Going abroad can be a very rewarding experience, whether you’re traveling for a vacation, for work, or are relocating altogether. Arriving at your destination and experiencing what this new country has to offer can be exciting, and you’ll likely be desperate to explore and get to know the area.
However, getting to this point means that you need to make it past the traveling stage first, and it’s well known that this can be very stressful without proper preparation. Navigating a popular international airport like this can be overwhelming if you don’t understand what you’re doing, and so to help you, we’ve created this guide to make the process much easier.
Navigating Around The Airport
After arriving at the airport, you’ll likely find that it may initially be as confusing as any airport at first glance. However, Atlanta International Airport is quite nicely laid out in comparison to many, and with a quick glance at the maps dotted around the area, it should be easy to find which way you need to go to reach either check-in or your terminal.
At one end of the airport, you’ll notice the domestic terminal for flights around the country, and on the other, you’ll find the international terminal for external flights. Between these two terminals are a selection of concourses where you’ll find boarding gates. You’ll likely want to stay within your terminal until half an hour or so before boarding, as you’ll find more amenities in these larger areas for added comfort.
Finding A Nearby Hotel
If you’re planning to fly early in the day, you might want to consider staying over at a hotel the night before your flight to avoid having an excessively early start. Tiredness can ruin your experience when traveling, especially if you struggle to sleep on a flight. There are a number of great hotels around Atlanta International Airport, suitable for different budgets.
If you’re staying for a longer period of time, it may be worth enjoying a Hilton hotel complete with an indoor pool and restaurant, or choose a budget Holiday Inn for a quick stay in the evening.
Security Queue Times
One of the downsides to traveling through an airport like this is that it can get very busy. In fact, this airport, in particular, is one of the world’s busiest and most popular, and you might find that security and check-in can take a lot longer than you may be used to. Due to this, we highly recommend getting to the airport as early as possible to reduce your risk of being late for your flight.
Remember that the size of the airport can also catch you off guard, and it could take you a substantial amount of time to get from security to your gate. It’s generally said that for all flights, it’s worth getting to the airport at least two hours beforehand to get through all of these steps without being hurried. Identify how much time you think you’ll need yourself, and allow yourself extra time if you think you’ll need to eat and shop too.
Transport To The Airport
Deciding on how you’re going to get to the airport itself is a very important choice. If you’re going to get a taxi, you understandably need to make sure you arrange for this early so that you avoid the risk of not managing to get one on the day. If, however, you’re going to drive yourself, it’s important to get a good idea of the layout of the airport and the surrounding roads so that you don’t waste time making wrong turns.
Find your way to one of the nearby airport car parks and ensure you’ve booked a space for the whole time you’re away. Make use of this Atlanta International parking promo code too for a useful discount, as that daily rate will add up. Once again, try to stick to a schedule here and allow for slightly more time to park your car, as most of these parking spaces are situated away from the airport itself and don’t always provide shuttle service.
Shopping Opportunities
If you’re ahead of schedule and have some time to kill, it may be worth perusing the many airport stores around the terminal and concourses. You can find everything from clothing and accessory stores like Swarovski and Pandora Accessories to tech stores like Headphone Hub and InMotion.
Or if you’re looking for a last-minute gift or a treat for you and your party, then visiting Duty-Free Americas is a safe bet. You can browse a huge range of fun gifts and tasty treats here, and you’re sure to find something you’ll want to buy. Just make sure you don’t lose track of time.
Places To Eat
Alongside the myriad of stores for you to browse, there are also many different eateries and bars for you to enjoy, especially if your flight gets delayed or you’re extremely early. Spend some time enjoying a coffee and some pastry in the morning to get your energy levels up for the flight. Consider dining in at one of the many restaurants to relax too.
If you’re staying at one of the hotels around the airport or have some extra time on your hands, you could visit one of the cafes or restaurants outside of the airport. This could be for some breakfast or dinner before your flight.
Things To Do During A Delay
Sometimes flights don’t always go to plan, and you may be subjected to a delay. This could be merely 30 minutes to an hour, in which you could just take advantage of the great amenities around the airport itself. However, if your flight has been delayed significantly or you’ve got a layover flight, there’s no point in hanging around at the airport for the whole time unless the delay is just for a few hours.
There are plenty of things you can do during a layover in Atlanta, and you might also want to check in to one of the hotels to get a good night’s sleep before traveling the next day. You could even make the most of the delay and treat this as a part of your vacation with a trip into Atlanta itself.