KEWR/EWR - Newark Liberty International - Hampton Inn and Suites, Elizabeth - October 2026

The Hampton Inn and Suites Elizabeth is located to the South East of Newark, not too far from the southern end of the parallel runways.

The hotel has a half hourly free shuttle bus, but in the interests of time I opted to get an Uber from the terminal which was around £15.

I checked in online in advance and chose top floor room 733, which was the only one available on top floor. The room was a double queen with fridge and microwave, facing north.

The room plan is above, with the arrow pointing towards the airport. Most of the north facing rooms on the 6th or 7th floor would be fine, any lower could be an issue (odd numbers 701 - 735)

The hotel was fit for purpose with snacks and drinks available from the downstairs lobby and a small bar. There is an Ihop next to the hotel which was open 24 hours and does a great breakfast.

View from the room

The view from the room is below, there is a reasonable view of most of the apron. During my visit they were landing from the north and departing over the hotel, everything could be seen easily.  The same would be true if they were landing in the other direction.

As well as Newark, I could easily see inbound traffic into La Guardia over to the right as they descended over the Statue of Liberty / Hudson River. Cloud permitting, I was also able to pick out a few outbounds from La Guardia as they turned left over the north of Manhattan.

Conclusion

This is probably the best spotting hotel in Newark. The obvious other contender is the Marriot right next to the terminal which is much more expensive, but that doesn't afford as good a view of the terminal as this hotel. 

I stayed at the hotel following a post on a spotting group by Mark Paulin who stayed in room 701 the previous week, great recommendation.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YZaT67ZTK4gM37yX7

KMIA/MIA - Miami - EB Hotel - October 2026

At EB Hotel at MIA airport facing rooms have the view below, the higher the floor the better.

October 2026 note: Stayed in room 321, a little too low, but that was all they had on this date.  Could still see all departures heading east, so not the end of the world.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dzGwACWKnT4ybp3V7

KMCO/MCO - Orlando - Avid hotel - October 2026

The hotel is situated just outside the airport on the north side, just west of the runways. The hotel has an airport shuttle which runs every 30mins.  Its a nice but basic hotel, and I managed to get a room at a reasonable price.

The best rooms are 501-504 as they are on front facing towards the airport.  Arrivals were from the south, departures to the north and with electronics and little effort nothing will be missed.  I had room 502 which is a 2 queen bedded room and was perfect for the visit.

The rooms on eastern side of the hotel give good views on both runways too, although due to the angle seeing the approach would be harder to see than in rooms 501-504.  With that in mind rooms with odd numbers 505 till 519 are also fine, just not quite as good as 501-504. 

There is a 7Eleven next to the hotel for food and drinks. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hE8daGURhndnLJxb6

Credit Karin Middendorp

CYQB/YQB - Quebec City - Homewood Suites - September 2026

I have room 616 on the top floor. Any even room 602 to 620 would have the same view. As the airport is on an escarpment only approaches can be seen as the airport is above you.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fvZRer5yijoGxxTV9

Credit Mark Paulin

CYYZ/YYZ - Toronto Pearson - Sheraton Gateway - September 2026

A very well tried and tested hotel, the Sheraton Gateway Toronto Pearson Airport.   Linked to Terminal 3 and in turn the intra terminal monorail.  Booked a 2 Queen Beds, Runway View, Club Lounge Access, Premium Guest Room and was allocated toom 759.  Great views across all 3 runways.  You need to use electronics (FR24 in this case) for arrivals and departures but much can also be read off taxying past.  This type of room gives access to the lounge on the ground floor that allows a nice breakfast as well as snacks and drinks through the day.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YhffXYd4gXKqVzxo6

Above: View from room.

Above: Panoramic view from room

Above: Seen from airside.

more photos from 2010 can be found at https://jazzclubspotting.blogspot.com/2025/12/yyz-10-jul-2010.html courtsey of Mark Curran

CYUL/YUL - Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau - Hilton Garden Inn - September 2026

I have room 333 which gives good views to all runways. Any odd numbered rooms 27 to 45 would offer similar views on 3rd and 4th floor. Any lower and the roof to the Hotel would block the view.

