Airports may be a place that help people get from city or country to another around the world, but they must also meet the needs of the travelers who use them. Some users could be on long haul flights and need leisure facilities so they can pass the time between flights. Others may wish to get something eat or drink. Some may have missed a connecting flight and need to stay overnight at an airport hotel. It all means airports have to provide more than just runways. Below is a look at some of the best airports around the world that have hotels and what makes these airports so great.
John F. Kennedy International Airport
JFK airport, named after the late president, sits in Queens, New York, and is one of the busiest airports in the world. In the form of TWA Hotel, the airport offers a gem of an on-site hotel that boasts 512 guest rooms, and rooms provide a view of runways and of the iconic 1962 TWA Flight Center. TWA Hotel recreates some of the magic of the 1960s and also features a massive hotel gym, a rooftop pool and observation deck. You can’t fail to be comfortable in this one.
At the airport itself, which has eight different terminals, travelers can access the free Wi-Fi, sit and enjoy refreshments in one of the airport’s many coffee bars or eateries, grab a newspaper from a kiosk or relax in one of the hotel lounges. Travelers can even access beauty treatments before their flights.
Vancouver Airport
If you’re calling in at Vancouver Airport, in Canada, you might want to take your credit card or some extra cash with you to splash out. The airport provides plenty of shops by high-end brands such as Bulgari, Chanel, Cartier and Burberry.
The Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel is the only hotel at the airport, is located inside the terminal and is soundproofed, and you can view the runways from the hotel rooms and watch the planes take off. The mountains in the background make it quite a view to savor. While at the hotel you can catch live music at the hotel’s Jetside Lounge, admire the paintings of the hotel’s resident artist and, if you’re staying a little longer, rent a bike to explore the area. If none of that appeals, there’s always the gym and wellness facilities.
Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino Mactan
The hotel is conveniently located in front of the Mactan Cebu International Domestic Airport in the Philippines. It’s just a three minute drive to the Industrial Zone and a fifteen minute drive to the beaches of Mactan Island. It is thirty minutes away from Cebu City’s shopping and financial district. The hotel consists of 164 guestrooms and suites, four dining outlets and function rooms to accommodate any special event.
The main attraction of the hotel is the casino. With a whole host of games such as roulette, baccarat, poker, pontoon and more. If you don’t fancy the hustle and bustle of the casino after a long flight, check out the top roulette casinos ranked by Casino.org and play online in the tranquillity of your room. With top quality facilities for a comfortable stay, it is adjacent to the Mactan International Airport, a growing gateway to the Philippines.
Rome “Leonardo Da Vinci” Fiumicino Airport
The Leonarda Da Vinci Fiumicino Airport, in Rome, Italy, gets the airport experience going before visitors even leave their house! Airport users can buy items online at the airport shops and then pick them up when they arrive, and book tables online at eateries. At the airport it’s possible to eat a range of cuisine, including Italian and international cuisine, and you can shop for jewelry, clothing, health and beauty products, eyewear, books and, of course, duty free goodies. You can also even see exhibitions, Roman artefacts and works of art.
Close by the hotel is the Hilton Rome Airport, which features a swimming pool, gym and, for business travelers, a business center. Rooms are pet-friendly, and you can also listen to live music at the Artists Bar.
Munich Airport
If you’re looking for an airport that can relieve some of the stress from travelling, Munich Airport is the one. While at the airport, you can stop off for a quick swim and some relaxation in a steam bath and a Finnish sauna at the airport’s Mountain Hub Spa. You can also freshen up with a shower at the airport. If you’re travelling with children, you can take them to the designated play areas, which are open around the clock.
The airport shops will suit anyone who really likes to splash out on goods such as premium leather, luxury scents and high-end clothing brands. If you have several hours to kill, you may even just explore the area around the airport.
Looking to stay at the airport? You can do so at the hotel’s famous Hilton Munich Airport. Come 2025, you’ll be able to choose between hotels because in 2023, the construction of the Ibis Styles hotel began at the airport. The new hotel opens in spring 2025 and will offer 358 rooms, a gym, coworking rooms, a bar and restaurant.
A visit to an airport is an experience in itself. These locations provide lots of different amenities and services to accommodate travelers. Other airports with hotels you may wish to stop at include Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, in Madrid, Spain; San Francisco International Airport, in the US; and Beijing Airport, in China.