Runway rooms

If you enjoy watching planes in action, plan a stopover at these hotels, writes Katrina Lobley.

As we open the door to our room, a gobsmacking view stops us in our tracks. The Grand Hyatt DFW's picture windows are filled with planes taking off and landing on the western runways of the world's fourth-busiest airport, the Dallas-Fort Worth International, Texas. My companion throws himself into a chair at the window and declares, "That's it - I'm not moving."

This hotel is a gift for enthusiasts of airport action, especially those who like to watch from the comfort of bed. With no curfew and a site that covers about 7000 hectares, jet-lagged guests who just can't sleep can watch the runway all night. The hotel is built beside International Terminal D but the rooms are soundproof. We're impressed but decide to ask an expert for his pick of the best plane-spotting hotels.

English enthusiast, airport blogger and author Matt Falcus (airportspotting.com) nominates the Renaissance Concourse at Atlanta - the world's busiest airport - as "probably the best spotting hotel in the USA".

"Rooms facing the airport have views across all six runways and all airport concourses," he says. "Every single aircraft movement can be seen from these rooms and, if the weather's good, you can relax on the balcony." The hotel's Concorde Bar also has runway views.

Falcus also nominates another Renaissance - at London's Heathrow. The hotel sits just outside the airport's northern boundary and has views of the northern runway.

Another Falcus favourite is Dubai's Sheraton Deira Hotel: "Its rooftop pool and bar area lies directly underneath the approach path to Dubai's runways; aircraft pass just feet above your head."

There's also the Crowne Plaza at Singapore's Changi Airport, where key rooms have views of aircraft on the runways, including A380 super-jumbos. Then there's the Caribbean's Sonesta Maho Beach Resort.

"If you stay at the Sonesta, you'll not only be able to wander out to experience the thrill of jet blast on the beach, you'll also be able to sit on your balcony and watch huge aircraft pass by you as they terrorise unsuspecting sunbathers," Falcus says.