This Smart Travel Hack Could Make Your Super Early Flights More Bearable

Few things are less appealing than a 5 a.m. flight, especially when you are staying in Rome (or somewhere else in Italy), and your destination is, let's say, Santorini, or some other dreamy destination in Greece.

Rather than setting an alarm for some ungodly hour, dragging yourself out of a cozy hotel and worrying about traffic getting to the airport, why not try something different like staying overnight at Rome Fiumicino Airport?

Yes, it’s possible. In fact, for many, it's one of the most convenient travel decisions to make. And Fiumicino is not the only airport where you can do this. Examples include Singapore Changi, which features the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport by IHG connected to Terminal 3, plus airside transit hotels, while New York JFK has the famous retro-styled TWA Hotel attached to Terminal 5.

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport. Photo: Dr David Sing / Shutterstock.com

San Francisco Airport is home to Grand Hyatt at SFO, which connects directly to the airport's AirTrain, while Munich Airport features the Hilton Munich Airport situated right between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Is the Experience Worth It?

Absolutely. Let’s say your flight from Fiumicino is very early in the morning or simply at an inconvenient time for you. Instead of stressing about not being able to make it in time for your flight, you can make your way to Air Rooms Rome Airport by HelloSky, where you can book a room for the night.

Rome Fiumicino Airport. Photo: MikeDotta / Shutterstock.com

The hotel is located between Terminals 1 and 3, and you should have no trouble finding it by following the airport signs.

Now you can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you won't have to wait endlessly for an available taxi or wake up in the middle of the night wondering whether Rome traffic will ruin your day. 

Yes, You Can Sleep at the Airport

After checking into your room and dropping off your things, you can go explore without your bags, walk around Fiumicino and look for somewhere to have dinner or simply see what the airport looks like at night.

It’s a surprisingly unusual experience that, for some, might feel like The Terminal movie. There is something strange about wandering around an airport after most travelers have gone home, knowing that instead of heading to a hotel, you're actually going to sleep right there.

But unlike Tom Hanks' character in the movie, you are going to have a proper room waiting for you, and that makes a pretty big difference.

And now for the part that most people are probably curious about: would sleeping at the airport feel miserable? Will you spend the entire night listening to announcements and airport noise?

The short answer is no. Having a private room will make all the difference, letting you actually shut the door, get comfortable and go to bed.

Is There Something Interesting to Do?

After finding something to eat, you can take your dinner back to the room, watch some TV, do some work, or simply unwind for a while in your room.

While Rome Airport’s hotel might be on the simple side, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport has its own swimming pool, gardens and a resort-like atmosphere that you might not expect from an airport hotel.

Similarly, the TWA Hotel at JFK has a rooftop pool overlooking the airport runways and the Lockheed Constellation “Connie” aircraft that was converted into a cocktail lounge.

Grand Hyatt at SFO has rooms that overlook the runways, so you can essentially turn aircraft watching into part of your hotel stay.

Hilton Munich Airport. Photo: Ivelin Denev / Shutterstock.com

Hilton Munich Airport has a huge glass-roofed atrium, a pool and wellness area, so travelers can turn an overnight connection into something closer to a mini-break.

The Best Part Is the Morning

The real advantage becomes obvious the next morning, when you wake up, get ready, and head straight for your flight.

That's it. No early-morning taxi ride from Rome, no checking traffic, no calculating how much time I needed to leave the hotel, since you are already at the airport.

For a flight leaving at 5 a.m., that simplicity is hard to beat. So if you're staying in the city and your flight leaves at a reasonable hour, I'd still recommend staying somewhere in town. But when your departure is ridiculously early, staying at the airport can make much more sense.