The world’s best airport hotels
Airport hotels are convenient crash pads for when a flight arrives late or leaves at the crack of dawn. Most tend to be functional and simple, offering clean rooms, a single restaurant, and maybe a small gym and business center. However, there are some that rival the best on offer in the city center. Here are nine high-flying airport hotels from around the world.
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Singapore
Forget opting for the sleep pods at Singapore’s Changi Airport because the nearby Crowne Plaza was voted the World’s Best Airport Hotel in the 2017 Skytrax World Airport Awards. It has large soundproof rooms, a superb breakfast spread, a fabulous outdoor pool, and extensive tropical gardens. Nip across to Terminal 3 for more eating options.
Hotel Pullman Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, China
Golf buggies can zip you to the hotel entrance if you’re too bagged down for a short stroll. Everyone speaks good English, and the spacious rooms have sumptuous beds and fluffy pillows. Soak in the bathtub while watching the planes take off without you, and re-set your body clock around the large outdoor pool.
citizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel
This ultra cool hotel makes for a fun stop over with its aviation-themed décor, massive bed in a compact room, a mini iPad to control lights and blinds, and adjustable color-mood lighting. It’s like a cozy, high-tech cocoon complete with a bar downstairs serving cocktails, sushi, croissants and sandwiches.
Fairmont Vancouver Airport, Canada
It’s worth staying in this soundproofed hotel above the US departure area just for the astounding views of dramatic mountains and the busy runway. Expect large rooms, excellent staff, a pleasant spa, and tapas and live music every evening in the bar.
Hong Kong Sky City Marriott Hotel
The views across the bay from this Lantau-island hotel are sublime. The bed is dreamy, the breakfast buffet impressive, the indoor pool stylish, while dinner and drinks are especially good in the Executive Lounge. Regular free shuttles run to the nearest MTR station, both Disneyland and the Big Buddha, to an extensive shopping mall, and to the airport itself.
Hilton Munich Airport
This hotel is a huge glass edifice with an eye-popping lobby located within the airport itself. Rooms are modern, spacious and full of light. Motorized shades block out the afternoon sun, and state-of-the-art digital controls do just about everything else. Bathrooms are huge. The breakfast buffet is one of the world’s best.
Langham Place Beijing Capital Airport
Stand-outs at this huge, contemporary luxury hotel include beds big enough for four, an abundant breakfast featuring various cuisines, and pool tables and disco music in the bar. It’s just 15-minutes from the city center and only an hour away from the Great Wall of China.
InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport Hotel
After all that safari dust it’s nice to stretch out in a warm bath before slipping between crisp white sheets. Beautiful bedrooms are large enough to swing a lion and game meat is a specialty of the restaurant. The service is exceptionally friendly and the pool is open throughout the night.
Sofitel London Heathrow
Sip champagne at Le Bar Parisian, sip cocktails by the fire in the Sphere lounge, and eat gourmet French cuisine in Le Belle Époque restaurant. If you fancy something more British, go for the fish and chips, or a civilized afternoon tea. Or you could have an Indian curry. Elegant rooms are modern and well furnished. The hotel is connected by a walkway to Terminal 5.
Photo sources: Crowne Plaza, Hilton, IHG, Sofitel, Pullman Hotels.