Airport hotels don’t always have the greatest of reputations, but across the globe hoteliers are doing their best to change that. Properties are now providing much more than a simple bed for the night in a convenient location for an early flight – they’re offering top-class business, dining and fitness facilities as well as making the lives of guests easier with services such as flight check-in, boarding-pass printing, and arrival and departure screens.
On the following pages we recommend 50 hotels for your airport stay. All those listed are in a good location either on airport grounds or within close proximity, and offer good facilities for business travellers. We’ve also tried to select properties that suit a range of budgets. If you think we’ve left a great one out, visit businesstraveller.com/discussion and let us know.
Europe
AMSTERDAM
1 Citizen M Hotel Amsterdam Airport
Last year saw the first of the “trendy budget” Citizen M properties open at Schiphol airport. It is connected to Terminal 3 by a covered walkway and provides a self check-in service with the option of inputting your personal preferences, such as a wake-up call or room temperature. You can also keep your keycard, which doubles as a luggage tag, and it will remain active for your next stay. There’s also free wifi and a 24-hour canteen.
Rooms from €73
2 Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel and Convention Centre
The 406-room, five-star Sheraton has direct access to Schiphol Plaza inside the airport. Sporting sleek, contemporary design, it is ideal for the business traveller, with more than 20 meeting rooms, the Link@Sheraton facility (a lounge-style business centre where you can print boarding passes free of charge and surf the web), a fine-dining restaurant, a Club lounge, a 24-hour fitness centre with Technogym equipment, a sauna and steam room, and 24-hour room service.
Rooms from €175
ATHENS
3 Sofitel Athens Airport
This luxurious five-star hotel is opposite Athens International airport, two minutes’ walk away. Guests staying in any of the 345 soundproofed rooms can enjoy 24-hour room service, internet access and a minibar. Karavi is a gourmet restaurant serving dinner from 7.30pm-12.30am, and Mesoghaia restaurant and Artemis bar are open around the clock. There are meeting venues for up to 600 delegates, a fully equipped business centre and an indoor pool with views of the airport.
Rooms from €165
BRUSSELS
4 Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel
This 294-room, five-star Sheraton hotel is “just 39 steps from the airport entrance”. All bedrooms have a 24-hour meal service, while Club rooms have VIP check-in, free bottled water, free access to the fitness centre, and use of the Club lounge with free breakfast, snacks and drinks. Gullivers restaurant on the ground floor is open 6.30am-midnight and has a good selection of Belgian beers, and there are 20 meeting spaces.
Rooms from €179
COPENHAGEN
5 Hilton Copenhagen Airport hotel
Directly connected to Terminal 3 by a covered walkway, this Hilton hotel has 376 rooms with wifi and non-stop room service. You never need miss a workout as there is a 24-hour gym and an indoor pool, as well as a giant Golden Egg, in which guests are encouraged to sit and take five. There are also 15 meeting rooms, two business centres, an Executive lounge and three dining venues.
Rooms from Kr 1,660 (£196)
FRANKFURT
6 Sheraton Frankfurt Hotel and Towers, Conference Centre
Connected to Frankfurt International airport’s Terminal 1 by two walkways, this 1,008-room Sheraton has extended its meeting facilities to a two-level events centre, Skyloft, for up to 200 delegates, in addition to the adjoining congress centre for up to 1,400 people, making 55 venues in total. Round-the-clock room and concierge service are on offer, as well as a business centre, same-day laundry, a fitness centre and four eateries. A free early-bird breakfast is served from 3.30am to 6.30am during the week.
Rooms from €129
HELSINKI
7. Hilton Helsinki Vantaa Airport
Opened in 2007, this new-build 246-room Hilton is the only on-site hotel at Helsinki airport. It is a short distance from the international arrivals hall, which is connected to the property by a 100-metre covered walkway. Free wifi, breakfast, snacks, drinks and newspapers are available in the Executive lounge (open from 7am to 10pm). There is a 24-hour gym, 24-hour room service, a restaurant and a champagne bar.
