How many times have you had six to eight hour connections between planes and wanted to do something other than walk the airport’s corridors? There’s only so much shopping one can do or overpriced airport food a waiting traveler can consume. Many airports’ public spaces are so crowded and noisy that the concept of relaxing is an enigma especially since carry-on bags need watching like a hawk.
For a long layover, day rooms are are wonderful alternatives to simply wandering between Gate A-1 and G152. For intrepid travelers the choices for passing time have long been to leave the airport for a short local tour or meal or settling into one of the airport lounges with magazines, TV, snacks and endless drinks. However, both have their drawbacks.
Leaving the airport is fraught with anxiety and often just not practical. The thought of leaving the airport and missing my flight makes me itchy. Anxiety often overcomes the glory of the Eiffel Tower, the symmetry of Plaza Mayor in Madrid or a walk along the Rhine in Frankfurt.
Legally, I have heard, travelers are not supposed to leave the airport’s premises if they’ve checked bags for an ongoing flight or may need an entry visa during a layover to wander outside the airport corridors. And with airlines requiring passengers to be at the airport two hours before departure, there frequently just isn’t enough time.
Airport lounges are invaluable and some frequent travelers invest in yearly club cards so that if they’re traveling in coach class, they may access the inner sanctum, do some work, eat something or simply relax. But it is rare to find a business class level lounge that is good for catching up on sleep or freshening up.
The day room alternative
Airport day rooms are an alternative that I have just discovered after crossing the Pacific. A few airports have day rooms but finding them isn’t an easy Google search. With flights being cut and more travelers being forced to wait in order to get from here to there, day rooms undoubtedly have a growing future.
Here are a few day rooms or short-stay airport rooms that I have found after speaking with international travelers and browsing the Internet.
Amsterdam Schiphol, London Heathrow and London Gatwick Airports have “YOTEL” based on Japanese Capsule hotel models. Passengers don’t have to exit security to access these rooms. The small cubicles feel more like boat cabins than hotel rooms, but the serve their purpose. Occupants can sleep, read, shower, power up computers and use the free WiFi. No one would want to spend an entire honeymoon in a place like this but Yotels are a boon for tired travelers.
There are day rooms at Narita Airport in Tokyo but they’re rumored to be similar to slightly tacky plastic cubicles and are so small that people with claustrophobia want out as soon as they awaken. Others feel they serve their purpose.
The room was small, but we actually fit on the bed, which is more than we can say for most beds in China, including the one in our apartment. Soap and shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste[1], are all provided. They even do wake-up calls.
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport — Day rooms are available for passengers on the 2nd and 4th floor of Terminal 1 & 2 at reasonable rates for six hours with soft drinks, Tel: 535-3710-24.
The Hong Kong airport has shower rooms for rent as well as rooms where mothers may take their infants to nurse.
Singapore Changi Airport offers 73 transit hotel rooms in Terminal 1 and 73 in Terminal 2. Rentals are in six-hourly blocks ranging between $37 and $42 for single or double occupancy. Showers, gym and sauna facilities are also available at extra cost for non-transit hotel occupants.
The Dubai Airport has 88 rooms in the 5-star Dubai International Hotel, on the arrivals level of Sheikh Rashid Terminal. But don’t they come cheap — expect to pay $41 to $62 an hour!
Travelers wanting to rest and relax between flights will most probably have to exit the customs area and head to hotels adjoining the terminals (such as the Sheridan Hotel at Paris’s CDG Airport or the Hilton or Thistle at London Heathrow) or motels and hotels within the airport complex.
Some will advertise “day rates” while others won’t accord occupancy. Many airports have reasonably priced hotel rooms available, depending on the season and whether or not conventions are taking place in the vicinity.
One suggestion: Access a couple of hotel Internet booking sites if you think you’re going to want a room between flights. Last minute rooms are frequently deep-discounted.
Be certain there’s a shuttle service to and from the property and the airport. If you have to hire a taxi, you may find yourself accumulating hefty bills as there’s a minimum charge for leaving and going to the airport. Plus, if a driver has been waiting in line anticipating a hefty fare, don’t be surprised if he or she is cranky.
If you know of other airports that have day rooms, please add them.
Another question for business and leisure travelers is would you use day rooms? If not, what alternative plans would you make? Very few travelers want to live in an airport. And eight hours in captivity feels as if it’s a life time.
Karen Fawcett is president of BonjourParis; and is currently in transit in Asia.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I probably would use the dayrooms on long layovers for international flights. Of course, I would want to see one first. I would not want to pay to be claustrophobic. I have even encountered the “what do I do” problem on domestic layovers. I have often thought about going out for a tour of the city but was faced with the worry of getting back on time. Plus, I did not know that it was illegal!
Some airports claim that once you’ve checked your suitcases for an ongoing flight, you’re not supposed to exit the transit area. But how would they know. You do have to go through customs and security again and be prepared to allow the time.
But – you aren’t required to check in again since you already have your boarding pass.
Just be certain you have enough time.
Two comments:
1) The Yotels at Heathrow (Terminal 4) and Gatwick (South Terminal) are landside so you would need to to exit the airport via customs and Immigration to gain access. I assume the same would apply in Amsterdam.
The rooms may be small but the beds are wonderful and the shower as powerful as any top hotel.
2) The Thistle Heathrow is located some distance away from the airport and can only be reached by Hoppa Bus. It’s a dreadful soulless hotel and really should be avoided. The Hilton is attached to T4 via a covered walkway.
The only other hotel attached to a terminal is the new Sofitel by T5.
Good-to-know: Hong Kong International Airport’s Plaza Premium Lounge are offering Day Rooms for USD60 for every 3hours of stay. A good way to do it is if you would be staying overnight and would like to cut the cost, pre-pay the service and book from midnight to maybe, 6am. They might also be kind enough to offer the whole 6-hours at around USD100, depending on the occupancy.
You may choose to use the one inside the restricted area or if you fancy nicer rooms and more space, go through immigration and customs and use their Arrival lounge instead.
Also, they do have these Lounge Packages for 2, 5 or 10 hours at around USD50-80 which would include Internet Facilities, Showers, Food & Drinks for the whole stay, even Massage. The lounge would not include a Nap Room though, but all in all it sure is worth it if you get hold of one of their reclining chairs.
I have found this website http://www.between9and5.com to make a day room booking, online, in Amsterdam/Schiphol. It seems to be a new website for day room bookings only. One can find the the major hotel brands in various destinations.
Thanks for all the info provided. I am in Paris for 24 hours after two hauls and then continue to my final destination. Don’t ask. I would love to have a comfortable room at a nearby hotel and not so pricey ..any suggestions? Thank you. :)
Thanks Johannes, I just used that website and got a good deal for a hotel in Dubai, as I have a 12 hour day time stopover, and couldnt find anything through the regular hotel sites.