Last week, Jane opined about stress-free trips to the airport. One suggestion she had, for those taking early morning flights, was to spend the night before in an airport hotel. Whether you are checking in pre-trip, needing a room while in transit during a long international journey, or simply wanting a place to rest immediately after a lengthy flight, here are a few things to keep in mind when seeking out an airport hotel.
- The hotel should be close to the airport. Otherwise, it's not an airport hotel. If said inn is not immediately attached to the plane pad, it should be within a five-minute shuttle ride. And yes, an airport hotel should have a free shuttle that runs frequently around the clock.
- In cases where jet lag needs to be overcome, check to see if the hotel has blackout window shades. As Jane discovered on a recent trip to Italy, where they are popular even in homes, blackout shades will keep you in the dark well into the afternoon, allowing for a graceful 10-12-24-hours of slumber. Curtains, on the other hand, never can be pulled tight enough, in Jane's HO, to completely block out the light.
- Jane hates it when she forgets her toothbrush and toothpaste and the hotel clerk generously directs her to the lobby store, where sanitizing mouth ware costs six dollars for a sample size. A good airport hotel (heck, any hotel worth its salt) should pepper guests with free amenities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and razors upon request. Wyndham, for example, comes to the rescue of forgetful guests with its longstanding We Remember What You Forgot program. Wyndham supplies travelers with goodies like contact lens solution, hair spray, hair gel, and more than a dozen other items.
- An airport hotel should always have a 24-hour room service menu, preferably with all types of meals available. After all, if your body clock is craving breakfast, a salad or a steak, even at 7 PM, just won't do.
On Jane's wish list for airport hotels are the following:
- Flight information available either on the in-room video system or lobby kiosks.
- For those who merely want a quick nap and a hot shower, rooms charged by the hour or by the quarter of a day.
- Flexible check-in and check-out times. If Jane is going to pay a full day's rate, let her check in at 1 PM and check out 24 hours later.
