Staying at the TWA Hotel

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Before our trip up to Vermont, David and I decided to take a quick staycation at the new TWA Hotel at JFK Airport. I’ve been wanting to stay here since it opened and an overnighter before our early flight to Burlington seemed like the perfect opportunity. We got there extra early to take full advantage of everything the spot had to offer. Since I first started sharing pictures, I’ve been flooded with requests to share a full review. Here are some quick honest thoughts about staying at the TWA Hotel.

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The Hotel

If you’re not familiar with the concept, the TWA Hotel is in the space of the old TWA terminal at JFK Airport and is the only on-site hotel. Leaning into the heyday of the now gone airline, it is entirely dedicated as a time machine to 1962.

Admittedly, this hotel isn’t the easiest to find. Make your way to Terminal 5, present day Jet Blue, via the AirTrain and follow the signs along the outdoor pathway. When we entered the space, it felt like an immediate teleport to a bygone decade. Flight attendants and pilots, dressed to match the era, serve as concierge and can point you to where you need to go.

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Our Room

The self check-in system is an extremely quick, almost too quick, process. Scan your own card keys and off you can go to your room. Since there are two wings, take extra special attention to which one your room is in. We missed that critical piece of information and happened to have luckily made the correct guess.

When we got to our room, we were greeted by a beautiful space that combines modern day with 60’s influences. Since it was only for the night, we decided on the standard room, giving us a view of the airport, right next to the service road. The floor to ceiling windows offered all of the privacy you would need with black-out curtains at the push of a button. More importantly, the room was amazingly quiet, even with the busy location. The hotel brags the second thickest windows in the world and really helps make your stay enjoyable.

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The Aesthetic

Like I said, the entire hotel maintains a 1960’s motif, from the staff uniforms to the in-room magazine options. Currently, they have an exhibit of past flight attendant uniforms and a recreation of a 1960s American living room. In the living room, all of the pieces are original to the period, but you have an option to play dress up with pieces that seem straight out of Mad Men. It’s very clear to see that the aesthetic was the foundation of the hotel.

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Food Options

Since we were there for the entire day, we were able to enjoy the full gambit of their dining options. Your day can begin with a cup of Intelligentsia coffee and croissant. For lunch, we were able to sample their in-progress Food Hall with Vinny‘s Paninis. I say in-progress because the food hall has several open stands where I’m sure different restaurants will fill, in the future. As of out visit, sandwiches and bagels are your only options.

Our dinner took place at the on-site Paris Café. Celebrated chef Jean-Gorges, the brains of Manhattan’s ABC Kitchen, is also behind this restaurant. The menu is inspired by in-flight meals of the era. We shared their turkey burger and spinach pizza, which were both delicious. The crown jewel of our meal was the generous slice of carrot cake to nicely round out our night. As this is the only dinner option at the hotel, I highly recommend making reservations well in advance.

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Cocktail Hour

Prior to our dinner, I had reservations at the Connie Cocktail Lounge. I was so excited for this experience! Parked outside on the hotel’s tarmac, we grabbed drinks in a completely refurbished 1958 Lockheed Constellation. At the time, it was the ultimate mode of air-transportation, even serving as Air Force One for President Eisenhower. Inside, the lounge is filled with plush seats, a nice little menu, and raises the question, “why can’t all flights be like this?”

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What To Improve On

Now, because I want to keep a realistic spin on our stay, I thought it was important to share elements that I thought could use some improvement. After I booked our room, I admit, I became a little apprehensive after reading Jennifer Lake’s honest review from when they first opened. A lot of concerns she brought up I can chalk up to being a brand new hotel on the scene.

I had already mentioned the confusion at check-in, which we easily mended. We also saw a few examples around the hotel where it almost seemed like they were still in the building stages: walls were being patched up and some construction dust hadn’t been cleaned up. Over all, it didn’t ruin our stay, but something that our eyes were immediately drawn too. On a separate note, the lobby area only had one outlet to be found… Not exactly ideal for the weary traveler.

Overall, I highly recommend staying at the TWA Hotel if you’re already at JFK Airport. After talking with other guests, I learned that they either had a long layover, a late international flight, or the first domestic flight out. Even if you’re here for a few hours, it serves as a nice reprieve from the non-glamourous elements of travel. About the little details to improve on? I’m sure this hotel will only get better with time and serve as the perfect oasis at one of the country’s busiest airports.

Love from NYC,
Katie

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