The Airport as Hostel: How to Sleep at London Stansted

The budget airline business in Europe has exploded over the last decade. Gone are the lazy days of riding the rails -- young people and the budget cognoscenti now zip between destinations via Ryanair, easyJet, and Aer Lingus.

But like any vein of budget travel, flying cheap can mean sacrificing creature comforts. In order to get the best deal, travelers often have to travel at designated hours, flying out in the early morning or late at night, or a combination of the two.

Enter the seedy underbelly of airport lodging. Enter London Stansted.

Once a WWII airfield, London Stansted is now a hub for about two dozen budget air carriers and a handful of charter operations. It has also become a de facto hostel. Because the lowest rates are often attached to late night and early morning departures, many budgeteers have taken to bridging their time between flights sleeping at Stansted. While it's no bed of roses, it cuts costs by combining your transportation and accommodation expenses. By taking a few precautions, it might even turn out to be an amusing road tale you later tell while trying to convince friends that you're worldly.

Sleeping

Your first instinct might be to find a bench to sleep on. Forget about it. The benches at London Stansted are partitioned by welded armrests, so unless you're a contortionist, you're in for a long night. When I slept Stansted-style, it was easy to tell the pros from the novices: the uninitiated shifted restlessly in the benches, while the more knowledgeable snoozed away on lightweight sleeping pads. Designed for camping, sleeping pads are ideal for airport overnighters. They're light and compact (generally 14 oz., a half-inch thick) and retail for as low as $22.95. If you plan a string of these overnight layovers, you'll want to invest in one. Search an online camping supply store for the best prices and availability.

Staying Warm

It may sound counter-intuitive that you'll have to worry about keeping warm in a modern airport, but during the winter months it's a practical concern. Despite the traffic that Stansted handles, it's a small airport. Every time someone steps outside, the sliding doors let in the cold. How often does this happen? Consider the frequency that a smoker will go outside to light up given absolutely nothing to do between the hours of midnight and six a.m. and you've got your answer. Also, the main sitting area is right next to the sliding doors -- another reason to avoid the benches. Be prepared to bundle up if you're traveling during the winter.

Late-Night Prohibition

Despite taking precautions, sometimes you need a little something extra to get you through the night. A couple of fellow travelers and I decided a little liquid comfort would help us pass the time. Unfortunately, the liquor section at Stansted closes after dark. If you plan on making a night of it, you'd be best advised to bring your own hooch. There's an all-night beverage stand that serves coffee and hot chocolate -- I recommend something from the Kahlua family (it's discreet and tasty).

Know Your Escape Route

If you're really not keen on sleeping at Stansted, there are a few late-night options. The Stansted Express departs every 15 minutes, but stops running to London at midnight Tuesday - Thursday and 12:30 a.m. Friday - Monday. A single fare is £15.50, and it's a 45-minute trip to the final stop at Liverpool Street. National Express runs a coach to Victoria Station 24 hours a day, but it's an hour and a half ride to central London at a price of £10. They depart every 10 minutes. The Terravision Express Shuttles to either Victoria Station or Liverpool Street only run every 30 minutes, but the journey time is the same and the cost is only £8 for an adult fare, £7 children.

My advice: fly cheap, stick it out, sip some concealed liquor with new friends. Also, check out Eurocheapo's Budget Air Extravaganza and their Budget Air Travel Guide for a more comprehensive look at flying cheap in Europe.