Many would say that transit hotels inside or near the facilities of airports have their own essence. They are often that last-minute accommodation for those suffering the consequences of flight delays and cancellations, the choice of jet-setters having a stopover on a long-haul journey to an exotic faraway destination, and the best option for frequent flyers and busy business travelers on a short layover, who cannot afford a single minute of leisure and must stay as close to the passenger terminals as possible. However, when any of these three traveler types are also aviation geeks, airplane enthusiasts or aircraft spotters, it’s a whole different story. In their eyes, an airport hotel is a whimsical place, especially when it offers some kind of themed space or memorabilia, and most importantly, when all or some of its guest rooms overlook the runways or feature at least tarmac or apron views. Are you one of these guests? If you are, we strongly advise you to take a look at our recommended transit hotels below.
Hotels for plane spotting: book a room with airport runway views
Excel Hotel Tokyu (Haneda airport, Japan)
Conveniently located within short walking distance of the facilities of Haneda International airport in Tokyo, Japan, the Excel Tokyu Hotel can be accessed directly on foot from passenger terminal 2 of HND in just 3 minutes, or else by monorail from the terminal station. Alternatively, travelers arriving via terminal 1 may ride the Keihin Kyuko line and get to the hotel in 5 minutes. Room categories are exceptionally varied, ranging from standard to suites including premier, superior, excel, accessible and deluxe, one of them even featuring a Boeing 737-800 flight simulator (the cockpit room). To ensure you can enjoy the runway views during your stay, make sure you book a high-category room instead of a standard one.
Fairmont In-Terminal Hotel (Vancouver airport, Canada)
The Fairmont In-Terminal Hotel in Vancouver airport, Canada, is found near the United States Departures Hall. In order to reach it, follow the signs to “International Terminal Departures” and get through the hall until you see “US Baggage Claim”. Then take the stairs, the escalators or an elevator that will take you right to the hotel reception. Nicely built within the passenger building, this transit accommodation offers 386 well-appointed rooms, all of which are spacious and soundproofed, affording beautiful runway views against a mountain background.
Crowne Plaza (Changi airport, Singapore)
This Crowne Plaza transit hotel boasts a superb location in Terminal 3 of Singapore’s Changi airport. Guests may arrive walking from the arrivals hall of T3 or else by going across the link bridges from The Jewel. If you want to wake up to stunning views of the busy runway, you will need to book a premier room; you will even be able to watch planes taking off and landing from the bathtub. This room category also features ergonomic chairs, personal safe, pillow menu, premier toiletries, a 40-inch smart TV and working space.
Regal Hotel (Hong Kong airport)
Will you be having a layover at Hong Kong International airport? Travelers staying here can enjoy good views of the runways, particularly those who book a room on the upper floors: the higher, the better. To find out more about this 5-star hotel connected to Terminal 1 of HKIA, read our post about the Regal Airport Hotel.
Embassy Suites LAX South (Los Angeles airport, USA)
The Embassy Suites Hotel in Los Angeles International Airport / South lies 3,2 kilometers from the facilities of LAX in El Segundo, California. You may request a free airport pick-up regardless of the terminal you arrive through. All suites in this hotel feature two bedrooms, fridge and microwave, but if you are particularly interested in plane spotting from your bed, ask to stay on the 5th floor facing the terminal buildings: rooms 581, 584, 501, 502, 503 and 550 through 566 have all been indicated as ideal for aviation geeks.
Sofitel airport hotel (Athens, Greece)
If you take a trip to Athens and you are an airplane lover, we suggest that you spend the night at the Sofitel Airport Hotel in Eleftherios Venizelos International. Aviation experts guarantee that as long as you stay in a room on the sixth, seventh or eighth floor, you will get unforgettable views of the aircraft operations on the tarmac, aside from enjoying front-row landings and take-offs. In case there are no guest rooms available on the upper floors of the Sofitel Athens airport hotel, you can always have a drink at the rooftop bar, which also affords breathtaking views of the runway activity taking place.
Sheraton Hotel & Conference Centre (Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France)
At this transit hotel inside terminal 2 of Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris (also known as Roissy), you can stay in beautifully-appointed suites or rooms featuring soundproofed windows, flat-screen TV and complimentary Wi-Fi. Its exceptional location makes it not only highly convenient for passengers having a layover in CDG, but also strongly recommended for aviation geeks. Visit the following link to find out more about this and other hotels in Paris International airport.
ParkRoyal Hotel (Melbourne airport, Australia)
The ParkRoyal Melbourne Airport Hotel in Australia is another accommodation frequented by plane spotters and aircraft photographers and enthusiasts. To discover more about this one and other hotels in MEL, visit this post.
La Quinta Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport South (McCarran airport, USA)
This airport hotel in Las Vegas lies close both to McCarran International airport and The Strip, and is one of the most popular places to stay in the area among airplane spotters. Should you need further information regarding accommodation options for plane spotting in Vegas, check out our post about where to sleep near Las Vegas airport.
Airports and Hotels 
12 thoughts on “Airport hotels for plane spotters: rooms with the best runway views around the world”
Comments are closed.