Airport hotels have become an integral part of the travel industry. Frequent flyers no longer have to resign themselves to overnighting in soulless and often dingy off-site properties accessible only by infrequent shuttle service. Today’s airport hotels are places where travelers actually want to stay. Case in point: the stylish, architecturally significant TWA Hotel at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. It’s one of my favorite hotels — its easy access to the terminals is just an added bonus. Recently, I stayed at another trendy airport accommodation: Yotel at Istanbul Airport in Türkiye.
What is a Yotel?
Yotel is a UK-based hotel chain that prioritizes affordability and compact rooms in urban centers and airports. In addition to Istanbul Airport, Yotel can be found in airports in London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Singapore. With an emphasis on streamlined and smart spaces, the chain targets tech-savvy travelers who prefer modern convenience over amenities.
The hotel celebrates its founder’s love of air travel. In fact, the idea was conceived while the owner was on a plane. Rooms are known as “cabins,” the staff is referred to as “crew,” and check-in counters are called “Mission Control.”
Yotel Istanbul Airport: Two Hotels in One
The Yotel Istanbul Airport is divided into two entrances: Landside and Airside. Together, they offer more than 450 rooms.
Landside is for those travelers who are arriving at the airport the night before their flight. The hotel lobby is inside the departure hall, before security and passport control, and just steps away from airline ticket counters. Guests keep all of their luggage, including any that they will be checking, with them during their stay.
Airside is located inside the terminal. It is designed for passengers who are already checked in, such as folks who have long layovers and allows only carry-on luggage.
When making a reservation, it is important to know which side you will be staying at. If Istanbul is your initial departure site, and you are arriving at the airport from the city itself, you will stay in Landside. If you are arriving at the airport on a flight and transferring to another flight without leaving the airport, you will stay in Airside.
Both Airside and Landside feature a bar and restaurant with 24-hour dining. Travelers also can use the Airside restaurant as a lounge without booking a room. A €65 fee includes food and drinks. Airside also offers shower cabins for €25.
Yotel Rooms
Rooms at the Yotel Istanbul Airport range from the micro 43-square-foot solo cabin to the 452-square-foot First Class King Junior Suite. All include a safe, an iron and ironing board, a large flat-screen TV, and plenty of USB ports in the furnishings and walls. There is no mini fridge or coffee maker, but an amenity kit is included, and two bottles of water are provided.
The decor is minimalist — white walls with no art, white furniture, and white linens. And privacy is limited. Floor-to-ceiling curtains separate the bathroom from the bed. The bathroom sink and vanity protrude into the center of the room, and the shower and toilet are tucked individually behind frosted glass doors.
I stayed in a Premium Plus King, which is a 312-square-foot room that can accommodate three people with an additional rollaway bed. Although, I would suggest only sharing a room with someone you’re intimately familiar with, due to the privacy issues.
Overall, the room was much more spacious than I had expected. Having stayed at numerous minimalist-style hotels over the years, I was expecting the room to have limited floor space. Instead, I found generous accommodations, complete with a desk, a sitting area and table, a floor lamp, and a full-length mirror, as well as plenty of space for luggage and even an open closet with hangers.
The bed was comfortable, although it was on firm side. And the multiple outlets and built-in chargers allowed me to plug in all my technology. Unfortunately, a couple of the USB ports weren’t working so I did have to use my convertors and plug into the electrical outlets. However, one nightstand featured both U.S. and Turkish outlets.
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- Search for Great Tours HERE
- Get a universal plug adapter
What’s the Cost?
Rooms at the Yotel Istanbul Airport aren’t cheap. Prices are in Euros, and rates begin at about €160 for a Solo Cabin and can run upward of €450 for a King Suite. My Premium Plus King room, with accommodation taxes and VAT, was €250. Also, rates for Airside are slightly higher than Landside.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
Are there cheaper accommodations in the area? Yes. Was the convenience of staying at the Yotel worth the price? Absolutely! Istanbul has some of the worst traffic congestion levels in the world. So if you’re like me and get stressed at the thought of being stuck in traffic and late for a flight — or if you simply want to sleep in for an extra hour (even in good traffic, Istanbul Airport is about a one-hour drive from the Sultanahmet district) — being able to just wake up and check in or head to your flight without any hassles is priceless.
For great places to stay while visiting Istanbul, check out our reviews of some of the city’s top hotels and resorts.