Credit Mark Paulin 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BbeCMfsSoxcMFW2o8

CYOW/YOW - Ottawa - Hilton Garden Inn - September 2026

Having decided to nightstop at Ottawa I looked at hotel options & plumped for the HGI. I requested an airport facing room being unsure of exactly what view there would be.

 

I was allocated room 830 being a room with one King Bed & wasn’t disappointed. any even number between 826 to 840 will work, the higher the better as you can see the aproach to runway 14. Whilst the weather wasn’t great during my stay, the large window gave views of the primary active runway (07/25) with any movements on 14/32 also being visible. The Innotech FBO ramp & anything outside their hangar can also be seen from the hotel room. The room cost me £145, booking directly with the hotel 5 weeks before my stay. Photos are possible from the room. However the window does distort some shots unfortunately. 

 

Ottawa isn’t a particularly big or overly busy airport. Porter is the primary operator here with Air Canada, Air Transat, Westjet, Canadian North & PAL Airlines also having a number of movements. United Express are also well represented with a variety of cross border flights, primarily using Republic ERJ175s.

If coming to Ottawa you are likely to have a car as you will surely visit the excellent Canadian Air & Space Museum at Rockcliffe. At Ottawa IAP, the car enables you to see the cargo terminal & Canadian North maintenance facility at the eastern end of the airfield (behind the hotel) and allows you opportunities for photos either from the viewing area at that end of the airfield or south of the airfield on Alert Road near the entrance to Hylands Golf Club.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2obNMfueFjqo6Gya9

Credit Nick Godfrey

CYOO/YOO - Oshawa - Tru by Hilton - September 2026

Any room 414 to 429 offers a good view of the approach and some of the runway.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/r2edRbFSe6R222Xf9

Credit Mark Paulin

CYYZ/YYZ - Toronto - Holiday Inn Express & Suites Toronto Airport South - September 2026

Having just returned from a few days in Toronto, I thought it would be of use to share my observations in respect of a new hotel that has opened at Toronto Airport - It is the Holiday Inn Express - Toronto Airport South, 25 International Boulevard, Toronto. The hotel is located in a fairly quite industrial area and as such there are not a great deal of places to get to without a vehicle or the need for a 15 mins walk. The hotel is located fairly close to the end of Runway 24L.

Even numbered rooms starting from x02 are best. room 702 is adjacent to a south facing window which allows traffic into Toronto City Airport to be seen. 

I had a King Bed Suite Airport View, Room 610 - It had a fantastic view out over the airport from a nice big window and all landings and take offs from both directions on both runways in use could be seen except for the times when a bit of misty rain moved in for a few hours where movements on Runway 23/05 (the furthest runway from the hotel) were sometimes beaten by the weather. Out of these times, the aircraft were fairly well lit up. As is with most Toronto Airport hotels, it wasn't the cheapest but for me it was worth it and I missed very little with the assistance of electronic aids. The rooms can be booked on the IHG website as 'Airport View Rooms'. As the hotel is quite new the windows are of excellent quality for photographs.

Hotel & nearby facilities - The hotel serves breakfast both warm and cold. There is no restaurant or bar though ! There is a small shop where crisps and snacks can be purchased. Disappointingly, there is no other facility like a fuel station to walk to to stock up. One plus, there is a rather conveniently located Molson Beer Store located about 10 mins walk South from the hotel. The store opens from 11am - 5pm Saturday and Sunday and 10am - 6pm Monday to Friday. The shops sells beers only and no wine or other soft drinks.The hotel room has a fridge in the room which is handy.

The nearest food places are about 15 mins walk to the North. There is the Arizona Grill Lounge as well as three fast food places, Popeyes, Pita Land and Philthy Phillies just before you get to the Arizona. There are also two aviation themed stores in this same complex, Threshold Aviation and AvWorld as well as a coffee shop.

