These World-Class Airport Hotels Make Flight Cancellations And Long Layovers Fun

When your overnight flight is cancelled or you anticipate an exhausting layover, great airport hotels turn misery into travel gold.

The very best airport hotels promise convenience, speedy WiFi, comfort and style. If you’re taking a break in your travels, why not make it a pleasure?

Read on to learn about our picks for this year’s top airport hotels. The best stays of 2026 are defined by their seamless proximity, wellness-focused amenities, and efficient service.

A is for AMS in Amsterdam

CitizenM Schipol Airport
Jan Plezierweg
Amsterdam, Netherlands 1118 BB
+31 20 7940800

We’re fans of the CitizenM brand which originated in Amsterdam, so it’s naturally our pick for a great airport hotel at one of the world’s great airports. It also has direct, round the clock train connections to Centraal in Amsterdam’s vibrant city center.

• Proximity: A mere 4-minute walk from the terminals and Schiphol train station.
• The Vibe: This Dutch-born brand delivers a stylish, “open-minded” atmosphere. Expect iPad-wielding ambassadors to greet you in colorful, social lounges.
• Standout Features: Rooms are masterclasses in efficiency, featuring circadian-resetting blackout shades and lighting controlled via iPad. Under-bed storage holds rollaboards.
• Dining: CanteenM serves up 24/7 meals, including high-quality vegan options for weary travelers and a hip bar scene for the on-the-go.
• Pro Tip: For larger families, the nearby YotelAIR Amsterdam Schipol offers four-person cabins airside in Terminal 2.

D is for DEN in Denver

Westin Denver International Airport
8300 Peña Boulevard
Denver, Colorado, USA, 80249
303/317-1800

Keep your coat handy to reach DIA’s great airport hotel, because this true luxury option is just outside the terminal. Short-stay visitors and their pets love the contemporary décor, helpful staff, fine linens and luxe amenities.

• The Design: Housed in a striking curved butterfly silhouette just steps from the Jeppesen Terminal.
• Luxury & Wellness: This is a premium destination featuring soundproofed rooms with unrivaled runway views. Amenities include a gym with Peloton bikes and a heated saltwater pool.
• Dining: Grill & Vine offers farm-to-table Colorado beef, while a rooftop bar provides an enclosed sanctuary.
• Accessibility: Use a ResortPass for a day-use stay if you only need a few hours of relaxation before heading to the mountain resorts.

J is for JFK in New York

TWA Hotel
JFK International Airport
New York, NY 11430-1962
212/806-9000

The restored TWA Terminal designed by Eero Saarinen debuted as one of the country’s top-rated layover hotels in 2019, after two room block towers were added. Cultivating charm and nostalgia, it brings the friendly skies right into your hotel and your hotel bed out onto the runway. Video here.

• The Experience: A masterpiece of Jet Age nostalgia, the TWA Hotel is a restored 1962 landmark that is now a destination in its own right.
• Aviation Heritage: Explore a museum of vintage uniforms, TWA posters and 60s brands, or sip cocktails in Connie, a Lockheed Constellation airplane turned into a cocktail lounge.
• Top Perk: The heated rooftop infinity pool overlooks JetBlue’s Terminal 5, offering some of the world’s best plane-spotting.
• Dining: High-concept menus at the Paris Café are designed by celebrated chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

S is for SIN in Singapore

Yotel AIR Singapore Changi Airport
78 Airport Boulevard #04-280
JEWEL, Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore 819666
+65 6407 7888

If you’re an airport nerd or just want to see the future of aviation, allot a vacation day to exploring Singapore’s impressive Changi Airport. Aviation buffs and families will find everything they need at this YotelAIR, set within a lushly planted space with waterfalls and attractions

• Location: Perfectly situated in Terminal 1, directly adjoining the world-famous Jewel Changi Airport jungle complex.
• Smart Design: Known for “cabins” that maximize space, featuring smart-tilted queen beds and en suite bathrooms.
• Unique Value: Ideal for layovers, with day-use rooms available in four-hour blocks between 6am and 10pm.
• Bonus: Guests often get discounted entry to Jewel’s attractions like the Jewel-rassic Quest scavenger hunt.

Z is for ZHR in Zurich

Transit Hotel and Dayrooms
Flughafen-Zuerich
Gate D, Airside Center
+41 43 816 21 08

ZHR’s efficient Airside Center surrounds the Transit Hotel with dining options for all budgets and tastes. Explore the Family Center with nap room, nursing facilities and play spaces. Reset your internal clock with a workout at Airport Fitness & Wellness World, followed by a steam bath, sauna, and massage.

• Flexibility: Located airside at Gate D, this hotel offers everything from a one-hour refresh to overnight stays.
• Budget Option: If you don’t need a full room, you can book a lounge chair and pay for access to shared showers stocked with premium toiletries.
• Reception: Helpful staff provide wakeup calls, point you to nearby services airside, and keep fresh coffee brewing 24/7.  
• Restorative: Private rooms (some windowless) are clean, modern, and quiet—perfect for a nap and shower to “reset” before a long-haul flight.

Where will you sleep tonight?

Now you know about five great airport hotels that don’t even require a shuttle from Baggage Claim.

If you can plan ahead, book ahead; and save at all of them.

If you’re stuck with a last-minute flight cancellation, and your airline isn’t providing a partner hotel, research the closest options. Use our guide to search for hotel amenities that matter most to you.

When flight cancellations or unexpected layovers strike, you can turn your travel nightmare into an adventurous retreat.