TWA Hotel at New York's JFK Airport

The helpful, amazing staff and the lobby’s cool 60s look were the bright spots for me. The hotel itself is really neat, but after several work nights I’d give it a D-. My room was tiny, basically just a bed, bathroom, and TV. There wasn’t even an iron, and the bathroom had one super small trash can. Maybe it works for a quick overnight, but the food was pretty awful and cost a lot for small portions. Uber Eats would be cheaper and better.

We live in Brooklyn and spent a night here with our kids, ages 6 and 3. The hot rooftop pool was the highlight, especially with snow falling while everyone stayed cozy in the water. There’s a small restaurant by the pool for food and drinks, and lots of fun little things for kids to explore. Get a room overlooking the runway if you can. Ours was spotless and up to date, and everything we ate and drank was really good. There’s also an actual airplane outside with a neat little bar inside. Tip: call reception and ask them to send up a robe. We’ll definitely come back, highly recommend it.

My flight from JFK got cancelled, and spending the night at TWA hotel unexpectedly became my favorite part of the vacation. It has a rooftop hot pool and so many lounges, bars, a cafe, and historical exhibits to wander through, all with an incredible 1960s feel. It’s underrated and wasn’t crowded at all.

The guest rooms were my favorite part. They look straight out of a Connery Bond movie, with rotary phones, an early 60s Life magazine, vintage furniture, and even a small bar setup. The bed was damn cozy too. Floor-to-ceiling windows give you a wild view of the “terminal” and JFK airport, but thankfully there are very good blackout curtains for privacy. There’s also a 90F rooftop pool over the runways, warm enough to soak in even in mid-January. Restaurant food was decent, though the prices were definitely airport $$$, and the staff there were top notch. It’s a pretty steep bill, but you can rent a room for four hours at a much less scary price, and it’s worth checking out. I wasn’t sure it would live up to the hype, and it wasn’t quite what I’d pictured, but it was still pretty amazing. The whole place has an early 60s vibe, though the music leans more late 60s or early 70s, which doesn’t feel quite as mid-century retro. It reminded me of a 60s Kubrick sci-fi movie, especially the opening of 2001.