Airport Hotels

Some may ask why are there hotels at airports when most people travel to the centre of cities or towns where they’ll be staying while holidaying or doing business?

The short answer is convenience. Mostly for those that require a place to stay immediately before or after their flight. They are perfect for people who do not live close to a major airport and have difficulty getting there within a required time before a flight or perhaps a late flight when public transport may not be available. A good example are country people that come from outside cities and are required to travel a fair distance. Also business people who want an easy transition between doing business and flying in or out.

There are two kinds of hotels at airports, those accessible without leaving the airport: Airside hotels or Transit hotels (since they are found within the airport terminal and don’t require passport/immigration checks); and those still on the airport grounds but outside the secure area of the terminal proper, the Landside hotels. For travellers coming from Arrivals these hotels are accessible after passport control and immigration. For the general public there are no security checks.

Airside/Transit Hotels

An Airside hotel I use regularly is the Ambassador Transit Hotel in Terminal 3 at Changi Airport, Singapore. I have stayed there many times (see reviews) mostly after arriving from Europe on an early morning long haul flight of 11-13 hours. I usually stay all day, (about 14-16 hours) as my flight back home is late at night. This allows me to adjust to the time zones and alleviates any jet lag when flying eastwards. I have also stayed overnight for a flight the next morning. Transit hotels like the Ambassador at Changi (there are two one also in Terminal 2) are perfect for breaking up flights and recuperating. The Ambassador also offer meals; one every 6 hours. Depending on arrival and departure times some meals can be taken at the Ambassador Transit Lounge or ordered over the phone and consumed in the room. In Terminal 3 the lounge is next door only separated by the small Movie Theatre.

Landside Hotel

I haven’t had the opportunity as yet staying in one of these on airport property. All major airports have them from different chains. Here where I live in Adelaide we have the Atura Adelaide Airport (EVT Stays) about 50 meters from the main terminal and connected by an overhead walkway to Departures. We also have a motel, the Adelaide Airport Motel, which is roughly 400 metres away just outside the airport boundary. The flights I usually take aren’t early enough to warrant a stay at either. Our airport here has a curfew that comes into effect at 23:00 and ends at 06:00. These two accommodation providers are ideal for travellers coming from out of town. In fact I met a woman living in Murray Bridge, about 80kms away from Adelaide Airport, who had stayed at the Atura and was catching the same morning flight as me to Singapore. It was necessary for her to stay somewhere close overnight as there wouldn’t have been any other way for her to catch her flight. All she had to do is walk to the terminal metres away.

These airport hotels, Airside/Transit or Landside, are usually more expensive than those found in the city. Their location at walking distance to and from Departures and Arrivals justifies the price difference. They take away the stress of getting to and from the airport. Less time travelled on roads and public transport that can be congested.