VIDP/DEL - Delhi - Andaz Hotel - April 2026

The Hyatt Andaz is a fairly new hotel located in the complex of hotels and offices in the Aerocity complex at the easy end of Delhi Indira Gandhi airport.  There are other hotels in this area that have been variously reported, some with issues acquiring a suitable room for spotting.  No such issues at the Andaz.

There doesn't appear to be any shuttle buses - Uber is easy and cheap enough in India or those of us who like this sort of thing there is a metro station at Aerocity.  It is a bit of a trek to the Andaz and for the sake of a cheap Uber fare, I would use Uber next time.  I booked a Runway view room which they offer on the Andaz website. I sent an email 3 days in advance asking for a room between 655 - 670 or similar on a lower floor. I sent an email to 2 addresses I found online. I used delaz-fo.manager1@andaz.com and delhi.andaz@hyatt.com. I'm not sure which email got through. The reply basically said subject to availability my room allocation request was noted on the booking. At check-in I asked if they had seen the note on the booking. Which was a Yes and I was allocated room 668. 

This is quite a high end hotel and you'll be served a cool drink at check in which is very refreshing.  rooms in the range x55 - x70 provide the best views of all 3 runways. Runway view rooms on the other side of the hotel would only provide a view of 2 runways (Central and North). The review also mentions the warped glass effect, which I can say is one of the worst at the airport hotels I have stayed at. If you need to read stuff off yourself this will be really frustrating. But if like me you are happy to use FR24 then it is no problem most of the time. That said at times I could not read stuff on the mil ramp in front of me until the angle of the aircraft was more side on. So, although I could see the regs on some aircraft in the maintenance area which is clearly visible beyond the IL76s I could not actually read them off.

With an airfield of this size and plenty of obstacles it does take a little while to get your bearings.  Electronic spotting aids such as FR24 or SBS are essential due to both the distances and how warped the glass is: it is almost impossible to read anything off through it. It follows that it is not suitable for photography.  The Indian AF IL-76 ramp is immediately opposite.

Being a full service hotel there are a variety of dining options, and a short walk away in Aerocity there is a range of cafes and restaurants with some global brand names if desired.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2R7WTrWnAghb3YdG9

VIDP/DEL - Delhi - Lemon Tree Hotel - May 2024.

I stayed at the Lemon Tree Hotel which overlooks the ARC ramp. Rooms 1324 to 1340 will give a good view, and all runways can be monitored with a bit of effort. It’s one stop on the metro from the International terminal and a five minute walk. The staff could not have been any more helpful in securing a room with a view, and no problem taking optics and camera through security. Around the corner is a shopping mall with loads of fast food outlets in the lower level.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LjFVTxJDWF4jd7Ba7

Credit Wayne Groves