Staying in a hotel at or near an airport can have several advantages when travelling. Airport hotels can be of great value. Sometimes they are cheaper than staying in the historic district because they are farther away from the tourist spots. This works if there is reliable transit and all travellers can handle walking long distances.
At other times, an airport stay has value because it saves transit times. If we are staying in a city for several days, we choose to stay in the historic centre, so we can walk to the popular sites. If we are only in the city to transit to a different place, we sometimes opt to stay near the airport.
Why Stay Near the Airport?
We have found airport stays useful when:
- transiting between two transportation modes, e.g. after a flight, before embarking on a cruise, or connecting to a train
- recovering from a long travel day, especially with time zone changes
- looking for a cheaper option than staying downtown, e.g. our Gatwick Hotel was 50% less than London Hotels.
- there is a free shuttle service to and from the airport
- you want a comfortable room designed for rest
- you want to avoid navigating a new city at night after a late flight
We have been pleasantly surprised with our recent airport stays. They have helped us to have a restful night and recover from jet lag. Many are designed to ensure a good night’s sleep despite nearby plane traffic.
We have really enjoyed the convenience and safety of an airport hotel stay when arriving in a new city, especially at night.
It is also less stressful to stay near the airport when you are departing on an early morning flight. Staying at or near the airport can avoid the morning rush hour traffic congestion or long Uber waits. This makes the morning commute to your flight easier.
Our Favourite Airport Hotels
Check out the airport collection of hotels we have enjoyed in our travels so far:
