Common mistakes travellers make when booking an airport hotel

I float out of the spa after a 60-minute Thai massage, all traces of jetlag erased. I might spend the next hour relaxing on a sunbed by the pool or doing some yoga stretches in the tranquil garden. When it's time to make my way back to the airport for an onward flight to Koh Samui, I have the choice of a seven-minute walk or five-minute complimentary van shuttle.

This is how an airport hotel experience should be. Convenient, seamless, rejuvenating and stress-free, Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel gets it right in every way.

The property offers affordable overnight rates for stopovers to break up a long journey, for example when flying from Australia to Europe via Thailand. It also offers an unbeatable day pass for 800 baht ($35) with access to the gym, outdoor pool and showers. Why sit around for hours in the airport when a better option is a few hundred metres away?

"Location, convenience and comfort are the biggest factors when choosing an airport hotel," says Charlotte Evans, Flight Centre travel expert. "Does the hotel have a shuttle? Is it an easy walking distance to the airport for your early-morning flight? Is it in the airport itself?"

All airport hotels are not created equal. A few months ago, I booked an "airport area" hotel in Rome that was as bad as Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is impressive. Described as a 10-minute drive from Rome's Fiumicino international terminal, the hotel offered a free shuttle transfer.

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When the shuttle finally arrived, almost an hour later, the "10-minute drive" was more like 30 minutes. I vowed to always choose airport hotels in or connected to the terminal.

"An 'airside' hotel is in the transit area of the airport before you go through customs and immigration," Evans says.

"It's vital to know if you need a visa to leave the airport. A great example of this is in Singapore, where there's a transit hotel before you go through customs, as well as a 'non-airside' hotel. Be careful not to confuse the two."

Emma Hynes, IHG Hotels & Resorts' Director of Operations - Australasia & Pacific, says that since travel can be disruptive, she recommends looking for full-service airport hotels to make things easier.

"You may have arrival times that don't coincide with traditional meal times, so services such as 24-hour in-room dining can be a life-saver, especially if you're travelling with hungry kids," she says. "Perks such as onsite laundry can also be a game-changer for quick transits."

Many IHG hotels are located near major airports, including Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport. That property offers a Park, Stay & Go package with parking on-site. It can be particularly appealling for families who need a smooth transition between home and the airport.

Kid-related perks can also help keep the cost of holidays down. At Holiday Inn hotels in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland airport locations, kids 12 and under stay and eat for free. They'll also score a free activity pack to take on the plane. all.accor.com; ihg.com

The writer was a guest of Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.