I will sum up the hotel with the pro's and cons.

Pro's - An excellent hotel in a safe area, I didn't see any undesirables hanging about probably as its not in a residential area. The view from the room is excellent. The sun wasn't in my face all morning and started to appear from about 2pm onwards. If you are an IHG member, you get points for staying.

Cons - No restaurant or bar on site or in close walking distance. If anyone has mobility issues and relies on nearby facilities to walk to, this might not be the hotel for you.Car parking is charged at 15CAD a night but if you have a car, the above mentioned eateries/shops are a very short drive away. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vrnwUVnF3y4jLESP8

CYUL/YUL - Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau - Days Inn - September 2026

I Haven't stayed here for many years so was pleasantly surprised to see that its under gone renovation.

Previously you had un restricted views to landers from / departures to the North East now there is a 6 storey Staybridge Suites Hotel partially blocking view to the North East  That being said we had room 307, which still allowed views of landers on both runways from the room. One of our traveling group was on the second floor and said he could still see landers. Hotel also has the added advantage of being a two minute drive from Bombardier. Only complaint was that the restaurant and bar closed at 2100 in the evening.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4j792LcusdvCCFFy5

Credit David Perston

SCEL/SCL- Santiago International Airport Chile - Holiday Inn - August 2026

I had booked a room at the airport Holiday Inn.  Room rates here, even with discount, were north of £100 pounds. What it did give me is a view in exactly the same direction as I could see from the link veranda. I made an additional six frames that without the hotel, I would not have got to see due to the lateness of the hour. 

The Holiday Inn seems to be split into two separate parts. I had room 355 and was allocated this after asking at reception for a view of the international terminal. The rooms with the same view are all in a crescent like shape. The number range is 352-377.   This part of the hotel is only 3 floors high I would suggest that rooms 361 - 362 are as avoided as they are right outside the lift.  I have previously sent a message with my booking asking for an airport view, but was told this wouldn't be possible and rooms are all allocated on arrival.  The hotel has a restaurant and bar, but its possible  to get supplies from either of the terminals which are a short walk away. I went to the domestic terminal restaurant for lunch and then went to the news agent shop for beers to take to the hotel. The hotel does not have a fridge nor USB or USC charging points but is otherwise very modern and worked perfect on this occasion.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4Dmc1NiCripHgZgaA 

KBOS/BOS - Boston - Hilton hotel Boston airport - August 2026

Stayed at the Hilton hotel Boston airport and reserved a king room with an airport view and was allocated Room 1006 on the 10 floor which was ideal. I personally think the higher the floor the better as you can see over some of the terminal to the left otherwise departing traffic was easily seen

https://maps.app.goo.gl/j4G1r7XBXvJfScvEA

KSDL/SCF - Phoenix Scotsdale - Best Western Plus Thunderbird Suites - August 2026

Almost directly opposite the main FBO area on North Airport Drive and a couple of minutes walk to the official viewing area with tables and seating and very nice Volanti restaurant/bar next to it, which also has views and seating outside.  I had a large room (425) with windows front and back orientated parallel (almost) with the runway so you can see the approach and climb out, but you cannot see the runway from this room just the approach and departures from the respective windows. Poking your head out the front door you could see aircraft landing or taxiing for departure on runway 21 in a small gap between airport buildings if they didn't vacate early. The end room of the wing would have been slightly better but was unavailable during my visit,  the windows in this room will still be orientated parallel with the runway approach / climb out not directly facing it. For those using electronics, arrivals into PHX from the north go over the motel at a couple of thousand feet. Paid about $80 per night for this stay, not much event wise going on in PHX but still made a decent haul of biz during my visit. It's a short drive to PHX airport and the other main airfields of Phoenix. Goodyear for stored stuff was about a 30 - 40 min drive. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qJWPCcxMReaYRnE89

