Layovers- the golden egg for neurodivergent travellers?

Hi all- it's half-term for me, so typically, I've decided to go away. I've been in Scotland for the past few nights, seeing family and doing some sightseeing. I will be leaving tonight, arriving in England when I wake up come tomorrow morning (which is a possible giveaway as to the mode of transport I'll be using). More on that later... 

 I've been in Glasgow for the past 24 hours, but commenced my sightseeing today, after a very leisurely morning prior to check-out. If you've not guessed by now, I am taking the Caledonian Sleeper in a few hours time. But, assuming the train arrives on-time, I won't be able to board it for a whole eleven hours after leaving my hotel. I felt that I had the first 6-7 hours or so covered by going to some places that I've never been to before, and after an evening meal, I banked on being able to spend the final two hours or so in the lounge at Glasgow Station before boarding. 

 But, as often is the case with travelling, things don't always go to plan. It got to about three o'clock, with my anxieties heightening about preparations for this evening, when I had a notification that the lounge would not be open today. I thought that it was a bit of a bummer, as I was banking on being able to use it. Naturally, anxieties increased. It's fair to say that they were amplified even more, upon realising, 20 minutes later, that I had seen what there was to see of the meticulously restored Tenement House. I couldn't even bring myself to walk along a main road due to sensory overload, but had concluded that the main attractions were closing within an hour or two, so it wasn't worth me visiting them. 

 Therefore, I made my way (not with haste) to the train station, under the disillusion that there would be a calming waiting area with comfy chairs away from the hustle and bustle somewhere within the station. Fair to say there wasn't. I went to the only "enclosed" waiting area, which on a positive note, only had about 10 seats, but on a negative note, was right by the platform. The automatic doors were not so automatic (in fact, they never closed), so I was making the draughty Glaswegian climes known to myself.

 I then opted to return to the lobby of the hotel where I'd been staying at, with the hope that I'd be more relaxed for a couple of hours, before getting a meal, and then, potentially returning to the warmth of the lobby. As is to be expected with a hotel lobby, though, it does get quite busy with people checking in and out. Put simply, I wanted a rest, and not being able to relax was frankly sending me a bit loopy.

 I'd spoken to a taxi driver today about Day Hotel Rooms, where you can have a room for a few hours at a discounted rate. We were discussing the inconvenience of late departures after leaving accommodation. When in the lobby, I fought the idea off a few times, but concluded, that with another five hours until potential boarding, that it was worth asking reception about for the sake of my sanity! 

 Lo and behold, the hotel also subscribes to this scheme! I was frankly willing to pay for an overnight rate for the room, but the kind staff members at the voco Grand Central offered me day rates, which for £17 an hour for a bed, shower/bath, and the option to watch TV (or write this blog post), has been a godsend for me. Highly recommended, and importantly, it has decreased my spiralling anxiety levels.

 I'll do a post about the train itself in the coming days. 

 Til next time, 

 Tom