While many of us would be satisfied with a drink in the lounge or a nap in a sleep pod, today’s airports are turning layovers into a whole experience.
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From pilates by the water vortex at Singapore’s Changi Airport to luxury shopping at Doha’s Hamad International, there’s no limit to what you can get up to.
If you’re prioritising sleep, an airport hotel is the way to go – but why not spice up your stay by booking a room with a view?
Air travel has been normalised for many of us, but there’s no better way to appreciate the miracle of flying across the globe in a metal tube and reaching your destination safely than watching skilled pilots land and take off.
Here are some we think you should be booking. Who knows, maybe you’ll even plan your trip around a layover next time…
Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel
As Europe’s busiest airport, London Heathrow is a plane spotter’s dream.
There are numerous hotels nearby to choose from (and if you’re limited on time, you will want to pick whichever is closest to your terminal), but one of the favourites among AV geeks is the Renaissance, which has rooms and suites that overlook the northern runway.
If you don’t have time to stay overnight, you could alternatively head to Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3’s Runway Bar for a quick tipple.
Hilton Munich Airport
Located between terminals 1 and 2 at Munich Airport, guests staying at the Hilton won’t have far to walk ahead of, or after, a flight.
Runway view rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows so you can watch all the take offs and landings from your bed, and you can also book a day use room for a layover if you don’t need to stay overnight.
Access to the Mountain Hub Spa (unfortunately without runway views) is also available if you book a two-hour spa card so you can freshen up ahead of your next flight.
Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Another option close to your gate, Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is reachable from the terminal in about ten minutes via a covered walkway.
Guests booking runway view rooms will be able to watch flights taking off and landing through the diamond-shaped windows, and you can also see the runway from the Executive Lounge on the 10th floor.
Sheraton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel
Found in Terminal 2 between the C and D piers, the time it takes for your head to hit the pillow at Sheraton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel after deplaning will be incredibly short.
Thanks to the airport’s shape, there’s no need to book a specific room for runway views, although you may want to ask for one on the higher floors if possible.
What the hotel’s design lacks in floor-to-ceiling windows, it more than makes up for in proximity to the action.
Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has retained the title of world’s busiest airport for several years now, with an average of 2,100 arrivals and departures every single day, making it a top choice for plane watching.
Passengers staying at Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel will need to book a runway view room for the chance to snap photos of their favourite planes, but if you can’t stay overnight, the Concorde Bar is also an option.
The Delta Flight Museum is conveniently within walking distance, so be sure you time your layover with its opening hours.
TWA Hotel at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport
Perhaps the most famous airport property of all, the TWA Hotel at JFK transports travellers back to the golden age of travel.
Originally serving as an airport terminal between the 1960s and 2001, hotel developers replaced many of the original details – including the split-flap departure board – ahead of its new lease of life in 2019.
Inside, you’ll find an aviation history museum – complete with furniture from the original Trans World Airlines (TWA) headquarters, vintage in-flight menus and amenities as well as numerous flight attendant uniforms – a rooftop infinity pool, and a 1958 Lockheed Constellation aeroplane that has been transformed into a cocktail lounge.
You can choose between rooms with views of the runway or the historic building itself, and day passes are available for stays of between four and 12 hours.