Best Spotter Hotels

BA84 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:11 am

Expanding from the thread on LAX hotels:

A.netters, what are the world's best hotels for spotters?
Best views from the rooms?
Best views from hotel restaurants or bars?

My personal favourite is the Renaissance LHR.

rdwelch · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:14 am

BA84, I'm sure someone has submitted this, but I like the west facing rooms at the LAX Sheraton Four Points. Great View of landings.

Gus

jumbojet · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:28 am

ATL has the renaissance hotel. On a nice summer's day you can hang out on the balcony of your room and get a clear shot of landings and take-offs. Your not that far from the action.

The renaissance hotel is on the Right side of the picture roughly inbetween terminals D and E

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Photo © Peachair

rdwelch · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:31 am

I guess you can be a beach bum and hang out at St. Maarten. That would be my dream...

B742 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:34 am

Quoting BA84 (Thread starter):
My personal favourite is the Renaissance LHR.

So is mine, the hotel is awesome Smile

The Sofitel(previously Le Meridian) is pretty good at LGW Smile

http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fiche...otel/gb/sof/6204/fiche_hotel.shtml

Rob! wave

manchesteruk · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:38 am

what about manchester, not a 5* hotel but still a great viewing spot..

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Photo © Tony Woof

redcordes · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:43 am

BDL has a nice hotel above the terminal 6 +/- stories high with great views but no heavies.

rdwelch · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:47 am

Redcordes, my mother lives in Longmeadow, MA, so I'll give that one a go when I'm in town. Welcome.

Gus

mhodgson · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:50 am

The Radisson SAS at MAN has some opputunities, too...

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Photo © Tobias Rose - Hamburg RettopS

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Photo © Simon Nicholls - London Aviation Photography

Though it isn't cheap.

hodja · Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:02 am

Sofitel Miami has a pretty good view over MIA...

andrewuber · Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:21 am

From my experiences - here are my recommendations:

Atlanta -

The Renaissance Hotel is hands-down the best location for spotting in the U.S. You are literally surrounded by the action, and you are maybe 500' from the runways. All the rooms have balconies, and if you get up high you have a view that is simply spectacular. They even have spotter rates and packages on weekends!

This photo shows you just how close to the action you can get:

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Photo © Mark Beckwith

The Sheraton Gateway is also a good spot, but it's nowhere near as good as the Renaissance. You can get departing or arriving traffic fairly well from the lounge on the 12th floor (although the tinted windows can present a challenge if the weather isn't perfect).

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Photo © Freight-Dawg - Airside Photography

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Photo © Freight-Dawg - Airside Photography

Dallas -

The Harvey Hotel has a pool deck, and is pretty good for spotting, although you're pretty limited on what kind of traffic you'll see. You are at the southeast corner of the field, which makes spotting the heavies a bit difficult, but you have a great perspective of the runways. Approaching traffic is blocked by the gym, you really can't see the approaching aircraft until they are right on top of you - but at that point they're maybe a couple hundred feet over your head. It's a cool view, and well worth it. I captured this image last year from up there -

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Photo © Freight-Dawg - Airside Photography

Enjoy!

Drew

[Edited 2006-01-17 23:22:28]

Bluewave 707 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:56 am

The Best Western Airport Plaza outside HNL has good views of the terminal on the west side of the building. The south side yields views of the north ramp, and the departure end of the 4s, and 8L. The east and the north side views are pretty much nil.

ETStar · Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:01 am

For DCA, Courtyard by Marriott in Crystal City. Or any of the other hotels along the same street.

BMIFlyer · Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:03 am

I recommend the Radisson LAX

Get a south facing room for the best shots Smile

Lee

cedars747 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:12 am

Oslo has the Radisson SAS hotel just 2 minutes walk from Gardermoen airport.

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Photo © Javier Rodriguez - Iberian Spotters

Alex!!!

centrair · Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:35 am

The Centrair Hotel at Chubu is pretty nice I hear.

If you have one of the top floor rooms you can watch planes come and go. You can also turn on your TV and monitor the schedule in real time as well.

MarshalN · Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:37 am

I haven't been to the rooms in there, so I can't tell, but judging from its location, the HKG Regal should have pretty nice spotting both sides, especially the side that faces the terminal.

hz747300 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:47 am

The Sheraton airport at Toronto's airport is awesome. I was sad I was only able to stay one night. Plus it was busy all through the night, but here is one picture I was able to get:

tbear815 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:56 am

The Airport Marriott at SFO is a great place to spot from. Even from the parking lot, the views of A/C on both take-off and landing are incredible. I don't know the range of room numbers at the hotel, but I believe all Bay facing rooms have great views. The same for the SFO Westin, but further off the water and not as tall.

portcolumbus · Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:35 am

Holiday Inn at PIT is pretty decent; maybe not close enough for photos but still affords a good view.

1011 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:53 am

Sheraton in PDX is good. If you leave the blinds open during the night, sometimes the lights from the planes taxing will shoot in.

airbusfanyyz · Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:08 am

Fairmont YVR is awesome!
Shameless plugs;

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Photo © Kazim Alikhan - t.dot photography

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Cheers,
Kaz

petera380 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:18 am

My vote goes to the Marroad Hotel at Narita, Japan.

