There are few major cities without a big-brand airport hotel these days. At airports around the world you can get off a plane and head straight to a hotel of four- or five-star standard, with restaurants, exercise facilities and spa treatments on offer.
Sydney is set to get its first true airport hotel next year, with work under way on a 317-room property next to the international terminal. The four-star hotel, which will be operated by Rydges Hotels, will be within walking distance of the terminal and give travellers a room right at the airport, without the need for transport.
While such hotels have done a good job of marketing the benefits of a comfortable bed and a hot shower during a long journey, sometimes it pays to consider other options. First and most obvious is price. Some really know how to charge. I recently paid nearly $200 for just eight hours in an airport hotel in Asia because the timing of my flights did not qualify me for the cheaper day-use rate.
A search for rooms at the Sofitel London Heathrow, which is often touted as the best airport hotel in the world, shows you can expect to pay well in excess of $200 a night during the week, when business travellers are on the move. This is a big expense if you really just want a shower and a way to pass the time.
The other big point to consider… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
