A very early flight turns the night before into a trade-off: pay for a room next to the airport, or set an alarm for the small hours and travel from home. Neither is always right. This is how we decide.
When a hotel is worth paying for
- Your flight leaves before about 07:00. Check-in and security need a couple of hours, so you would be leaving home at 03:00 or 04:00.
- Getting there takes more than an hour. The longer the trip, the more sleep you lose, and the more that can go wrong on the way.
- Public transport does not run early enough. If the only option is a taxi at that hour, the fare often covers a good part of the room.
- You are travelling with children. A short walk to the terminal after a proper night's sleep makes for a calmer morning.
When you are better off at home
- A train, tram or bus that gets you there in time runs from near your door.
- The flight is mid-morning or later.
- The room plus the transfer costs more than a taxi from home, and you are happy with that early start.
Count the whole cost
A cheaper room reached by bus can cost more in total once you add the fares. Compare the room price plus the transfer for everyone travelling, not the headline rate. Our short lists do this for you and show the total for each terminal.
Where to start
- Browse stays for an early flight.
- Or choose your airport from the home page and pick your terminal.