Credit Adrian Broadbent

KLAS/LAS - Las Vegas - La Quinta Inn and Suites Las Vegas Airport South - August 2026

This La Quinta is located at the junction of East Sunset Road and South Surrey St. I stayed in room 306. Which faces the touchdown zone for runways 26L and 26R.  You can take photos from the room if needed but it’s a place that has framing on the windows panes themselves, so you have to practice your aim points. That said a walk outside and you’ll get better shots. Small Issue with this Hotel is whilst you get arrivals and departures when on Westerlies on 26L and 26R, any biz taking off from runways closer to the strip 19L and 19R,  can’t be seen departing. You can see them at a distance turning downwind left hand for these runways when arriving with the aid of electronics. I got my room for a midweek stay for less than $70 per night. The official south side viewing area (no facilities) is a short drive away or a 15 min walk, but walking isn’t recommended as it crosses a busy road and temperatures were in the high 30’s to 40+ C during my stay. Whilst I did have a car, I took an uber into the bright lights of the Vegas strip a couple of times which was less than $20 each way from the Hotel. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zWkd5d4xB8xw8ScK8

Credit Adrian Broardbent

View from room 306 at La Quinta Airport South (from my iPhone).

View from room 306 at La Quinta Airport South (from my iPhone).

KLAX/LAX - Los Angeles - H Hilton Hotel by Curio - August 2026

We stayed at the H Hilton Hotel by Curio, the selling point is the roof terrace which overlooks the whole of LAX and you won't miss anything. While all movements can be seen from here as well as the executive and cargo areas, it is best for photos for arrivals onto runway 24R. The hotel offers rooms with airport facing windows so movements can be seen from them as well. The place isn't cheap but the views are priceless. Food as you would expect isn't cheap but there's a Subway under the hotel, coffee shop as well. We took a walk to the Proud Bird one day, this took circa 35 minutes. Also we went the other way towards the In and Out burger, we didn't use the burger place, we dropped into the "Melody Bar and Grill", [18 minute walk] great food, great beers and a great vibe. If you want a good night then give it a go.

See photos from Room 1226 and 825 below.  

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GcHPkn1LRLSCxRvV9

Credit Jeff Hulme

Credit Adam Feasey

View from 1226.

View from H Curio rooftop area looking Southwest  across runways 25L and 25R (from iPhone) 

View from room 825 looking west towards runways 24L and 24R (from IPhone).

View from room 825 looking south across runway 25L and 25R (from iPhone).

KIAH/IAH - Houston International - Best Western Houston Bush IAH - June 2026

There are a cluster of hotels located east of IAH, at the junction of Will Clayton Parkway and the I-69, in Humble.  Of these, the Wyndham and the Best Western are aligned so that a west facing room can see the arrivals in to 27. 26L and 26R, which are the usual landing runways.  The altitude and light means it is a good spot in darkness and poor weather. 

In the Best Western, rooms are even numbered facing towards the airport.  Both hotels only have three floors.  In this cluster there is also a Red Lion and an America's Best Value Inn: these are aligned the wrong way so any room will only see one or two runways, and they do seem to change their preference for which runways are in use. 

On the north side of Will Clayton Parkway there is a La Quinta, Staybridge Suites and a Sleep Inn.  The alignment of these means the right room will get a view of all three runways. However the Ramada and Holiday Inn would not give the view.   

There is also a handy petrol station, Tim Horton's and Waffe House next door to the Wyndham and Best Western!
 
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3AbsD3suv1hY4f6C8

Credit Mark Curran

Best Western floor plan, even numbers towards airfield

Pic of aircraft landing on the 'far' runway, 26R.

