First man learned to walk; then he learned to fly. And whether its colossal jumbo jets or svelte sea planes, people have been obsessed with aviation ever since its inception. Check into one of these global aviation themed hotels, and prepare to take off – in your dreams.
727 Fuselage Home, Costa Rica
A wing (no pun intended) of the Hotel Costa Verde in Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park, this vintage 1965 Boeing 727 has been refurbished into a luxury teak paneled abode. The spacious suite comprises two bedrooms, a kitchen and dining area, and a private balcony over each airplane wing. Enjoy peerless sunsets amid the canopies of the jungle, and try not to feel too smug about it.
Vliegtuigsuite Teuge, Netherlands
If DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) East German history is your thing, then you’ll love the experience of staying in a vintage 1960 Ilyushin-18. Originally used as an official government vehicle, this 130-foot airplane has been drastically converted into a decadent two-person suite, loaded with a hot tub, sauna, mini bar, flat screen TV, and more luxury treatment than you’d get in first class.
Jumbo Stay, Sweden
Located on the tarmac of Stockholm’s central Arlanda Airport, Jumbo Stay is a one-of-a-kind airplane hostel experience. The converted Boeing 747 is a perfect affordable overnight option, boasting a variety of rooms including the luxury cockpit suite with panoramic views of the airport below. Aviation aficionados are also welcome to have a drink in the Jumbo Lounge and eat in the café, or visit the extraordinary observation deck atop the left wing of the airplane.
Woodlyn Park Plane Motel, New Zealand
Rumored to be one of the last allied planes to leave Vietnam, this 1950s Bristol Freighter contains two separate units and accommodates up to eight people. Book ahead and reserve the adventurous cockpit if you can, where one room is only accessible by ladder, or settle for two bunk beds and a double in the tail end of the plane.
Yotel Gatwick Airport, London
Where better to establish an aviation-themed hotel than inside an airport? The small-but-perfectly-formed rooms of Yotel are designed to replicate actual airplane cabins, where 24/7 food service is available at the touch of a button, and free WI-Fi is available throughout. Located just moments from the various departure and arrival gates of Gatwick’s South Terminal, this overnight option also makes for a perfect stress-free layover. Featured image: © Enrique Galeano Morales Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to… whose guides cover all the best hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, sights, shops and spas.
