Across the globe, there are a select club of airport hotels that go above and beyond to cater to the aviation enthusiast. Some have incredible volumes of action, some have incredible views and some have both. Today, I'll be taking a look at what I believe are the 5 coolest airport hotels in the world. I'll be going through this list in ascending order, ending with what I believe is the best one overall. 

5. Thistle London Heathrow Terminal 5 Hotel

This is one I had never heard about until my recent trip to London, and after seeing what is possible there, I had to put it on the list. They have an outdoor viewing deck that is perfectly positioned to see runway 9L, and if you get out early in the morning, the volume of heavies is unmatched. 

In 3 hours on the deck, about 80% of arriving traffic (at a rate of 1 plane every 2 minutes) were widebodies. Their rates are also pretty decent compared to the other known LHR spotting hotel, the Renaissance. 

4. Orlando Airport Hyatt

This one is on the list because it is one of the few in the world that have balconies, and its heavy amount of domestic and international traffic. Orlando sees just about every airline in the United States, so for a foreigner, it's a great place to visit and see all that the U.S. has to offer. It is also a hotspot for Boeing 757s, with a large volume of the type coming in from Delta and United, the two last major 757 fliers in the states. 

3. TWA Airport Hotel

Located adjacent to Terminal 5 at JFK, the TWA hotel is the place to be if you have a layover in New York, and want to stay close to the action. With a rooftop pool overlooking the field and a bar inside a Lockheed Constellation, this popular hangout is well catered to the aviation lover. The rooms however lack balconies, which can make it harder to watch the action, as well as lower floors being obstructed. Hence the middle ranking on this list. 

2. Sonesta Resort Maho Beach 

Getting the opportunity to stay there in summer of 2021, I cannot say enough about this hotel. The views, the action, and the overall thrill that is St. Maarten makes it a must-visit for any aviation enthusiast. While the daily movements are on the lower end, the views and experience make up for it. With a beachfront view of the famous Maho Beach approach, the Sonesta allows for guests to choose whether they want to walk out to get the direct overhead, or watch from afar as aircraft blast the beach when they go full power on takeoff. 

1. Renaissance Concourse Hotel 

As much as I'd love to put the Sonesta in first, its lack of volume relegates it to second behind what I believe is the ultimate hotel for planespotters. 

The Renaissance Concourse Hotel at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport combines location, aircraft volume, spotter friendliness and overall quality. With 11 stories and all balconies on the airport-facing side, there is nothing that can be said about the long-time favorite hotel for any aviation enthusiast visiting Atlanta. 

My personal recommendation to enhance the experience even more, is to request a corner room on any floor of the hotel. You can get extra viewing distance on whichever side you get, and it means you don't have a large wall on one side of the balcony. As for aircraft variety, you have the entire fleet of Delta Air Lines at your disposal, along with being one of the few airports that see Korean Air 747-8 service. Beyond the Skyteam stronghold, ATL has been growing with other global carriers, making the world's busiest airport the prime location for such a legendary hotel. 

Summary

I want to make it clear that all of these airports on this list are must-visits for avgeeks, but some have better opportunities than others. Personally, I have stayed at numbers 5, 2 and 1 on this list and can verify that every dollar spent is worth it. After all, the goal of staying at these places is to experience things that we will never forget, so hopefully you will all get an opportunity to visit at least one on this list.