Rooms from €131
LONDON GATWICK
8 Courtyard by Marriott London Gatwick Airport
The first of Marriott’s new breed of Courtyard hotels in the UK, this brand new five-storey property is about ten minutes’ walk from the South Terminal, or a short shuttle-bus ride. The internal atrium makes the public spaces bright and airy, and there is a 24-hour “Marketplace” in the lobby selling drinks, snacks and travel accessories.
Rooms from £72
9 Yotel Gatwick
The first of this “capsule” brand to open, in 2007, the Yotel makes the list for two reasons – convenience and price. Rooms are compact but the hotel is in a good location within international arrivals at Gatwick’s South Terminal, and you can book a room for four hours if you have a short stopover. There are also properties at Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol.
Rooms from £25 for four hours
LONDON HEATHROW
10 Hilton London Heathrow Airport
This 395-room hotel is attached to Terminal 4 by a covered walkway, and underwent a £6 million refurbishment of its public areas, meeting spaces and Executive rooms in 2006. Facilities include 32 meeting and conference venues, three restaurants and a bar. Hilton also has a hotel in Gatwick’s South Terminal.
Rooms from £171
11 Sofitel London Heathrow
The only hotel attached to T5, the Sofitel opened in August last year and consists of five atria joined by a central avenue, where the restaurants and bars are located. The 605-room hotel has one of the UK’s largest meeting and conference facilities, with 45 rooms. Sofitel also has a property attached to Gatwick’s North Terminal.
Rooms from £114
LONDON STANSTED
12 Radisson SAS Stansted Airport
Located next to Stansted’s terminal building, this is the only hotel within walking distance of the airport. There are 500 rooms, several food and beverage outlets, 26 meeting rooms and a health centre. The property was also the first Radisson to incorporate a wine tower, with “wine angels” putting on daily acrobatic shows for guests.
Rooms from £68
MILAN
13 Crowne Plaza Milan Malpensa Airport
This four-star property is 1km from Milan Malpensa airport and is connected by a free shuttle service running from 6am-10.45pm to Terminal 1 (Terminal 2 on request). Wifi is available in the bedrooms (free in the public areas), as well as 24-hour room service and a minibar. Guests can work out in the gym, enjoy a Turkish bath or refuel in the Mediterranean restaurant.
Rooms from €96
MOSCOW
14 Novotel Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport
This four-star hotel is in walking distance of the airport’s Terminal 2 (currently undergoing major redevelopment), although there is also a free shuttle bus every 15 minutes. Features include 498 rooms with wifi access, a Tex Mex restaurant and a health centre with an indoor pool.
Rooms from €219
MUNICH
15 Kempinski Hotel Airport Munchen
The 389-room Kempinski sits between Terminal 1, a ten-minute walk away, and Terminal 2, three minutes’ walk. The entrance plaza of this five-star hotel has a 24-metre high atrium with a glass roof and towering palm trees. Guests can take advantage of the Fit and Fly spa and pool, the 24-hour fitness centre, 24-hour room service, and the Nightflight bar, which serves international cuisine from 8am-1.30am.
Rooms from €160
OSLO
16 Radisson SAS Airport Hotel Oslo
This Radisson is 100 metres from the boarding gates at the airport, and has impressive business facilities with more than 40 meeting rooms. As well as a fully equipped gym and wellness centre, there is a golf simulator with 32 virtual courses, and Toot’s, which serves a generous international buffet breakfast from 5am-9.30am. The 503 bedrooms come in six different styles of décor and have free wifi.
Rooms from 1,346 kr (£135)
PARIS
17 Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel and Conference Centre
The Sheraton is directly connected to Terminal 2 at Paris Charles de Gaulle International airport. The bedrooms feature signature Sweet Sleeper beds, soundproofing and 24-hour room service. If you are nipping across for a meeting, there are 22 high-tech function rooms for up to 100 delegates, and wifi is available throughout. The business centre, new gym and sauna never close, and Les Saisons restaurant is open 6.30am-11pm, while Galaxy bar serves drinks and snacks from 7am-1am.