Peter

kmh1956 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:54 am

Anybody ever stayed at the Logan Hilton? It's the closest to the airport, but where are the best rooms for spotting? Does it have a deck anywhere?

797 · Wed Jan 18, 2006 12:08 pm

How's the Hotel in the middle of one of CDG? If I'm not mistaking is it a Sheraton?
It looks awesome!

planenutz · Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:51 pm

One of my favorites is the Camino Real Mexico City Airport. Its connected to the terminal by an elevated walkway, and north facing rooms on the upper floors have great views of the apron and taxing aircraft.

Billy · Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:08 pm

Some good airport hotels:

Rennaisance at LHR with a great runway view
Hilton CPH, top floors give a good view of the ramp and approach
Marriott atop DTW is great
Sheraton at CDG T2 gives a great view of the AF ramp and the southern runway
Hilton at BOS as someone mentioned, is really good for the freight ramp, amongst others
Intercontinental at JNB has some good views from the gym on the top floor
Hilton at MEX is on the roof of the terminal and some rooms have ramp views

Basically, most airport hotels are good but really depend upon getting on the right floor and right room. Usually check-in is helpful, and often your regular guest does not want the noise of an airport-facing room.

bhxdtw · Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:18 pm

Well they've been mentioned already but I'll same them again for emphasis:

Sofitel LGW
(The higher rooms have a great view and have a big window ledge which you can sit on)

and the

Sheraton Toronto....

And if you want you can all come round to mine in the summer, we can throw some shrimp on the barbie and watch inbound traffic to BHX..mmmm
shrimp and planes.... yummy

N1120A · Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:24 pm

Quoting BMIFlyer (Reply 13):
I recommend the Radisson LAX

Get a south facing room for the best shots

I think you mean a North facing room Lee wink

Quoting AirbusfanYYZ (Reply 21):

That pic of the AA Skidbuggy is great

As far as LAX goes, both the Radisson and the Sheraton Gateway LAX have great views. The Sheraton Gateway holds a special place in my heart because of it was the site of my first Coffee, Tea or Me (I chose her...and Ginger Ale) experience.

acelanzarote · Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:32 pm

For Lanzarote, try the Beatriz Playa hotel, sit by the pool and watch the
planes on approach over the sea, also some rooms have views of the runways and the chance for great landing shots as the planes pass by on approach.

Others
The Holiday Inn Express at Luton by the 'pond'?
Agree about the Rennaisance at Atlanta, great!
The Sheraton at CDG, not yet tried but looks great

There was a website set up with some of these listed but
I don't have the link unfortuntaly! Anyone help with this?

cheers
Acelanzarote

3201 · Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:49 am

Don't forget the Radisson MEM, which is right next to taxiway N right at the threshold of 18R -- not only do you have great views of landing traffic there, any FedEx arrival on 18R or 36L taxies right by on its way to their ramp. The last time I was there, a spotter from the UK had scheduled an afternoon meeting with FedEx as a tag-on to a business trip elsewhere in the US, and was out there all night filling his notebook with reg numbers. "You don't even need binoculars," he exclaimed with glee.

That was a long time ago, though... post-9/11, not sure whether they let you hang out on the grass between the hotel and the taxiway anymore.

Quoting Acelanzarote (Reply 29):

The Holiday Inn Express at Luton by the 'pond'?

Ah, Luton, paradise on Earth. My wife used to love telling English people we met, "oh yes, I've been to England, spent a few days in Luton and a couple in Crawley." The reactions were priceless.

rpaillard · Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:07 am

Any idea regarding the in-terminal Sheraton in AMS? I plan to stay there. I also saw that the Crowne Plaza offers room with special view. Here is a quote of the comment "WITH PLANE SPOTTING VIEW". I think it's a very interesting comment. It's not that common on "amenities" for an hotel!

BMIFlyer · Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:25 am

Quoting N1120A (Reply 28):
I think you mean a North facing room Lee

Ahem, South, for the UA terminal flights Wink

Lee

Door5Right · Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:50 am

The transit hotel airside in Terminal One at singapore Changi Aiport has rooms overlooking some gates - and is close to the outdoor Cactus garden.

CXtra · Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:49 pm

Quoting BA84 (Thread starter):
My personal favourite is the Renaissance LHR.

hmm, in terms of views of runway, it's pretty good although when i stayed there in oct 04 the windows looked like they hadn't seen the right side of a cleaning brush in years, hehe. decent photos? - no chance.

KSYR · Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:39 pm

Hyatt Regency Crystal City at DCA has to rank up there. If you are towards the top of the building (above the 10th floor) and facing the airport you have a view of DCA pretty much in its entirety. Not to mention the hotel itself is pretty nice, too.

alphafloor · Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:27 am

I guess the the Mandala Bay in Las Vegas is a good hotel for spotting... It's one of my dreams to go in this hotel, somebody has already been there ?

Alpha

sk601 · Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:27 am

Last September I stayed at the Luxor Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. I asked for a pyramide room with airport view. And it was available smile

. The room was in the top of the pyramide on the 27th floor (out of 30 or 31). We had a great view of LAS, both terminal and runways.

Besides that the Luxor is a great place to stay and gamble!

GSM763 · Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:50 am

Don't forget the Hyyatt in MCO it has great views of the runways.

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