Why Stay at an Airport Hotel?

Airport hotels are often overlooked by travelers, despite the convenience of being able to stay a stone’s throw from the airport. Airport hotels can either be on the grounds of an airport or just off-site. If you are considering staying at an airport hotel, here are some of the main advantages.

No Last-Minute Travelling

It is recommended that you arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight to check in, get through security, and find your departure gate. This doesn’t account for the time it takes to travel from your accommodation to the airport. If you don’t leave with plenty of time to spare, you may barely make your flight, since your journey to the airport could be marred by traffic jams, road works, or over-sleeping.

If you stay in an airport hotel the night before your flight, you won’t need to stress about public transport delays. Staying in an airport hotel is particularly useful if you have a late-night or early-morning flight. You can check in to the hotel the night before and walk or get a shuttle to the airport the next day. Spending the night at an airport hotel after getting off a flight is much more convenient than taking a long cab ride to another hotel when you are jetlagged. It will give you time to recuperate before the next part of your journey.

Less Hassle When Getting Ready

One stressful part of catching a flight is having to work out whether you will be able to get some sleep before your flight, then rushing to leave for the airport. By spending the night before your flight at an airport hotel, you can get plenty of sleep because you are already around the corner from your terminal. This will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to check in and get through airport security. You can take your time packing up your things and if you forget anything, you can simply call the hotel and let them know, then take the short trip back to retrieve your things.

You Can Explore the Area

If you are staying at an airport hotel during a layover or are spending the night before continuing your journey, then you will have the chance to explore the local area. While many airport hotels are located just outside of the city center, they’re often near taxi ranks, bus stops, and train stations that will take you directly to the city. You may have a better travel experience if you take advantage of the concierge services at the hotel. Instead of wandering around without a plan, ask the concierge for recommendations on where to go, and ask them to make bookings and get tickets for different activities and events.

It Can Be Cheaper

Airport hotels have a reputation for being expensive, but more often than not, they are a more affordable option for those who wish to stay for a short time. This is useful for business travelers, people who have taken long-haul flights, and people with layovers who need to catchup on some much-needed sleep before getting their connecting flight. Some airport hotels offer rooms by the hour or day rooms, so you only pay for the short time you need it.

If you book your stay at an airport hotel online, you can make the most of great deals. You may be able to get a discount on your room, get meals included, or get a free airport lounge pass. The most common package is a park, stay, and fly package where the cost of your long-term parking is included with the cost of your accommodation.

You Will Have a Place to Park

Instead of looking for a good spot in the airport car park or in off-site parking on the day of your flight, you will be able to leave your car in the hotel parking lot for the duration of your trip and pick it up when you get back. Each airport hotel will have their own policies. You may be able to park your car in a specific bay and keep your keys with you or you may need to hand you keys over to the hotel staff so that a member of staff can move it to a dedicated parking area for long-term parking, then drive it back to the drop-off bay when you return.

Facilities and Amenities

Airport hotels often have some great amenities, including a swimming pool, a gym, a spa, free Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, concierge services, flight information display systems (or FIDS), laundry and dry-cleaning services, room service, dining facilities, fitness centers, cots and high chairs, long-stay parking, and shuttle services.

No Strict Check-In or Check-Out Times

At most hotels, check-in time is usually around 3:00 p.m. and check out time is around 11:00 a.m. Airport hotels have more flexible check-in times since travelers arrive at all times of the day due to different landing and take-off times and because of cancelled or delayed flights. Some airport hotels offer 24-hour check-ins. You will need to reach out to the airport hotel you wish to stay in to inquire what their check-in and check-out policies are.

Will My Unused Accommodation Expenses Be Covered by Travel Insurance?

Your travel insurance policy will cover your unused non-refundable pre-booked accommodation expenses in the event of cancellation, curtailment (cutting your trip short), travel delays, and the abandonment of your trip. Your additional accommodation expenses will also be covered in the event of missed departure and missed connection as a result of adverse weather conditions, strikes, road closures and heavy traffic, the mechanical breakdown of the public transport you a traveling on or your private hire vehicle, or an accident involving the public transport you are traveling on or your private hire vehicle. You will need to read your policy wording for more information on the level of cover you will receive and what evidence you will need to provide to your travel insurance provider when making a claim.