Sleep & Fly

Air Rooms are accessed through glass doors from the terminal building. It's a small hotel with a modern, corporate style that feels like an extension of the airport's interior. A few large potted palms soften the look, and windows overlook the airport entrance -- with views of the control tower behind. An open bookshelf separates the small sitting area from the business center, where a striking piece of contemporary art brings color to an otherwise characterless space. Breakfast is set up in a large event room. It's a functional hotel with just a handful of rooms, and the overall atmosphere is akin to that of a conference center. Business guests are common, and there are many meeting rooms, but the hotel also attracts tourists on layovers or preparing for an early flight.

This hotel is located inside Terminal 1 of Barcelona El Prat Airport. There are several restaurants nearby in the terminal and check-in is a 10-minute walk away. The shuttle bus for Terminal 2 is a two-minute walk around the corner. There's a protected park next to the airport -- a five-minute drive -- which is a pleasant place to explore, and has a secluded beach area. It's about a 30-minute drive into the center of Barcelona. Connections can also be made via Aerobus, metro, or train, taking about 45 minutes. For a quick visit to a beach resort town, Castelldelfels is a 15-minute drive, or 35 minutes away by bus.

Air Rooms are compact, with simple white decor that's mellowed by caramel colored velvet pillows and bed runners. Standard Rooms are functional, with work desks, flat-screen TVs, and small wardrobes containing safes. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi isn't free. There are some welcome features like free drinks in the minibars, Lindt chocolates, and Nespresso machines, plus practical aspects like black-out blinds and air-conditioning. Premium Rooms have more spacious layouts, and add little frills including wine glasses, flowers, extra wardrobes, and sofa beds -- useful for families or groups. Rooms can be booked for day use as well as overnight. Bathrooms in the Standard Rooms are wedged into a corner, separated by partially frosted glass doors that may not be private enough for all guests. Their compact size can result in more of a wet-room effect. Premium Room bathrooms are larger. They have double sinks -- though share the same frosted glass partitions found in lower categories. All include hairdryers and toiletries.

Air Rooms Barcelona Airport has a large gym with a good variety of cardio and weight training machines. It's open 24 hours. The business center has several work stations with internet and printing, and there are meeting rooms available. There's a fee to use the computers. A continental buffet breakfast is served for an extra fee, with cereals, pastries, and fruit. Wired internet is free, but Wi-Fi is via the airport's own network and costs extra.