The raison d’etre of an airport hotel is to offer convenience for passengers with early departures or late arrivals coupled with a high a level of comfort.
Luckily, many regional airports across the country are well catered for when it comes to accommodation options, from functional business hotels to more appealing options. However, many of them are tired and overused.
Travel Weekly picks the best hotels to recommend to clients using a range of regional UK airports and considering a number of criteria based on distance, charm and accessibility to the airport.
Birmingham
Hotel: Novotel Birmingham International Airport (pictured above)
Why? Good meeting facilities, a new fitness centre and gym. It is also good value for families as children under 16 sleep stay free in their parents’ room and can have a complimentary breakfast. Each bedroom is equipped with in-room entertainment and high-speed internet access.
Rates: From £69 per night.
Book it: 0121 782 7000, novotel.com
The alternative: Etap Hotel Birmingham International Airport. If you are looking to save money, this is a no-frills hotel and is even better value at £35 per night. (0121 780 5858, etaphotel.com)
Manchester
Hotel: Etrop Grange
Why? It is less than a mile from the airport and is a beautiful Grade II-listed, red-brick Georgian mansion. The former 18th-century coaching inn is far removed from the faceless world of chain properties. All the 64 individually decorated rooms are en suite, many with four-poster beds, and some with a whirlpool bath.
Rates: From £99, twin-share, until December 30 2009.
Book it: Call 0844 600 8718, foliohotels.com
The alternative: the Crowne Plaza is swish and full of business facilities, but can lack character. It is good value for the level of comfort and has walk-through access to the terminal. (0870 400 9093, crowneplaza.com)
Glasgow
Hotel: Express by Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport
Why? The 149-room hotel is opposite the airport and rental car park; it is two minutes’ walk to the terminal building. Many passengers have to drive long distances to reach the airport, so overnight stopovers at one of the three airport hotels are popular. The earliest breakfast here is served from 4.00am for those red-eye flights.
Rates: An eight-day park, stay, and go from £83.
Book it: 0141 842 1100, expressglasgowairport.co.uk
The alternative: There is also a Ramada and a Travelodge, both a 10-minute walk or courtesy-bus from the terminal.
Aberdeen
Hotel: Aberdeen Marriott Hotel
Why? Although this is hotel is three miles from the airport, it is a good spot to stay when travelling as you cannot hear any overhead noise. It looks a little tired from the outside, but has been refurbished internally, and is popular with business travellers.
Rates: Queen or a double bedroom from £175.
Book it: 01224 770011, marriott.co.uk
The alternative: The Britannia Hotel has a friendly atmosphere and a comfy environment and is 10 minutes’ drive from the airport. There is also Speedbird Inn and the Aberdeen Airport Thistle Hotel.
Belfast International Airport
Hotel: Park Plaza Belfast
Why? The Fitzwilliam Hotel chain is injecting about £1 million to revamp the 106 bedrooms, and some are already finished. It is a great location to do business, with 10 conference rooms, and the staff are welcoming and friendly.
Rates: From £45 per room per night, based on a single or double bed.
Book it: 028 944 57000, parkplazabelfast.com
The alternative: The Hilton Templepatrick for a chain hotel from £89, hilton.co.uk/templepatrick
Leeds/Bradford International Airport
Hotel: The Premier Inn
Why? This airport can be difficult to get to if you’re setting out early, so you’ll need a local hotel. However, there is limited choice and one of the best is the Premier Inn. The good thing with these properties is that you pay your bill when you arrive, not when you check out, so early-morning starts involve just dropping your key off.
Rates: £52 per room per night.
Book it: 08701 977 153, premierinn.com
The alternative: The 48-bedroom Travelodge Leeds Bradford Airport.
Bristol Airport
Hotel: Cadbury Hotel
Why? There are no on-airport hotels, but this hotel, which is built around an 18th-century house, is five miles from Bristol in a countryside location. This is a boutique-style property with 72 rooms, and a spa.
Rates: Twin or double rooms from £109.
Book it: 01934 834343, cadburyhotelbristol.co.uk
The alternative: Holiday Inn Bristol Airport and Plush Hotel Bristol Airport have less character but are closer to the airport.
New: Courtyard Marriot at Gatwick
A new Courtyard by Marriott Hotel opened at Gatwick airport. Bookings for the hotel, which is the first of the new European-style Courtyard by Marriott Hotels to open in the UK, are commissionable to travel agents.
General manager Janey Sheehan says: “We are targeting British and European business travellers looking for quality, functionality, service and style at a fair price.” Rates start at £69, while the introductory Park & Fly rate is £99.
Regional airports: Agent incentives
Balkan Holidays is offering agents free tickets to see Michael Jackson as an incentive for booking trips in its summer 2009 and winter 2009/10 brochures, which depart from a number of different UK regional airports.
Top-selling agents will win tickets for Jackson’s show at the O2 Arena in London on February 3 next year, as well as overnight accommodation at the Crown Plaza hotel in London Docklands.
To qualify, bookings must be made between June 1 to September 30 and must depart from either East Midlands, Humberside or Manchester airports.
Agents can register their bookings on the Balkan Holidays website.