KTEB/TEB - Teterboro - Holiday Inn - June 2026

We stayed at the Teterboro Holiday Inn where we got a room with two queens and free parking.  You can't see the field like you can from the Hilton but you can see landers and departures from here. The room was a 4th Floor room facing Newark and we were able to see the landers there as well.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7rLmo6hFaGSURptP9

SPJC/LIM - Lima - GS Hoteles-Callao - June 2026

This hotel was booked through trip.com and is a bit more like a guest house than a hotel and is very basic / run down and might not be for everyone. The room was next to reception and faced a busy road.  The view from the room was the approach to runway 16R and the approach to 16L is directly over the hotel.

The hotel has a roof area where you can see the end of runway 16L and read off aircraft turning on to the runway.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bwQzXnenjJ5KATtb7

SABE/AEP - Buenos Aires Aeroparque - Almarena Puerto Retiro - June 2026

Stayed at the Almarena Puerto Retiro, Affiliated by Meliá hotel. This is approximately 2.5km from the airport directly under the flight path.  I requested a high floor room (superior river view) and was allocated room 1402 which is on the top floor.  Any room on the lower floors ending 01 to 03 will also be fine but the rest of the rooms will only see arrivals on runway 31.

From this room I could see 95% of departures on runway 13 from the veranda as most bank sharp left on departure.  When landing on runway 31 nothing is visible from the room as everything is directly overhead at 2,500ft.  Fortunately the hotel has a roof garden accessible from the 14th floor and everything is visible from here.  If the room terrace is closed there's a window in the roof terrace door so everything can be seen after it crosses over the hotel.

Some notes about the hotel :
There are no shops or restaurants close to the hotel. The hotel restaurant was fine and not expensive.  The closest supermarket was around 15 mins away.  However it's not a place to venture out at night.  Also being directly across from the docks it can be very noisy,
especially if a container ship is being unloaded.  If visiting in summer (Nov - Mar) the hotel has an outdoor pool where everything will be seen passing overhead.  From the hotel roof you can see the two A4 Skyhawks preserved at the Argentine Navy HQ which is about 5 mins walk from the hotel.  I took an Uber to the airport (£6) and walked along the perimeter fence and took photos with no issue.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pJSugHFijhN2onabA

Credit Jim Findlay

KCLT/CLT - Charlotte - Courtyard by Marriott Steele Creek - May 2026

The Courtyard by Marriott, Steele Creek is a couple of miles to the south of Charlotte Airport, opposite an outlet mall.

As hotels go in general, this is a lovely modern hotel with excellent amenities including an outdoor pool, gym, and most importantly a 24 hour tuck shop in the reception selling snacks and soft drinks. Car parking on site is free.

From a spotting point of view, it is more than adequate.

I stayed one night and rang ahead earlier in the day to request a high floor room facing east, the request was noted and I got exactly what I asked for.

I was allocated room 402, which is the room right at the end of the corridor on the top floor, you couldn’t get any better. Any even numbered room from 402 through to 422 will give a similar view.

Room 402 is a room with one King Bed with Sofa Bed.

Even rooms with higher numbers than 422 will also get a view, but maybe not quite as good.

Basically, from here, you will easily get half of the action at CLT. If aircraft are departing to the south, you’ll get them all. If they are landing from the south, you will also get them.

Arrivals (or departures) from the north are trickier as these are 6 or 7 miles away. While I was there, I was picking out arrivals on the eastern most runway without too much difficulty, but arrivals from the north on the western runway were at too tight an angle.

If you were on a lower floor room you wouldn’t see anything to the north but you’d be fine with stuff arriving / departing to the south.

Charlotte has no hotels right next to the airport, so I did a lot of research trying to work out where would be best, and I was pleased with the outcome – it was ideal for a one-night stop.

Once the CLT Overlook had opened at 0800, however, I drove over there for the superior view which you wouldn’t’ manage to get from any hotel. The two locations complemented each other quite nicely.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/xAHtoVZRd55BLYTW8

The second image shows the view from the room giving an unobstructed view to the east for any arrivals or departures from or to the south.

The final image above is the view of the arrivals from the north, the lights are just above the apartment block but can be made out clearly with good optics.