For those who are transiting through Singapore for a few hours and do not wish to leave the transit area, Aerotel’s flagship at Changi Airport Terminal 1 is a great option to exercise if you need a room to recharge and freshen up before continuing on your journey. Located near gate D41, the hotel has single, double, and family rooms for travelling parties of all sizes to accommodate.
Rooms are bookable for a standard 6 hours, with the option to add up to 4 additional hours, providing some flexibility depending on your transit duration at Changi Airport.
For my visit, I had a pretty long layover at Changi Airport, and instead of leaving the transit area, I decided to book a room for 10 hours in total. My reservation was located almost immediately, and I was issued keys to my room. I was offered the option to enjoy my complimentary meal immediately, or the next morning before my departure. I had chosen the latter option since I was stuffed from an earlier meal.
The rooms are located along long corridors with some rooms having views of the tarmac and the runway. I had requested for one and the staff were more than happy to accommodate my request.
Upon entering my room, I was very impressed that such large and comfortable rooms were available at Changi Airport. Of course, for those who wish to leave the transit area, the Crowne Plaza is a viable alternative.
The room I had requested was for 2 guests, and hence came with double beds. The floor was carpeted and windows had sliding wooden doors for added privacy.
The beds were comfortable, and I had a restful sleep for the entire night before my onward journey.
There was complimentary bottled water and hot beverages, and entertainment wise, there was a wide selection of TV channels to choose from.
Here’s a view of the window with the wooden doors in the open position. Note how reflective the glass is, but you wouldn’t want to risk leaving the doors open with aircraft taxiing just outside your room, would you?
The armchair at the corner was a nice touch.
The room had an attached bathroom, that was large by most entry room hotel standards.
The shower area was also spacious, and the water pressure was good.
All guests can also access the common areas of the hotel. The main entrance seemed a little underwhelming, with a sofa and a couple of chairs.
But walk through the doors and the space opens into a huge living and dining area.
There was abundant seating at or around the television, and at the dining table.
Here’s a view of the common area at dawn where guests can enjoy spectacular views of aircraft activity outside.
For those who wish to workout, there is a small gym, which I found very basic, and an outdoor pool.
On the morning of my departure, I had my complimentary meal at the dining area, which I found to be adequate. For those with access to lounges at Changi Airport, you might be able to enjoy better food elsewhere.
Overall, I was impressed with my stay at Aerotel Changi. With an ever increasing passenger volume at Changi Airport, the establishment is well positioned to provide quality accommodation and services to transiting passengers at the world’s best airport. And yes, remember to request for a room with the view of the tarmac and runway, and you’ll wake up to the view below.
