Locals and travelers to New York love the NYC experience. This is why we landed at the TWA Hotel, the only on-airport hotel at JFK International Airport in New York City when it came to our January cover with mom and world traveler Kristi Hemric.
It’s easy to understand why visitors around the globe stay at this retro-chic hotel; whether before a flight or post-trip, a stay here is not only a vibe, it’s a whole experience. Once you walk in, you haven’t time traveled; you have entered one of late famed Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen’s landmark designs, which once served as a Trans World Airlines Flight Center. And for us parents, the TWA Hotel also serves as a staycation with the kids any day of the year. No car necessary! Our subway and AirTran journey to the hotel from the city took a little over an hour, door-to-door (although drivers are welcome; there is parking at the hotel).
Why We Love It
Guests can enjoy expansive rooms with cool views. No time for an overnight stay? Families can book a Daytripper stay for four hours from 6 AM to 8 PM ET for a minimum of four hours and a maximum of 12 hours. And no judgment here when you make yourself at home in this 1960s iconic structure and enjoy its modern amenities, order a martini, lounge in the iconic Sunken Lounge while an authentic Solari split flap departures board clicks about. One of our favorite amenities is the food; a few standouts we loved were the Intelligentsia Coffee (for the adults), Vinny’s Panini for the family, and The Paris Café by Jean-Georges for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Why The Kids Will Love It
Kids will forget about their electronics as they busy themselves exploring charming pockets like immersive museum exhibits and the Sweet’N Glow hair salon- where they can relax under the vintage beehive hair dryer and then have some twisty fun in the Twister room. For more enjoyment, the hotel includes an observation deck that supplies panoramic views of the airport runways — perfect for kids fascinated by airplanes and aviation. On the hotel’s tarmac, a 1958 Lockheed Constellation “Connie” transformed into a cocktail lounge (for the adults, obviously) welcomes visitors amid seasonal activations such as a curling rink and the piece de resistance, the rooftop heated pool with a view.
TWA Hotel at JFK Airport
One Idlewild Drive
New York, NY 11430
Psst…check out Rethinking the Family Vacation: Intentional Travel (a new kind of trip)
