Aerotel Abu Dhabi T1

For our 12-hour layover, booking this place was a real lifesaver. The room was clean and soundproof, and the toiletries provided were good and sufficient. There was also a tea and coffee station, with a food court nearby. The staff were great. It would be nice to have access to the smoking area and bar in the lounge, though I realize that’s asking a lot.

This airport hotel is set up more like a dorm room, so the rooms intentionally don’t include bathrooms or washbasins. Instead, there are separate private single washrooms that are cleaned and restocked after each use. I also discovered that the airport lounge in the hotel includes a timed three-hour cafeteria and bar with free food and drinks. There’s a smoking lounge and Wi-Fi too, making it a great option for a long layover.

The rooms are clean and surprisingly spacious, and they can be booked for six hours. Our double room was large enough for a family of three or four, even though there were only two of us, so next time we’ll probably choose a single room. It made our nine-hour layover much easier because we could sleep and freshen up before the connecting flight. Make sure to book ahead online or by phone.

For an 11-hour airport layover, this is close to an ideal transit hotel. Booking ahead made check-in easy, and you really do need to reserve because the number of rooms is limited. I saw guests being turned away for that reason. The room was spacious and clean, with fast WIFI, towels, toiletries, complimentary mineral water, tea and coffee facilities, comfortable beds, and a powerful shower. The walls are thin, though, so we heard a child crying in the next room all night, along with planes taking off and landing because our room faced the airport parking area. At $170+, it’s expensive, but being able to rest, shower, stretch out, and nap felt priceless. I’d still recommend it.