Rooms from €199
ROME
18 Hilton Rome Airport
A short stroll from Rome Fiumicino airport on a moving walkway, this 517-room Hilton has extensive meeting and leisure facilities, including an indoor pool with an outdoor deck. All bedrooms have wifi, and breakfast is served from 5.30am in Le Colonne restaurant. Artists bar is open for snacks and cocktails until 1am.
Rooms from €185
STUTTGART
19 Movenpick Stuttgart Airport
This modern airport property is 50 metres from the main terminal at Stuttgart airport and has 326 rooms. All come with a minibar, video-on-demand and tea and coffee-making facilities, while higher category rooms also have free wifi. Restaurant Trollinger serves food from 5.30am to 11.30pm, and the light-filled Message café and bar is open until 1am. For meetings there are 11 function rooms, and for relaxation there is a 400 sqm wellness centre open 3pm-11pm.
Rooms from €94
ZURICH
20 Radisson Blu Hotel Zurich Airport
Opened last year, this was the first Radisson SAS to be rebranded as Radisson Blu. The 330-room hotel has direct access to Terminal 1 via an underground shopping centre. All bedrooms have room service and free wifi, and Business Class rooms also come with a Nespresso machine, a free daily paper and breakfast. Other facilities include a 24-hour gym and 16 function rooms, with a further 22 to be added by the end of the year.
Rooms from Fr325 (£189)
Middle East and Africa
DUBAI
21 Dubai International hotel
Two hotels for the price of one, Dubai International refers to both an 88-room hotel on the arrivals level of Terminal 1 (and two floors above that), and a 253-room hotel across two wings in Terminal 3. The latter has a spa, while the former has 24-hour room and laundry service, and a bar open around the clock. Rooms can be booked by the hour from Dhs170 (£30).
Rooms from Dhs885 (£155)
22 Le Meridien Dubai
Located on Airport Road, this hotel is a couple of minutes’ drive from Dubai International airport and features 383 rooms, meeting facilities for up to 1,000 delegates, three swimming pools, a spa, and a huge array of food and beverage outlets, from Lebanese and French cuisine to Mexican and Italian fare.
Rooms from Dhs540 (£95)
JOHANNESBURG
23 Intercontinental Johannesburg O R Tambo Airport
This property is situated opposite Terminal 3 and is within walking distance of the international arrivals hall. The hotel was refurbished last year and has 138 rooms. The all-day Quills restaurant specialises in South African cuisine, and the hotel also has indoor and outdoor pools, a gym on the top floor overlooking the runway, spa facilities and free wifi.
Rooms from R3,050 (£240)
Americas
ATLANTA
24 Hilton Atlanta Airport
Five minutes north of the airport, the Hilton runs a free shuttle service every 15-20 minutes from 4am to midnight (and on call after that). It’s a business-friendly hotel with a gym, American and Italian restaurants, a sports bar and a 24-hour business centre. The 504 rooms, which were recently renovated along with the lobby and restaurants, feature the Hilton Serenity bed and triple-paned windows.
Rooms from US$145
BOSTON
25 Hilton Boston Logan Airport
Directly connected to Logan International airport via a covered skybridge, this 599-room hotel also runs a free 24-hour shuttle service to all terminals every 15 minutes. Rooms have all the amenities you’d expect of a Hilton, and the property also has a 24-hour business centre, a pool and gym, a coffee shop, a breakfast restaurant and a bar open for lunch and dinner.
Rooms from US$242
CHICAGO
26 Aloft Chicago O’Hare
One of the first examples of Starwood’s “W Hotel on a budget” brand, the Aloft opened in July last year and is five minutes from O’Hare airport – a free shuttle service runs every half an hour from 5am to midnight. It’s a stylish new-build with good in-room technology, free wifi in the lobby and bar, a pool, a gym and helpful staff – although only snacks are available in the 24-hour eating area. A kiosk in the lobby allows you to print your boarding pass.
starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels
Rooms from US$123
27 Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport
The only hotel inside the airport, the Hilton O’Hare is about 30 metres from domestic terminals 1, 2 and 3, with a monorail providing transport to international terminal 5. All 858 rooms are soundproofed and most are wifi-enabled, while two new room types – Theatre and RoomLinx – have high-tech gadgetry. Facilities include a fitness centre, two restaurants, a grab-and-go café selling Starbucks coffee, and a sports bar. Kiosks in the lobby allow you to check in for your flight and print your boarding card.
