KFLL/FLL - Fort Lauderdale - Le Méridien - March 2025

Located about 10mins by courtesy shuttle from FLL airport, I booked a standard double room here.  After negotiating at check-in I was assigned room 1107 which was perfect.  The hotel is located directly overlooking the threshold of 10R, but also gives a good panoramic view over the whole airfield.  All rooms ending with an odd number will give the correct view, the higher the floor the better.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cSsR78FieZ2sjttX6

Above: a view from the room.

Above: room map of 11th floor.

KMIA/MIA - Miami - Wyndham Garden - March 2025

A short free shuttle bus or Uber ride away from Miami airport on NW36 street the Wyndham Garden is a great location for spotting, and well complimented by the Pilot House bar and restaurant on the 6th floor with an exceptional views and good food (both indoors and an outside terrace).

Hotel: Rooms ending *02 through to *09 have views looking toward the west, and are best.  Rooms ending *10 through *20 look east and are not as good.  If you are looking west you'll see movements on the two parallel runways closest to the hotel (northern runways)  You'll also see arrivals or departures on the southern runway and cross runway if they are arriving or departing to or from the west.  Due to angles you won't see arrivals or departures on those runways to or from the east, however at the end of the corridor there is big window that allows you to see these.  The 9th floor (top) does not have this end of corridor window, therefore room 802 is better than 902.  This visit I had room 902 and just nipped downstairs for the occasional movement I would not see.

Pilot House: This is the restaurant/bar on the 6th floor.  It has an indoor area and an outside terrace.  You'll see all movements from up here.  The food is very good too.  Please note the Pilot House is also open to non guests and is a great place to relax for a few hours.  https://www.thepilothouse.us/ 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dXyo5Ji7q3exVab18

Above: views from the Pilot House restaurant on the 6th floor.

Above: view from room 802.

Above: view from the end of the corridor on the 8th floor.

Above: Inside the Pilot House.

Above: Outside the hotel.

NZAA/AKL - Auckland - Pullman Hotel - March 2025

Pullman Hotel AKL is located next to the bus stops outside the international terminal.

I had room 815, rooms x14 to x24 look towards the runway.  There's a little bit of remote parking visible but mainly requires aircraft to move to be visible.  There is a 9th floor above but I think that is executive/premium rooms. 

There are no views from within either the international or domestic terminals.  A walk to the far end of the domestic terminal will show some freighters, ANZ and Air Chathams turboprops. The biz and GA ramp is further away but walkable, or if you have a car there's also a viewing area that also requires most aircraft to move to see them.

There is a Novotel next door that is perpendicular to the runway but would allow movements to be seen, and will usually be cheaper than the Pullman.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/CUqTB96m5bQr3eU7A

ZBTJ/TSN - Tianjn - Tianjin Binhai International Airport hotel - May 2025

The hotel to use at Tianjn is the Tianjin Binhai International Airport hotel at No 13, No 4 Road at Binhai Old Airport booked through Agoda and they were very accommodating to providing an airport facing room on the top floor (8th). rooms 827-833 will look over the airport but there is a building blocking the view straight onto the terminal ramp. However, aircraft departed right in front of the hotel and were also visible on approaches to the furthest runway, so nothing missed.

One down side is that there is very limited options for food although the breakfast was OK and had some western style food.  All arrivals and departures can be monitored even in the dark and in common with most airports in China there is a large influx until the small hours and then a large departure wave 06:45 to approx 0900 which is when the main flux of inbounds starts. 

