It is often convenient to spend a night at the airport before or after a flight. Airport hotels have a bad reputation for being rather soulless, with noisy rooms, barren views, and lacking in ambiance or anywhere decent to eat. However, if you choose correctly and pick one of the best airport hotels in the world, you will be rewarded with effective soundproofing, fine dining, attractive decor, numerous amenities like Starbucks, gyms, or even a pool, and there might be a club lounge to enjoy as well.
I have selected 10 of the best, most luxurious airport hotels in the world to help you make the night before or after your international flight even better. Contact our luxury travel concierge and get a quote at any hotel (airport or otherwise), as we offer extra free benefits like free breakfast, complimentary room upgrade, VIP gifts, and more at no extra cost.
1. Grand Hyatt Dallas Fort Worth Airport
Hyatt hotels are one of our favorite brands of chain hotels, ranging from the Park Hyatt at the top to a variety of quality Hyatt hotels in practical locations lower down. One excellent example of a practical hotel that maintains a level of excellence right on the airport doorstep is the Grand Hyatt DFW, which is integrated into Dallas Fort Worth Airport International terminal D and is the best airport hotel here.
The rooms are a particular highlight here, as the Grand Hyatt beds are comfortable, and the windows are large, with many overlooking the runway. The decor is stylish and jazzy in browns and marine blues, with a 70s vibe. At the end of the bed, there is a useful ottoman, along with a lounger seat that comes with a footstool. The lights in the room are also a funky stringy design, which means the place feels cared for and fun. Bathrooms are also luxury with black granite walls, a decent tub, and separate shower rooms. Last of all, these rooms are soundproofed, so you can both sleep and enjoy the views watching the planes.
For food, you can eat within terminal D of DFW airport, whether you prefer a coffee, pastries, or something a bit more substantial. The upscale Grand Met restaurant is your most stylish eating venue and has a great atmosphere. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it is the view that will keep you coming back. The views here are so incredible because the Hyatt is located right on top of the terminal. For a plane spotter, this has to be the ultimate hotel room!
2. Fairmont Vancouver Airport
The second best airport hotel in the world is the Fairmont, Vancouver Airport in Canada. It is the only airport hotel directly connected to Vancouver Airport’s International terminal, although there are plenty of other options on the airport grounds. I have found this airport hotel to be particularly good for getting over jetlag when flying in from London. I then grab a taxi, Uber, or bus up to Whistler for some skiing and stay at the Four Seasons Whistler.
The hotel is connected to the airport building and is situated right above the US departures area, within a minute or two‘s walk from the luggage carousel. There is so much to love about this airport hotel, but the floor-to-ceiling windows, which are heavily soundproofed, have to be a highlight, as he really can watch the planes take off from your bed. Beyond the rooms, there is an indoor pool, health club, and spa, along with restaurants including a jet sidebar for live music, tapas, and cocktails, and globe@yvr, which is an award-winning restaurant where you can take breakfast.
There are a variety of rooms to choose from, and if you want a luxury boutique hotel experience, there are some newly renovated rooms on the 14th floor that give you access to a complimentary club lounge. It is well worth paying the extra for a Fairmont Gold Room because of this club lounge access. Within the club lounge, you get a continental breakfast or have the complimentary breakfast delivered to your room if you are leaving early. In the evening, there is a selection of hot and cold canapés, and desserts are served afterward within the lounge. Non-alcoholic drinks are included within your room rates in this lounge, including espresso tea, coffee, soft drinks, and water, and there is an honor bar that sticks to spirits, wines, and beers. By booking a Gold Room, you also get a daily turndown service, complimentary local calls within North America, complimentary BMW car service between the hotel and YVR’s south terminal, and a golf cart service within why they are the main terminal.
4. Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, LAX
Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey is hands down the best airport hotel at LAX. It is actually around 5 minutes drive away. The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey is a dreamy, sparkling oasis of waterfront boats and tropical foliage and yet it is superbly convenient for the airport. Currently, there isn’t a shuttle that runs between the LAX and the hotel. However, Uber will cost approximately $20 USD, and a Taxi will cost approximately $25 USD. In fact, this hotel is not only the best LAX airport hotel but also probably has one of the best hotel club lounges in Los Angeles.
This authentic Southern California retreat is located on one of the largest recreational marinas in the world. Immerse yourself in stunning coastal surroundings in one of their 304 waterfront guest rooms and suites, relax at Sisley Spa, farm-to-table, dine at Cast & Plow, or exercise on the tennis and basketball courts or in their gorgeous heated saltwater pool. Nearby, the Strand provides a scenic pathway for walking, running, and cycling, while the marina is a top destination for water activities.
Book a Club Level Guest Room and enjoy partial Marina and city views, personal “Juliet” balconies, expansive windows and doors for enhanced vistas and light, luxurious Asprey bath essentials, and exclusive Club Lounge access.