Rooms from US$269
DALLAS
28 Grand Hyatt DFW
The Grand Hyatt is situated in Terminal D at Fort Worth airport and access from the other terminals is free via the Skylink high-speed train service, which runs every few minutes, and the Terminal Link shuttle bus, which picks up outside arrivals every five minutes. The hotel opened in 2005 and has 298 rooms, a 24-hour gym, a rooftop heated pool, a coffee shop, a restaurant and a bar. Print out your boarding card using the hotel’s Fast Board facility and, if you have time to kill, try out the cheese, wine and chocolate tastings that take place between 2pm and 10pm.
Rooms from US$214
LOS ANGELES
29 Custom Hotel
This design-led boutique property is 4km from LAX and accessible by a free shuttle service between 7am and 11pm (call reception upon arrival to be picked up). The journey takes five to seven minutes. All 250 rooms come with free wifi, iPod docks and soundproofed windows, and have views of the ocean, Malibu, Hollywood, Downtown LA or the airport runway. Facilities include a bistro-style restaurant, a pool bar and grill with private cabanas and a nightly DJ, an on-the-go breakfast bar, and a business centre.
Rooms from US$108
NEW YORK JFK
30 Ramada Plaza Hotel JFK International Airport
The Ramada is the only hotel located directly on JFK property. Guests can reach the terminals via a free five-minute shuttle service every half an hour around the clock. They can also avail of the free wifi in all 478 rooms and free car parking. The hotel has a business centre, a gym and a restaurant that serves a range of international cuisine.
Rooms from US$117
NEW YORK NEWARK
31 Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott
The only hotel on airport grounds, the Marriott is located outside the terminal, about a five-minute walk across a road and through the car park. Alternatively, guests can take the free shuttle bus that runs every ten minutes. The 591 guest rooms were renovated in 2007 along with the lobby, health club and pool area. The lobby has a screen showing all flight arrivals and departures and a kiosk for printing boarding cards. Dining options include a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant and an English pub.
Rooms from US$181
ORLANDO
32 Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
Located inside the main terminal, the hotel lobby is one level above the airline ticket counters. The 445-room hotel was recently renovated and has two restaurants, a 24-hour gym and an outdoor pool. Rooms are soundproofed, have marble baths and iPod docks, and room service around the clock. Hyatt’s Fast Board kiosks allow guests to check in for their flights and print boarding passes.
Rooms from US$181
PHILADELPHIA
33 Philadelphia Airport Marriott
Marriott’s Philly airport property is directly connected to Terminal B by a skybridge, about 90 metres from the baggage claim area. Rooms are kitted out with Marriott’s Revive bed and wired internet access, while there are also spa facilities, a pool, a gym and an American-style bar and grill. The hotel has recently completed a US$2 million renovation of the lobby, restaurant and function space.
Rooms from US$229
SAN FRANCISCO
34 Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
Two miles south of the airport, the Hyatt Regency offers a free 24-hour shuttle service every 15 minutes. A US$21 million renovation of all 789 guest rooms took place last year. Facilities include 24-hour business and fitness centres, a heated outdoor pool, Hyatt’s Fast Board service for flight check-in, an Italian restaurant, a Californian café, a deli, a sports bar and a wine bar.
Rooms from US$220
SAO PAULO
35 Sao Paulo Airport Marriott
Five minutes from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International is this 311-room property. A shuttle bus operates every 20 minutes between 6am and midnight to take guests to the airport. Rooms have wired internet access and satellite TV, and day rates are available. The Atrium bar offers cocktails and live music, while the restaurant serves international fare. There’s also a fitness centre, an outdoor pool and a games room.
