11 Late Summer Spotting Hotels for a Short Break

With the school holidays over and autumn on the horizon, why not book a short break away at one of these recommended airport spotting hotels where you can indulge in some aircraft spotting and photography while the weather is still good, and the flight timetables are still on summer mode?

Antalya, Turkey

View from Lara Hotel Antalya

One of Turkey’s most popular destinations, Antalya is a hit with enthusiasts. The Lara Hotel is set away from the tourist resort hotels, but is still a comfortable and affordable place to stay on the cliffs to the south of the airport. All rooms face the sea, with balconies, and aircraft approaching can be seen on either side, depending on the runway in use. Additionally, the pool area is also a good place to watch aircraft, but you may need to use an SBS to tie up some – especially if departing over the hotel towards the sea.

Guzeloba mh. Lara cd. LARA OTEL No:142 07230 Muratpasa/Antalya | +90 242 349 2930 | www.laraotel.com

Corfu, Greece

A classic among spotters, the Corfu Holiday Palace Hotel is the best place to watch the action at Corfu. It has elevated views over the end of runway 35, where aircraft approach or depart over the sea. Asking for a room with a view facing the lagoon should allow you to sit and watch the aircraft come and go from the comfort of your window all day.

Corfu, 491 00 | +30 2661 036540 | corfuholidaypalace.gr

Dubai International, UAE

It’s easy and quite cheap to get to Dubai from airports around Europe thanks to the wide networks of Emirates and flydubai. Once there, a great spotting hotel option is the Nojoum Hotel Apartments. The hotel has rooms facing the approach to the airport at a more side-on angle than other hotels. Ask for a room on at least the fifth floor for the best views. Rooms have balconies, which are useful for private spotting without worrying about equipment being visible. The hotel also has a rooftop pool area which can be used for spotting.

Abubaker Al Siddique Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | +971 4 265 8888 | www.nojoumsuites.com

Lanzarote, Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are pleasantly warm throughout the year. On Lanzarote, near Arrecife Airport, is the Hotel Beatriz Playa, a perfectly positioned hotel alongside the end of runway 03. Rooms facing Arrecife face the end of the runway, where aircraft on the ground and on approach can be seen and photographed. Rooms 3028-3050 are reportedly the best. It’s a short walk to the end of the runway from the hotel.

Puerto del Carmen, Las Palmas | +34 928 51 21 66 | www.beatrizhoteles.com

Las Vegas, Nevada

Spirit Airlines aircraft photographed at Las Vegas McCarran. Photo (c) Erik Ritterbach

If you’re in Vegas as an enthusiast, you don’t want the temptation of the hotels and resorts on the famous Strip. Therefore the La Quinta Inn and Suites Las Vegas South is a good option as it is smaller and more basic, but it’s close to the official spotting area and higher rooms facing the airport will pass close by. Aircraft using the north-south runways are visible in the distance and can be tracked online.

6560 Surrey Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119 | +1 702 492 8900 | www.lq.com

Nice, France

A visit to the Cote d’Azur is nice any time of year. The airport at Nice is very close to the city and beach, and the Hotel Premiere Classe has high floor rooms facing the airport which also look down over the biz jet parking apron and the runways 22L/R thresholds. You can see most movements easily. Palm trees on the road and wire mesh fence can get in the way of photographs.

385 Prom. des Anglais, 06200 Nice | +33 892 70 72 29 | www.premiereclasse.com

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Mallorca is lovely in the autumn, and the steady stream of holiday and low-cost jets doesn’t end. The Hotel Alua Soul Palma is probably the most popular hotel at Palma with spotters, located in Ca’n Pastilla (formerly the Marina Luz). Its rooms have views of aircraft on one of the runways, and it is a short distance from the airport. Ask for a top-floor room facing the Bay of Palma for the best views. This is an adult-only hotel.

Calle Maestro Ekitai Ahn 40, 07610 Cala Estancia, Mallorca | +34 971 98 45 33 | www.aluapalma.com

Sao Paulo Guarulhos, Brazil

Hotel Matiz Guarulhos

Enjoy views of the steady stream of airliner traffic at Sao Paulo’s main international airport from the Hampton by Hilton Matiz Guarulhos. This hotel has a terrace which is perfect for landing shots. However, sometimes this is closed, or requires to you pay for day access if you’re not a guest. This hotel is the best option as it has great views of arrivals. Aircraft can be read off from rooms facing the airport.

Pedro de Tolêdo, 1000 – Jardim Santa Lidia, Guarulhos | +55 11 3411 7000 |  https://matiz.hotelemguarulhos.com/en/

Sydney, Australia

As Europe and North America heads towards winter, Australia starts to heat up. Sydney is a great airport for spotters, with some good locations. A good spotting hotel is the new Citadines Connect Hotel behind the Domestic Terminal and maintenance area, and close to the biz jet parking areas. Smart and stylish, with a travel theme throughout. 70 of the 150 rooms face the airport, and have different prices based on class. Views are good of movements and nearer areas, but International Terminal out of sight.

121 Baxter Road, Mascot, 2020 NSW, Australia | +61 2 8303 8888 | www.felixhotel.com.au

Tokyo Haneda, Japan

Probably the best of the big airports in Japan for spotters, Tokyo Haneda also has the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyo spotting hotel. It is linked to Terminal 2 and offers some of the best views at the airport if you get the right room. Ask for a higher floor room facing the airport. It is quite expensive to stay at this hotel, but the location is superb. The observation decks at the terminals are only a short walk away.

3-4-2 Hanedakuko Ota, 144-0041 Tokyo | +81 3 5756 6000 | www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com/en/