The world’s best airport hotels

NIGEL THOMPSON checks out the stopover hotels where travellers can people-watch before jetting to the four corners of the planet

CONVENIENT but characterless crash pad before, after or between flights – or a luxury haven where you’d actually like to extend your trip to stay in? And of course there’s no better place for a spot of people-watching – all human life is in an airport hotel.we’ve teamed up with flightsearch and holiday comparison specialists netflights.com to choose our worldwide favourites for when we are jetting off again...

TWA HOTEL JFK, New York City, USA

A homage to the golden age of air travel, this opened last May and has what the owners claim is simply the best place “for planespotting and enjoying a cocktail in the world” – the 64ft infinity edge rooftop ‘poolcuzzi’ that overlooks the runway, alongside a bar and observation deck. Housed within the space-age and iconictwa terminal building, it’s a celebration of everything from the era, from retro phones and furnishings to vintage amenities in the bathrooms and mid-century uniforms for the staff.

Guests can also dine in one of six restaurants or knock back a cocktail in eight different bars – one of which can be found within a converted 1958 Lockheed Constellation, an iconic aircraft from an era of aviation defined by legendary TWA founder and flight pioneer Howard Hughes.

You won’t want to leave.

● From £165 a night at twahotel.com