Why I almost always stay at an airport hotel for one night

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Picture this: You’re landing in a new city after dark. After a long international flight, you might be tired, disoriented, and — if you’re anything like me — you’re internally debating between convenience and cost.

Do you shell out for a late-night ride into the city just to collapse into bed? Or should you stay put, grab a room near the airport, and reset the next morning?

After years of constant travel, I’ve landed firmly on the latter. Staying at an airport hotel, either on arrival or before an early departure, has become one of the most practical, budget-friendly strategies in my routine. Here’s how it works for me — and how you can replicate it.

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It may sound obvious, but it’s worth emphasizing that airport hotels are, in most major cities, dramatically less expensive than staying in the destination’s city center. It’s even more of a cost differential in high-cost locations like New York, Tokyo, or London.

Therefore, I’ll always at least explore the option of staying at an airport hotel for a single night if I arrive late in the evening or I have a departing flight early in the morning.

For instance, I recently had a crack-of-dawn departure out of London-Heathrow (LHR) back to the U.S. Instead of forking over $300 on an additional night in the city (or using points), I booked a one-night stay close to the terminal for just over $150.

Then, there’s the transportation aspect. It’s one of the most underrated reasons to embrace airport hotels, which has nothing to do with the room rate at all. Whether you’re arriving in a city at midnight or departing at 5 a.m., getting to and from the airport during “off-hours” can often be surprisingly expensive.

Public transit (if it exists) may shut down or run infrequently late at night. For instance, many trains don’t operate 24/7. And in cities with solid metro systems, the last trains can leave before you’ve even cleared customs. Even if they do run at all hours of the day and night, there’s the added element of safety. Would you feel comfortable taking transit at that hour? That all means additional expenses on an Uber or taxi.

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Airport hotels are also the ideal place to maximize certain hotel credits with travel rewards credit cards.

For instance, the $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel on the Chase Sapphire Preferred won’t get you very far in most cities (and will barely make a dent in cost savings). However, $50 off a one-night $150 airport stay is much more satisfying. That’s exactly what I did for my recent London-Heathrow reservation.

Similarly, if a credit card offers a free night certificate benefit, it’s often capped at a certain category level or cost. An airport hotel can be a great use of this perk.

Staying at an airport hotel isn’t necessarily glamorous, but it’s one of those under-the-radar travel moves that can save money, reduce stress, and set the tone for a smoother, more enjoyable trip. And that’s all before you’ve even set foot in the city.

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