Announced pre-pandemic and opened just last month, Aerotel Transit Hotel, the first hotel inside Sydney Airport’s International Terminal, is set to bring something to the city’s main transport hub that it’s been missing for years. While several hotels ring around the airport so studious travellers can peel off the stress of an early flight or a late arrival, Sydney, unlike many other cities around the world, lacked some in-terminal accommodation for ultimate convenience, whether it was for passengers who were on a long-ish layover or anyone who with an incredibly early flight. That’s changed with the opening of Aerotel, which sits inside Sydney’s T1 International Terminal and features an attached Plaza Premium arrivals lounge.
Positioned just 100 metres from international check-in and a mere 60 seconds walk from the arrivals gate, Aerotel Sydney Airport Hotel is part of a brand of Aerotel airport facilities that have already added an extra layer of convenience for travellers in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Rio de Janeiro, London, Bejing and Muscat. It basically functions as a lounge with an attached hotel, appealing primarily to travellers who arrive early in the morning and need some sleep before checking into a city hotel later that afternoon, and travellers who have made the wise choice to stay overnight in the airport rather than make the dash in the early hours of the morning.
Operated by Plaza Premium Group, Australia’s first Aerotel looks reasonably comfortable for such an inexpensive transit hotel and is basically the Plaza Premium Lounge with well-designed boutique accommodation attached to it. There are just 15 single and double rooms that make up the hotel’s offering, and all of these are available for layover-friendly bookings falling anywhere between three hours or overnight.
If you want a single room for three hours, you’re only looking at an easy $71. It’s $99 for six hours and $178 if you want to stay overnight. Double rooms are similarly well-priced – $88 for three hours, $115 for six hours and $214 for overnight.
Right now, Aerotel Sydney Airport is running an opening special through to September 30, axing all the above prices by 25%.
As for the rooms. They look reasonably comfortable, are designed to work with a small footprint and work in a lot of travel-friendly features such as enough volume beneath the bed to stow luggage. There’s also an ensuite bathroom and shower and AC/USB outlets right by the bed. Guests have access to free-view TV, complimentary high-speed WiFi, bottled water, an iron and ironing board on request and even a wake-up call service.
It’s bare basics as most onsite airport hotels are (one exception being the excellent Fairmont at Vancouver Airport, but Aerotel is a compelling option for those who don’t even want to walk outside of the airport to get some shut-eye.
The separate Plaza Premium arrivals lounge is adjacent to the hotel and can be accessed by hotel guests for $25. Anyone not staying at the hotel can also enter for $45, or anyone with an American Express Platinum or Centurion Card can enter for free. The sizable space features cafe-style hot and cold meals, business facilities and a few showers so non-hotel guests can brush up before or after long-haul.
Aerotel Sydney Airport is a book-by-hour accommodation concept but it seems the minimum stay is three hours. Rates start from $71 for three hours. Online bookings must be made at least one hour prior to arrival.