Rooms from US$202
SEATTLE
36 Radisson Hotel Gateway Seattle-Tacoma Airport
The closest hotel to the airport, the Radisson is directly across from the entrance and runs a free 24-hour shuttle service every 20 minutes. The 204 rooms have recently renovated bathrooms, free wifi and free remote printing to reception. Other facilities include a gym open 5am-11pm, a pool, free parking, a restaurant and a bar.
Rooms from US$152
TORONTO
37 Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport
The only hotel located inside Pearson International airport, the Sheraton Gateway is connected by an indoor walkway to Terminal 3 and by automated train to Terminal 1. Guests can check in for flights and print their boarding passes at kiosks in the lobby, and keep up to date via the arrival and departure screen in their room. The business centre, gym, pool, and room service are all available 24 hours, and internet access is free in the Link@Sheraton area in the lobby. There’s also a bar and restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Rooms from C$278 (£158)
WASHINGTON DC
38 Washington Dulles Airport Marriott
The Marriott is the only hotel on airport property. It’s about 60 metres from the terminal and you can either walk across the street and through the car park or take the shuttle bus, which runs every 15 minutes from 4.30am-1am. The 368 rooms were renovated two years ago and feature luxury bedding and wired internet access. Guests can print their boarding card in the lobby, and other facilities include free on-site parking, a 24-hour gym and two restaurants.
Rooms from US$208
VANCOUVER
39 Fairmont Vancouver Airport
Situated inside the airport, about five minutes’ walk from international arrivals, this luxury property has a self-service check-in kiosk in the lobby for selected flights, a spa open 9am-9pm, a health club with a pool, a gym and sauna (6.30am-9pm), a fine-dining restaurant and a bar with runway views. The 392 rooms have soundproofed windows and ocean, mountain or runway views, and 19 are in a “quiet zone” that operates in silence between 8am and 8pm if you need some shut-eye (eye masks and ear plugs are provided). These rooms can also be booked for four-hour slots.
Rooms from C$293 (£166)
Asia-Pacific
BANGKOK
40 Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
This four-star hotel is ten minutes’ walk from the airport or three minutes by 24-hour shuttle (Gate 4, level two of the terminal). It has 612 rooms, two bars, four restaurants (one is 24-hour), six meeting rooms, a business centre, wifi, a pool, gym, spa and 24-hour room service. The hotel has recently introduced hourly rates (minimum two-hour stay 2,000Baht (£38).
Rooms from 4,708Baht (£88)
BEIJING
41 Crowne Plaza International Airport Beijing
The 601-room hotel is 4km from the airport – give your flight number to staff and a free shuttle will pick you up. There are three restaurants, 24-hour room service, a bar, gym, indoor pool and spa. There’s also a staffed business centre (7am-11pm) and eight meeting rooms. Guests staying on the Executive level have a separate check-in area and free breakfast, snacks, cocktails and business services.
Rooms from ¥480 (£45)
HONG KONG
42 Regal Airport Hotel
The 1,171-room Regal Airport Hotel is the only hotel within a two-minute walk of Hong Kong International airport – it’s connected to the main terminal (Zone A of the arrivals hall) by a covered air-conditioned bridge. It has a flexible 24-hour accommodation policy regardless of check-in time, as well as a 24-hour fully serviced business centre, free wired and wifi internet access, 29 function rooms, six restaurants, a bar, a gym, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and 24-hour room service.
Rooms from HK$1,683 (£139)
KUALA LUMPUR
43 Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport
This five-star 441-room hotel is connected to the airport by a covered skybridge. It has a 24-hour gym and restaurant, a pool, a tennis court and spa. International arrivals can check into the hotel while waiting for their luggage at carousel F. Frequent flyers can earn miles and those with Singapore Airlines boarding passes at check-in are offered breakfast free (until December).
Rooms from RM504 (£92)
MELBOURNE
44 Hilton Melbourne International Airport
This is the only hotel connected to the airport by a covered walkway. The curvy 276-room Hilton has an indoor pool, a 24-hour gym and a business centre with free printing. The restaurant is open daily from 6am-10.30pm (the café until 11pm and the bar until midnight), and there is 24-hour in-room dining. The hotel has offers including a flight simulator package where guests can try flying a B777-300.
