ZWWW/URC - Urumqi - Tianyuan Hotel - December 2024

A bit off the beaten track, but I visited Urumqi during December.  For one of the nights I stated at the Tianyuan Hotel which is walkable from the current main terminals.  It hard to book on line, but like lots of China hotels the best place to book is on trip.com.  I stayed in room A609 - which is in block A and is on the top (6th floor).  The view was more than adequate.  The 5th floor would have been okay too.  About a third of the Runway is visible and all movements can either be caught in that gap or as they descend below or climb out over the terminals.  Electronics needed to identify stuff, but apart from a brief period of freezing fog nothing was missed in around 18 hours there.  Next year a new gigantic new China style terminal and two extra runways are due to open to the north of the existing complex.  I think if it's clear views will still be okay, but it will definitely become a little harder.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FhpATwgZxba6Ls5w8

 

GCLP/LPA - Las Palmas - Elba Vecindario Aeropuerto Business & Convention Hotel - December 2024

About 6 miles out on the approach everything can be seen arriving/departing depending which way the winds blowing from your room balcony or the rooftop pool.

Lovely hotel that is like going back intime to 1985.  Food is great in the hotel but if you fancy something else there is a shopping centre over the road with plenty of options.

Taxi from the airport was 20 euro and took the free shuttle bus back.  A great hotel with that 80s feel.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oY5kGwptkfpcBLm2A

VTSP/HKT - Phuket - Sixteenth Nallyang Beach Hotel - December 2024

I used the Sixteenth Nallyang Beach Hotel.  This is on a bed and breakfast basis as they don’t have a restaurant.  The breakfast is a small buffet.  A few rooms higher up have a view of the approach.  On inspection, rooms 606-611 and 707-711 have an approach/airport view of sorts. This includes one suit on the 6^th floor and a suit on the 7^th floor.  The hotel does have a roof top pool and sitting area (open 8am till 9pm) that has a partial view of the apron and depending which end of the runway they are using you can see the approach or departures.  I would say it is not likely that anything would be missed from the roof top.  Electronic means are necessary to get the registrations.  Approaches from the 09 end can also be seen from the stairwell windows on the 4^th floor upwards.  I didn’t have a room with a view, but this didn’t cause me any problems.

 Some kind of photo are possible with a long lens from the roof top, but my personal opinion is not to bother and go to the Beach or especially the 8/5 Runway Café for photos. There are also a number of 7 Eleven shops nearby for daily supplies.  A small one only 3 shops to the left of the hotel.  A couple of bigger ones are along the main drag about a 10 minute, walk away.  Within a short walking distance of the hotel are plenty of eating places (turn right out of the hotel).  Obviously mainly Thai food, but a few ‘Western’ style dishes can usually be found in many of them.  On one occasion we used a small Italian place on the main drag about a 15 minute walk.  Mainly pizza and pasta dishes, but from memory at least three ‘western’ dishes on the menu.  There is also a restaurant right next to the hotel.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GMuKaMf7m2Eg8NQP6 

Credit John Hulme