These 10 airport hotels are perfect for Australian travellers
From Dubai to LA, we have all the key transit ports covered.
At Explore, we have high expectations from the world's best airport hotels. For starters, they should be located either inside the airport terminal, or a very short distance away; not several miles away as some properties do. Next, they should have well-appointed spacious rooms; not tiny boltholes without windows, because the last thing you want after a crammed long flight is another crammed space.
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Finally, they should have decent onsite facilities, from versatile restaurants with something for the entire family to gyms, pools and spas where you can really stretch your legs before, after or in between flights. With all of that in mind, here's our pick of the best airport hotels in ports Australian travellers are most likely to find themselves.
TOKYO
Hotel Villa Fontaine Premier ticks all the boxes at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. With direct access to Terminal 3 and connected to both train and monorail lines, it is home to spacious rooms, a Japanese restaurant and - in line with local customs - a natural hot spring, where you can have an onsen experience with river views.
If you're flying to Narita Airport, Narita Airport Rest House is a no-frills budget-friendly option just a five-minute walk from the terminal. Located a five-minute drive from the airport, Hotel Nikko Narita is a far superior option and offers free shuttle transfers to both terminals 1 and 2 every 30 minutes.
SINGAPORE
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport has been named Skytrax World Airport Awards' World's Best Airport Hotel nine years in a row - and for good reason. No matter which terminal you're in, the sky train will take you within minutes to this resort-style property's doorstep.
Bright spacious rooms, a state-of-the-art gym, a massive outdoor pool and leafy gardens will no doubt keep you engaged inside the hotel. And if that's not enough, Jewel - the world-renowned shopping, dining and retail precinct - is right next to the property.
HONG KONG
Its location at the airport, a variety of high-ceilinged rooms with plenty of natural light, a number of eateries (from the China Coast Bar + Grill to Cafe Aficionado) as well as a decent array of meetings rooms for the business traveller, makes Regal Airport Hotel an obvious choice in Hong Kong.
But perhaps the best thing about it is the onsite OM Spa, where you can swim, work out and then dial up the indulgence factor with a relaxing massage.
DOHA
Oryx Airport Hotel is located within Hamad International Airport and it ticks every box you expect from an airport hotel. But our recent travels to the Qatari capital reveal Doha is a fairly compact city, with mega multi-lane avenues and - after the frenzy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup - it's undergoing a rather quiet spell right now.
Meaning you can find ultra-luxurious hotels such as the St Regis Marsa Arabia Island and Fairmont Doha (housed in the city's iconic Katara Towers building) at lower rates than the airport hotel. So the choice is entirely yours.
DUBAI
There are three hotels here, but Dubai International Hotel is located inside terminals 1 and 3, making it the perfect option if you don't want to leave the airport at all - you don't even need to clear immigration and customs. But if you want to venture further afield, Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport is the ideal landside option.
LOS ANGELES
There's no hotel inside the LAX, but Hyatt Regency LAX is right next door, with a crisp, colourful lobby; manicured lawns; well-furnished, contemporary rooms; and Beckett's Kitchen and Lounge where you can enjoy meals all day.
The best thing is the open-air swimming pool with views of the airport and flights landing and taking off.
ABU DHABI
Located inside Zayed International Airport's transit area, AUHotel is a new property that opened earlier this year. Rooms feature bright splashes of colour, modern ensuites and comfortable beds. Family rooms feature double beds and sofa beds, while dining options range from in-room deliveries to an onsite restaurant. The best thing? Rooms can be booked for shorter durations, such as a six-hour period. The other option is Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport, which is six kilometres away.
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Right here in Australia
Well-located airport hotels with quality rooms, decent eateries and other facilities are a great way for regional Aussies to break the journey before or after a long-haul flight.
In Sydney: It's tricky in Sydney, with domestic and international terminals located a short drive away from each other. Rydges is located right next to the international terminal, with easy access to the domestic terminal via the free airport shuttle. Rooms with soundproof windows offer aeroplane views minus the noise. Its Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar (with more runway views) and Smithy's Bar (for all-day dining) are great options, even if you are not staying at the hotel and want to wait away from the crowds.
In Melbourne: Located right next to the domestic and international terminals, ParkRoyal Melbourne Airport emerged from a significant refurb in June this year. A stunning lobby dials up the style factor from the get-go, spacious guestrooms with big windows are great for resetting your circadian rhythm, and world-class facilities such as restaurants, fitness studios and even event spaces further delight and surprise.
In Brisbane: Pullman Brisbane Airport has been ranked among Australia's and Asia-Pacific's best airport hotels multiple times. Direct access to both domestic and international terminals, along with well-appointed spacious rooms, are no doubt behind the accolades.
Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.
My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.
Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.
My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.
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