Rooms from AU$245 (£129)
MUMBAI
45 Leela Kempinski Mumbai
The five-star hotel planted 2,000 coconut trees on the 1.5km stretch of road from the international airport to its location in the Sahar business district, and it’s set within 11 acres of landscaped gardens. There are 390 rooms, a business centre, a gym, a pool, four restaurants – including a 24-hour offering – and three bars. The Executive floor and lounge were refurbished in 2007 and a new spa will be unveiled this year.
Rooms from Rs10,450 (£141)
SEOUL
46 Hyatt Regency Incheon
Located at the International Business complex, this Hyatt property is a three-minute free shuttle ride to the terminal. The shuttle runs from 5.07am until 11pm every fifteen minutes. The 523-room hotel has 51mm-thick double glazed windows, 24-hour room service, a business centre, fitness centre, indoor pool and sauna, and a variety of bars and eateries open 6am-midnight.
Rooms from 240,000 won (£124)
SHANGHAI
47 Ramada Pudong Airport
This 370-room hotel is five minutes from the airport by free shuttle bus. The Gallery restaurant and function rooms have recently been renovated. Also new is the free internet access for executive floor guests and free wifi in the public areas. TVs show live flight information, and a health club and spa is open until midnight.
Rooms from ¥780 (£73)
SINGAPORE
48 Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
The only hotel connected to Changi’s Terminal 3, this 320-room hotel has entrances in both the arrival and departure halls at the terminal. It has a 30-metre pool, a 24-hour gym, four treatment rooms, eight meeting rooms, and a business centre open daily until 10pm. Food options include two restaurants, round-the-clock room service and two bars, including the 24-hour lobby lounge.
Rooms from S$165 (£73)
SYDNEY
49 Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport
Opposite the domestic terminal and 3km from the international terminal (a shuttle bus costs AU$6), this 315-room hotel has some runway views, a heated rooftop pool, a 24-hour concierge, a gym, 11 function rooms, a restaurant, a bar and a café. There is broadband access in the rooms and wifi in the public areas. Deluxe room rates include breakfast. The Jetlag Recovery and Business Saver packages are worth considering.
Rooms from AU$199 (£98)
TOKYO
50 Hilton Tokyo Narita Airport
There are 548 rooms and 13 meeting venues at this hotel, which is ten minutes by free shuttle bus to Narita International airport (four times an hour during peak times). It has three restaurants, wireless internet access, a 24-hour fitness centre, a jogging track, tennis courts and an indoor pool. The hotel is introducing the new Hilton “Serta” bed in all its rooms throughout this year and early 2010.
Rooms from ¥9,000 (£68)
OTHER HOTELS TO CONSIDER
Boston
Hyatt Harborside at Boston Logan International Airport
Rooms from US$291
Chicago
Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare Airport: Rooms from US$180; icohare.com
Dallas
Hyatt Regency DFW: Rooms from US$218; dfwairport.hyatt.com
Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport: Rooms from US$160; starwoodhotels.com/westin
Detroit
Westin Metropolitan Detroit Airport: Rooms from US$245; starwoodhotels.com/westin
Dubai
Intercontinental Dubai Festival City: Rooms from Dhs520 (£90); ichotelsgroup.com
Guangzhou
Pullman Guangzhou Baiyun Airpor: Rooms from ¥457 (£42); accorhotels.com
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Sky City Marriott: Rooms from HK$1,087 (£90); marriott.com
Hotel Novotel Hong Kong Citygate: Rooms from HK$1,155 (£95); novotel.com
London heathrow
See our April 2009 issue
Pittsburgh
Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport: Rooms from US$216; pittsburghairport.hyatt.com
Tampa
Tampa Airport Marriott: Rooms from US$200; marriott.com
Toronto
Hilton Toronto Airport: Rooms from C$202 (£113); hilton.co.uk