Ritz-Carlton Club rooms are a great deal because of the access to the Club Lounge. Amenities include a dedicated team that assists with special requests and vacation plans. More importantly, complimentary small-bite food and beverage presentations are offered throughout the day, more than enough to fill you up. Premium cocktails and wines are also available for purchase. Extra activities included for free are a cocktail demonstration from a mixologist highlighting local ingredients from the farmers market and a wine lesson from our Sommelier, and learning about what pairs well with certain blends.
5. Sheraton Gateway LAX
There’s a Sheraton, Westin, and Four Points in addition to a Marriott at LAX. All are part of the Bonvoy loyalty scheme. The best on-airport hotel at LAX is really between the Sheraton Gateway and the airport Marriott. Still, we feel the Sheraton is the best of these two options because of its club lounge, pool, and general ambiance, as well as having excellent on-site restaurant.
The Sheraton Gateway was recently refurbished, with a $43 million USD upgrade to its guest rooms, lobby, public spaces, and restaurants. It is now stunning and is also one of the closest hotels to LAX, so close that you can walk there from the airport. This is a major advantage if you don’t like waiting around for shuttles.
The hotel is attempting to offer a complete resort with restaurants, a pool deck, fire pits, and cabanas. The pool is particularly charming, with its wildly blue waters edged by cute black and white padded chairs and loungers. Although the building itself looks a bit 1960s, the interior and the pool area are charming for an airport hotel. If you are looking to book a superb room here, go for the corner suites with runway views.
The Italian restaurant here has a very good reputation and is definitely better than most airport restaurants, and the bar is quite happening with sweet staff.
The 15th-floor Club Lounge offers a panoramic vista of the airport and the city, making this hotel a great choice for LAX. If you compare the newly refurbished club lounge at the Sheraton Gateway LAX vs. the Westin, you should always go for the Sheraton. The Sheraton club lounge is a lot better and is open 7 days a week, 24/7. The breakfast in the Marriott MClub lounge is actually better than the one here, but overall, we prefer the Sheraton. You get free club lounge access (whatever room you book) if you are a Bonvoy Platinum member and probably a room upgrade, too.
LAX Sheraton Gateway Club Lounge Breakfast is largely continental; Starbucks coffee, yogurt, pastries, hard-boiled eggs, fruit plus hot scrambled eggs, and hot oatmeal (No sausage or bacon).
LAX Sheraton Gateway Club Lounge hors d’oeuvres usually include something like hot puff pastry beef wellingtons, hot cheese tortellini plus Cold roast beef sandwiches, vegetable slices (peppers, celery, carrots, etc.), cheeses, crackers, black bean salad, or sausage in a chickpea salad, salsa, egg pasta salad. Don’t expect dessert! On the plus side, bottled water is available 24/7, unlike the LAX Renaissance or the LAX Marriott (no bottled water).
6. Sofitel London Heathrow
Sofitel London Heathrow is an award-winning Heathrow airport hotel that links directly to Terminal 5. Probably the two most noteworthy features of the hotel, after the direct access to the terminal building, is their excellent restaurant and the club lounge, both of which I have reviewed in more detail in our full review of Sofitel London Heathrow.
This is the only 5-star hotel at Heathrow Airport. It offers several bars, including a Perrier Jouët bar and the Sphere lobby bar, and restaurants, including La Belle Epoque, awarded 3 AA Rosettes and London Heathrow’s only fine-dining restaurant, which is really very good!
It is worth knowing that you can book a parking-inclusive package at London Heathrow. Their ‘Park Stay & Fly’ includes 4 / 8 / 15 days parking and an overnight stay and is bookable via the Sofitel website.
The hotel itself has an impressive and busy entrance with orchids and fountains and is huge! The rooms above are split into 6 wings adjoined by open-air walkways that sit under massively high glass atriums. Hotel rooms either look outwards to the airport or inwards over a part of the hotel. For example, some rooms overlook the restaurants, others the marble foyers and reception areas. Our room (room 6108) looked out to the roadway coming into the airport. Since none of the rooms look onto the runway or planes, there is little to choose between the inward-facing and outward-facing rooms.
The rooms are not noteworthy and are pretty standard for an airport hotel. All be it with plenty of space, upgraded finishings and amenities, superbly quiet quadruple glazing (double glazing, then a gap, then double glazing again), and blackout curtains. The black marble bathroom here is large (see pictures in our full review) with a walk-in shower, bath with a TV screen in the wall, and it offered ESPA toiletries while we stayed.
