The Novotel Brisbane Airport building and entrance at dusk, with the Novotel sign on the roof.

A hotel room with a king bed, a desk and a television at Novotel Brisbane Airport.

A hotel room with a king bed, a desk and a window at Novotel Brisbane Airport.

Getting to your terminal

A stay only makes sense for some terminals. Here is what the journey takes from the hotel to check-in at each one.

Terminal	How you get there	Hotel to check-in	Cost
Best forDomestic Terminal	Hotel shuttle or free Skygate busHotel shuttle $9 a person, 03:35–09:55; or the free Skygate bus to Domestic, roughly every 15 to 20 minutes, and a short walk. Book a seat in advance.	15 min	A$9
International Terminal	Hotel shuttleHotel shuttle to both terminals, $9 a person, 03:35–09:55, about 15 to 20 minutes. Book a seat in advance.	20 min	A$9

Our view

Who it suits: Families, longer stays, and anyone who would rather take a shuttle than walk.
Why we would choose it: Rooms with two double beds sleep four, and the rooftop pool and DFO are next door.
The compromise: It is at Skygate, not the terminal, so you depend on the shuttle or the free Skygate bus.
Worth paying more?: For a family, yes; for a solo traveller, Pullman is simpler.

What you get

The practical details that matter for one night before or after a flight.

Rooms: 157 rooms, including Standard Double and Premier Twin rooms with two double beds.
Pool: Rooftop pool and terrace.
Location: Skygate precinct, about five minutes walk from DFO Brisbane.
Shuttle: Hotel shuttle to both terminals; $9 a person, 3:35am to 9:55am.
Day use: Day stay rates available; contact the hotel.
Shuttle booking: Book a seat in advance. The loop runs about every 40 minutes from 03:35 to 09:55; missing one can mean a 40-minute wait.
Shuttle operator: Specialised Transport Australia runs the precinct hotel shuttle.
Domestic shuttle stop: Walk out of arrivals and cross the zebra crossings to the commercial bus lanes. Look for the Bus & Coach Charter Bays or the Orange Terminal Transfer Bus stops, at the Qantas and Virgin ends.
International shuttle stop: Pick-up is Level 2 Arrivals: exit past customs, follow the Bus and Coach Zone signs down the ramp to the coach bays. Drop-off is Level 4 Departures, near check-in.
Reception: 24-hour reception and 24-hour room service.
Terminals: About a 7-minute drive or shuttle ride from the Domestic and International terminals.
Family rooms: Standard Double and Premier Twin have two double beds and sleep four. The Executive Suite has a king bed and a sofa bed. No standard room sleeps five.
Children: Up to two children 12 and under stay free in existing bedding. Cots are free; a rollaway bed is A$60 per stay.
Parking: Paid parking in the airport precinct; contact the hotel for current rates and park-and-fly packages.
Skygate bus: Complimentary, roughly every 15 to 20 minutes; it stops near the City Beach entrance to DFO.