Spending the night 鈥渃amping鈥� at an airport is one of those experiences many of us eventually have to endure. Why? Bad weather can’t be controlled and delays can lead to missed connections, especially at the end of the day. And because airlines aren’t required to do anything for passengers in these situations, they can leave travelers stuck in an airport with few options other than waiting. Having slept in countless airports , I have a tried-and-true plan of attack. (And yes, sleeping overnight in airports is legal.)

Oh, Sh*t鈥擸ou’re Stuck. Now What?

Unless you missed your flight because of an ill-timed layover, you might be able to score food vouchers from airport employees. After trying that, check , a guide to hotels inside or close to airports. If there are no vacancies or leaving the airport isn鈥檛 an option, ask for pillows and blankets鈥攅ven a cot鈥攆rom airline or airport staff. No one will offer any of this unless you ask.听While that’s all happening, eye over听, which has survival tips on how to pass the night in specific airports around the world.听

Gear Up

Stock up on enough food and drink to last the night as most airport concessions close before midnight. If you don鈥檛 have a reusable water bottle, keep the plastic one you bought and fill’er up at the water fountain.

Rifle though your luggage for any extra layers鈥攁irports can be chilly and extra clothing will pad you against the floor, just in case that cot didn’t work out. Use pants or jackets as bedding and pillows.听

Finally, wear sunglasses鈥攖hey鈥檒l make your unconsciousness less obvious. Earplugs are a good idea, too, if you鈥檙e with a group and not worried about theft.

Protect Your Bags

If you are worried about someone stealing your stuff, look into luggage storage. Ask your airline for the closest one, but know that there’s hardly a standard for how they’re run. For example, the one at 听is open 24 hours, and located in a stand-alone building. (Staff will shuttle you to and from for free.) However, at , storage units are听located in terminals one and four, but are only open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. , one of the most delayed airports in the U.S., has storage in the international terminal, also open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.听 LaGuardia and Chicago O鈥橦are have no storage options.听

Find Your Haven

Look for a safe, comfortable spot close to amenities. In general, look for benches & seating without arm rests, or carpeted areas that you know are monitored by camera, but aren’t near heavy foot traffic. Look for other airport nappers and go bond with them: safety in numbers never goes out of style.听

Many U.S. airports now have yoga/meditation rooms (Chicago O鈥橦are & Midway, San Francisco, San Diego, Burlington, Dallas-Fort Worth, Albuquerque, Raleigh-Durham) that won鈥檛 frown on your version of quiet reflection. They often have complimentary mats. And most international airports have prayer rooms that might also be napping options. Be polite though.

A company called 听may also be an option. They offer sleep chambers furnished with HDTV, desk, phone, daybed, and Wi-Fi that you can rent by the hour ($38), overnight ($130) or just for a 30-minute shower ($25). Started in 2009, Minute Suites听now has accommodations听at听Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Dallas Forth Worth. Chicago O鈥橦are is next on the list.

Flying internationally? Munich is home to 鈥溾��, self-service sleep booths that come with Internet Access and a TV (10 Euro or $12-$13 per hour) and there are Yotel “pod” hotels in , ,听and . They plan on openinig one in Paris Charles de Gaulle in 2016 and in Sinagpore Changi in 2018.

If hotels or pods aren’t an option and you鈥檙e averse to sleeping in public, Donna McSherry, owner of sleepinginairports.net recommends sleeping in a rental car. 鈥淗ead over to the car rentals’ hall to find out the cost of a car rental and鈥攁ssuming you can keep the car in the lot at no cost, which you usually can at a regional airport鈥攕leep in the car.鈥澨�

Don’t Become a Statistic

Stick cash and credit cards in your shoe or in the pocket of your pant-pillow. Acquaint yourself with a night-shift employee and ask them to recommend听a safe napping location. Offer to pay them up to twenty bucks to keep an eye on you and your gear.听

My well-traveled friend 听has mastered the art of sleeping while sitting. Not only will this make you look like a less obvious target, but it鈥檚 an invaluable skill in-flight.听

The Morning After

Depending on how crusty you feel the next morning, travel expert , who flies 150,000 miles a year, recommends paying for a day pass in an airline club. You can’t sleep in them because lounges usually close over night. But, some have showers (check听)鈥攁 most welcome sight after a night on the floor.

And, You May Be Wondering: Is There Ever a Good Time to Sleep in an Airport?

Travelers who have very early morning flights might actually want to spend the night in an airport rather than shell out for a hotel room or chance missing an alarm. If that鈥檚 you鈥攁rrive with a boarding pass (for airlines with electronic boarding passes) and early enough to go through security, which closes overnight, or you鈥檒l be stuck in the less comfortable ticketing area. Many airlines don鈥檛 open their ticket counters until a few hours before departure, and even if they are open well before that, some won’t issue tickets until a couple of hours before flight time (call ahead if you’re not 听sure). Also, beware of smaller airports, which tend to close down the gate section of the airport entirely during the midnight hours.

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