Worth knowing: There is a spacious 24-hour fitness studio gym with free access for hotel residents, which I didn’t try, as well as “Club Millésime airport & hotel lounge” which is a landside airport lounge and hotel club lounge. Guests at the Sofitel in a luxury room or suite automatically get access to Club Millésime. Guests in standard rooms can upgrade to use the lounge for £75 GBP per person.
The lounge isn’t big, with seating for around 40 people, but it provides a space to relax and includes internet access, food, and drinks. The complimentary continental breakfast was a decent spread with a buffet choice of scrambled egg and sausages, smoked salmon, bread and jams, cereals, fruit, berries, yogurts, and smoothies, as well as juices, coffees, and teas from a machine. I can’t comment on the afternoon tea, as I did not experience it. In the evening, there was a good selection of beers (bottles of Peroni, Asaki, and one other), wines, and spirits. The food offering was not huge and served on very small plates, but there was just about enough to fill you up with noodle vegetable dishes, chicken skewers, fried fish, Greek salad, cheese, biscuits, and nuts.
It is worth mentioning that the Sofitel is the best luxury airport hotel for all terminals at Heathrow. For example, the most convenient hotel for terminal 4 is the Hilton connected to terminal 4, but it is somewhat dated. If you chose to stay at the Sofitel instead, you could take public transport to the other terminals.
7. InterContinental Johannesburg At O.R Tambo International Airport
InterContinental Johannesburg O.R Tambo Airport is South Africa’s best luxury airport hotel and includes fast Wi-Fi, a gym, a swimming pool and self-help business center. The rooms are extremely nice, with a classic Intercontinental style and lots of space. Executive rooms are corner rooms with even better views of the airport. The decor is in browns, and the bathrooms have spacious showers. Blackout curtains and soundproofing ensure an excellent night’s sleep. The hotel’s signature dining venue, Quills Bar & Restaurant, is one of the top restaurants near Johannesburg, offering everything from game dishes to seafood to vegetarian dishes.
Beyond the Intercontinental, the best hotel in Johannesburg is Four Seasons Westcliff which we have personally reviewed. You will receive our VIP benefits should you book with our luxury travel concierge at every Four Seasons Hotel, including the Four Seasons The Westcliff, Johannesburg.
8. Regal Airport Hotel, Hong Kong
The Regal Airport Hotel is connected to Hong Kong Airport’s Terminal 1 by an air-conditioned bridge, only a two-minute walk away, and the hotel is also in close proximity to the AsiaWorld-Expo Convention Centre.
The hotel is extremely big, with 1,171 guest rooms and state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities, including Hong Kong’s largest hotel ballroom. Its bedrooms are heavily cream in decor, with cream walls, cream headboards, cream sofas, and some even have cream carpets (which seems to be an unwise color for a hotel carpet!). You can dine in 6 restaurants and bars, and it has a luxurious spa, an outdoor pool, and an indoor heated swimming pool.
9. w Abu Dhabi
Located next door to Abu Dhabi’s International Airport, W Abu Dhabi has a jaw-dropping exterior and 499 pristine rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of the racetrack or marina. This Marriott Bonvoy property is a category 4 property requiring a redemption of 20,000 points off-peak and usually 25,000 Bonvoy points to book a room.
The W Abu Dhabi is located in Abu Dhabi’s most desirable destination, Yas Island. The hotel enjoys a stunning location, set half on land and half on water. It is connected to the Yas Marina Circuit with easy access to a wide range of attractions, including theme parks, shopping malls, a golf course, a beach, and a marina.
Innovative technology, such as mood lighting options, centralized speakers, and a media hub panel offering easy connectivity to game consoles, iPods, phones, or music players, mean this hotel is rather special. The hotel features eleven unique dining venues, a spa, and a fitness center, as well as two outdoor pools and a kid’s zone.
10. Dubai International Hotel
Dubai International Hotel is located throughout the Concourses A, B, and C of Dubai International Airport, airside, so guests have to be in transit to be able to stay at this high-end hotel. There are 5 Royal Suites, 56 Junior Suites, 61 Executive Rooms, and 27 Superior Deluxe Rooms to 381 Deluxe Rooms in the hotel.
You can upgrade to the hotel’s club lounge on their executive floor for 200د.إ AED, otherwise, facilities include a fitness center with a steam room, jacuzzi, and swimming pool.
They also provide a complimentary meet and greet from your flight, so you will be met by a representative from the hotel and escorted through security and up in the elevator up to Concourse A. Dubai International Hotel has, however, been described as sterile and this is true, plus there are no views. But the hotel is incredibly convenient if you have a quick overnight in Dubai as you don’t even have to go through immigration or take a taxi. It’s right there in the actual airport. Also, if you have access to Emirates’ first-class lounge (the best is located in Concourse A), you can go down a couple of floors to the lounge to hang out, giving this hotel extra value for travelers flying in first or business or paying to get access to the pre-flight airport lounge.
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