August 28, 2026 — 5:00amAirport hotels used to be a necessary evil for the unfortunate few. You checked in late, left early and hoped to forget the room’s unsightly floral bedspread.Now, airport hotels are memorable for more salubrious reasons. Some have Michelin-starred restaurants. Some let you watch A380s from your bed. Some have pools that wouldn’t look out of place at a resort. Others still exist solely to give you four hours of sleep and a shower between flights – which proves it’s all about choice.Singapore’s Crowne Plaza Changi is a go-to for many reasons.Airports now see quality hotels as an integral part of the passenger experience, while hotel brands recognise the commercial appeal of being where millions of travellers trudge wearily every year.You only have to look to Dublin Airport, where Ireland’s first Sofitel is being built right at the terminal door. That a luxury brand should make its Irish debut at an airport says everything about how far the sector has come.The real winners in all this, though, are travellers. We’re not just using airport hotels more often; we’re becoming choosier about them, selecting the one that best suits the way we travel. Here are some airport hotels redefining what an airport hotel can be.Sign up for the Traveller newsletterThe latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.For the traveller who refuses to end a holiday in a rushSofitel Heathrow, London Heathrow AirportSofitel is directly connected to terminal 5 at Heathrow, London.Cruise holidays usually conclude with an early morning disembarkation. If you are in Southampton or Dover, and you are faced with a late-night flight home, dragging your bags into London for a few hurried hours or simply heading for the airport might seem your only options. Sofitel Heathrow offers a far more civilised alternative. Connected directly to terminal 5 – home of British Airways – it’s also an easy (and free) Tube ride to terminal 3, where many Australia-bound flights depart.The pool at Sofitel Heathrow.The interiors show their age, but the rooms are spacious, quiet and supremely comfortable. Suites are particularly good for families, with a generous lounge area and large TV, while the bedroom delivers exactly what you want before a long-haul flight: a blissfully comfortable Sofitel bed. Rooms from $345 a night. See accor.comFor the traveller who believes the holiday starts ASAPMoxy Sydney Airport, Sydney AirportMoxy Sydney Airport is fun, colourful and cleverly designed.Colourful, social and vibey, Moxy Sydney Airport encourages you to order another cocktail rather than count down to boarding. Located just outside the airport precinct, it’s connected via shuttle bus and its Park, Stay & Fly package includes up to 14 nights’ parking with a one-night stay (a limited deal; five nights is the usual), making it ideal for those who need to drive. Rooms follow Moxy’s signature formula: compact but cleverly designed, with fold-away furniture, space for luggage and excellent Wi-Fi. Sit at the bar for maximum conviviality, pull up at a table for a parmi/parma, or settle into the sofas with a drink. The journey has already begun. Rooms from $179 a night. See marriott.comFor the “I can’t believe there’s still no airport train” travellerNovotel & Ibis Styles Hotel, Melbourne International AirportWhether it’s a truck breakdown on CityLink, an accident on the Tullamarine Freeway or yet another drama on the Bolte Bridge, getting to Melbourne Airport can be stressful. The simplest solution? Arrive the night before.Novotel & Ibis Styles Hotel at Melbourne Airport cater to different budgets.Opened in 2024 within the airport precinct, the Novotel & Ibis Styles Hotels at Melbourne Airport cater to different budgets but share facilities including a cracking restaurant, great bar, spa, extensive gym and indoor swimming pool. It’s a five-minute walk to terminal 4 and less than 10 minutes to terminal 1. Once you’re ensconced, all that’s left to do is repack your bag, smarten yourself up and stroll to the terminal. No stress necessary. From $140 a night (ibis Styles). See accor.comFor the traveller who believes luxury shouldn’t stop at the airportInterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo AirportWhen you leave the likes of a luxury safari lodge, why should you settle for anything less than sublime? At the InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, it starts with the doormen, who offer a warm, slightly eccentric welcome that sets the tone for a high-end hotel that just happens to be beside an airport.The bar area at InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport.White tablecloths in the restaurant, sommeliers recommending South African wines, elegant boutiques and beautifully appointed rooms all reinforce the feeling that you’re staying at a classic five-star hotel, airport location be damned. And it’s quite the location, too: about a minute’s walk to the terminal building. You’ll leave smelling faintly of Byredo, thanks to the divine bathroom amenities from the Swedish luxury fragrance house. From $713 a night. See ihg.comFor the traveller who knows proximity is the greatest luxuryHelloSky Air Rooms and Lounge, Leonardo da Vinci Airport, RomeIf you were any closer, you’d be sleeping in the terminal. Which is rather the point. No fuss, no views – just a comfortable bed, a good shower and a safe, secure room await guests at HelloSky near Rome’s international airport. Why trade a night in the Eternal City for an airport hotel? Because that 7.30am departure means a brutal alarm clock if you’re staying in central Rome.No fuss, just a simple, comfortable room at HelloSky Air Rooms and Lounge.The amenities area at HelloSky Air Rooms and Lounge at Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome.You can still linger over aperitivo and a bowl of cacio e pepe in the historic centre before making your way to HelloSky. Check in. Lights out by 10pm. Six restorative hours of sleep. A short, hassle-free stroll to check-in. Arrivederci, Roma. From $174 a night. See hellosky.travelFor the traveller who never skips a swimCrowne Plaza Changi Airport, Singapore Changi AirportRepeatedly crowned the World’s Best Airport Hotel by Skytrax, Crowne Plaza Changi is a go-to for many reasons. But if we have to pick one, it must be the 20-metre, resort-style swimming pool. Tropical landscaping creates secluded pockets for lounging between dips, while the control tower and passing aircraft provide one of the world’s most unusual swimming backdrops.Crowne Plaza Changi Airport is frequently crowned World’s Best Airport Hotel by Skytrax.There are even pool-access rooms, although they can be noisier than those elsewhere in the hotel. Beyond the pool, sleek rooms and generous public spaces create a sense of calm that’s hard to reconcile with one of the world’s busiest airports. Connected seamlessly to terminal 3, it makes a layover feel like a bonus. From $360 a night. See ihg.comFor the traveller who believes in style at every stepTWA Hotel, John F. Kennedy International AirportDesigned by leading architect Eero Saarinen and opened in 1962, the former TWA Flight Center had groovy bones to begin with. A sensitive 2019 reimagining celebrates every sweeping curve, splash of red carpet and mid-century detail, transforming it into one of the world’s most distinctive airport hotels. The success of it shows in the people who come here without ever boarding a plane. Aviation ephemera are displayed throughout the property, while Connie, the hotel’s cocktail lounge, occupies a beautifully restored Lockheed L-1649 Starliner, the final model in the legendary Constellation family of airliners.Lounge area at TWA Hotel, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York.The Paris Cafe by Jean-Georges serves breakfast, lunch and