The hotel doesn't have an airport shuttle so requires a taxi, 30Rmb was money well spent. From the hotel side and also from the International Terminal (which is on the southern side) there were no views of the co-located Airbus factory, so I have no idea what was there r how easy it might be to read stuff from the Domestic side of the terminal. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FTQCwg2T1PPxhhin8 Note Locations in China are often inaccurate

Credit Volker Wackernagel

YSSY/SYD - Sydney - Rydges Hotel - March 2025

Currently sitting on Room 703 of the Rydges hotel with a view of all the runways and the domestic terminal.  Some of the international stands are blocked by the terminal.  Rydges has two eateries - I uses Smithy's Bar during my stay.  Prices are reasonable for the quality and quantity of the meals.  There is also a rooftop bar with views out across the airport.  Parking is in the airport parking, with a 50% off if the hotel validates your ticket.  I noticed that they also have a machine giving 100% rebate, but don't know what you need to qualify for that.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/38dqyd3UUNUibn1G9

Credit: Steve Mitchell

Above: View from roof top bar.

Above: View from airport view room.

Above: View from airport view room.

NZAA/AKL - Auckland - Novotel - March 2025

Arrived on Tuesday afternoon and checked in at the Novotel Auckland Airport – a high room had been requested and I was given 916, which did the trick.  I reckon x06 to x23 on either the 8^th or 9^th floors should have decent views of the runways, but limited views of the terminal stands.  

Be aware that the sound proofing is too good – you don’t hear any noise so have to keep a constant view of the runways. No parking with the hotel and just an expensive restaurant. Szimpla café near the IBIS Budget is recommended.

Credit: Steve Mitchell

https://maps.app.goo.gl/j2rowL2wKgTcBL177

YMML/MEL - Melbourne - Park Royal Airport Hotel - March 2025

Stayed in the Park Royal Airport Hotel, chosen for the view. From an Airport View room (sorry forgot the number).  All runway movements can be seen, although most of the stands are blocked by the terminal.  This has an expensive restaurant and parking is AUD40 a night – in the public car park and then validated by the hotel.

Credit: Steve Mitchell

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZdH2Yd4VM7vCq5gcA

RCSS/TSA - Taipei Songshan - Attic Motel- May 2025

Attic Motel is about a 20-25 minute walk from the terminal, although they apparently have a free shuttle and there was an MPV outside with their branding.

All rooms face towards the threshold of runway 10, i.e the corridor runs along the back of the hotel.  Makes it nice and easy. 4h/5^th/6^th floor. I was in 503 which was great for spotting.  Too many obstructions like lamp posts and trees, as well as the hotel windows, for photography.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/23j5iYE5vZZyhApn7

Note it is against Taiwanese law to photograph military aircraft.

SPJC/LIM - Lima - Hotel Costa del Sol Wyndham - March 2025

We stayed at the Hotel Costa del Sol Wyndham which was a very short walk from the terminal.  I was in room 706 which was roughly mid-way down the corridor.  There was a tall but narrow building directly in front of us but it didn’t really cause any issues.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/K5yD68tPTszwHZAE9

NOTE: The new Terminal has opened since this report, it is not known how this may have impacted things.  

Credit David Fogwill. 

 

SABE/AEP - Buenos Aires Aeroparque - Pampa Plaza Hotel - March 2025

We stayed at Pampa Plaza Hotel, La Pampa 777, Belgrano, Buenos Aires,1428 and had rooms 701 & 702 which are adjacent to each other (only rooms on that floor).  Both have balconies and reasonable views of landings and takeoffs.  No ground level views though due to an abundance of trees.  However, if landings are from the northeast, you will need to be quick to see them.  The hotel is physically about a few hundred yards as the crow flies to the spotting area.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/c8NdJZroWAKPRrjr9

Credit: David Fogwill

KLAX/LAX - Los Angeles - Holiday Inn Express LAX - March 2025

Two Queen bed rooms on the top two floors (as always higher the better and closer to the lift better for the far side cargo but not a major benefit either way) will mean you  miss nothing landing or departing LAX and you can also see LGB inbounds and outbounds (depending on runway) as well as some ONT inbounds and outbounds plus Hawthorne. Free parking and breakfast, OK food place round the corner and generally much much cheaper than other hotels in the area.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/77nEdJVPTFSVXFxB6

Credit Simon Moore