numerous, would prefer not to spend money on a hotel overnight but to stay in the airport transit zone. Moreover, writes Turist.ru, some of them are even more comfortable than an ordinary hotel. However, there are airports where not only overnight stays but also layovers should be avoided by any means. Based on reviews from tourists who have been there, the budget travel portal Sleepinginairports.net compiled a list of the most awful ones.
1. Paris, Charles de Gaulle. The French airport got the top spot in the ranking for dirt and mess in everything. Sleeping in this airport is fundamentally impossible because it is noisy, stuffy, and dirty. Moreover, it is occupied by homeless people who are just waiting to rob a traveler dozing off on a cold metal bench. Airport security does nothing about the homeless, but it is not friendly towards tourists. If you have to spend a considerable amount of time in this place, stock up on food, as local "delicacies" can easily poison you. To top it all off, luggage is often lost here.
2. Moscow, Sheremetyevo. Apparently, the Moscow airport did not take first place in the ranking simply because it handles fewer connecting flights than Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport. What good can be said about an airport that even Muscovites, who do not stay there long, cannot stand? Foreign tourists call it "hell on earth" and claim that the building inside looks like a small, dark, dirty cave where time drags on endlessly.
3. London, Heathrow. Compared to the previous participants, Heathrow looks almost perfect. There are enough benches, relatively decent (but very expensive!) restaurants, and clean toilets. However, tourists complain about the cold, which is generally traditional for England, insects running on the benches, and smelly carpets on the floor. Nevertheless, it is possible to find a relatively quiet spot for sleep here, especially in Terminal 4.
4. Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger's strong hands have not yet reached the airport, which is called the worst in the United States. Although it is not so bad, especially compared to previous participants. The main complaints are about the large number of people and queues at check-in, as well as the excessive noise from security and staff. And, of course, Americans are just obsessed with security, which also creates certain inconveniences. But there is cheap food and free WiFi. Sleeping here is not very comfortable, but spending a few hours waiting for your flight is quite possible.
5. New York, JFK. Another American airport on the list is often criticized because most cafes are not open at night and early morning, and the benches are too cold to sleep on without first covering them with something warm. However, the food court area offers a beautiful view of the New York skyscrapers.
6. Delhi. Perhaps those who criticized European and American airports have simply never been to India. Otherwise, it is impossible to explain why the overcrowded and dirty Delhi airport ended up only in sixth place. It has all the "delights" of an imaginary traveler's hell: an unpleasant smell, dirty toilets, clouds of insects, and also birds living in the terminal and defecating anywhere. Tired passengers often have to sit on the floor because there are too few benches for such a large number of people. But the staff is nice and friendly (though they may ask for tips for their minor services afterwards).
7. Mumbai. Apparently, the airport made it to the worst list because of its domestic terminal, as the international one is quite comfortable. There are special sleeping rooms and showers, clean toilets, and air conditioning works well, which is important for India. However, it is impossible to buy food or drink at night because everything is closed. And even during the day, trying local food is not advisable, as no traveler could call it edible. In the domestic terminal, things are worse - insufficient benches, toilets are cleaned rarely, and the smell forces you to hold your nose.
8. Manila. The main complaint about the Philippine airport is the constant extortion of money by staff. Even to occupy a seemingly free bench, you have to tip someone. And the three-level baggage security check seems designed solely to collect money from tourists. You can even ask security to issue a receipt for this bribe - they will gladly do it, and you will have a unique document. Travelers are also advised to be extremely careful with their luggage - theft is common here.
9. Chicago, O'Hare. The airport is not bad, except for dirty toilets and uncomfortable seats that make it impossible to relax. Perhaps this is done intentionally to prevent tourists from oversleeping their flight, as announcements here are rare and very quiet.
10. Rome, Fiumicino. A fairly convenient airport for long waits, if not for the birds living here that may well engage in "bombing" right on your head. And you should sit on benches only after making sure there is no fresh bird droppings on them. You can only sleep peacefully here from 1 AM to 5 AM. At other times, there is a high chance of being woken up by security or staff. As usual, the terminal serving domestic flights is worse than the international one.
Fact remains fact: most airports do not consider it necessary to care about comfortable sleep for travelers, moreover, a sleeping person in the airport arouses security suspicion. So be prepared to regularly answer questions about why you are here, where you are going, and why you are not sleeping in a hotel. If an overnight stay at the airport is inevitable, make sure it is as comfortable as possible. To do this, you need to stock up on a small soft (possibly inflatable) mat, food and drink, a player with large headphones to block out noise, possibly earplugs and a sleep mask. It would also be useful to have wet wipes, a battery-powered charger, and some small change. Have a good night!