Holiday Inn Express New Delhi International Airport Terminal 3

The Holiday Inn Express New Delhi International Airport Terminal 3 is an in-terminal transit hotel split into two wings -- domestic and international -- in Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Guests here are strictly transit passengers, and are not allowed to stay for more than 24 hours due to security restraints. This means that travelers who just want a few hour's rest during a long layover can book a room without having to pay for a full night. There's also a policy that once checked in, guests cannot exit the airport, so there's really no reason to stay here unless one is en route elsewhere. Guests enter the hotel through a small and unassuming lobby with a basic front desk and not much space to lounge beyond a couple of funky, 1970s-style chairs, a few of which look out through big windows and out into the terminal. The only other real place to hang out is at the on-site restaurant -- The Great Room -- a sharp space with wood floors, marble walls, and big picture windows that look out onto the runway. There's also an internet station with four computers and a printer right in the restaurant for guests who may need to print out boarding passes, and newspapers are provided to help pass the time.

As the name suggests, the Holiday Inn Express New Delhi International Airport Terminal 3 is located right inside Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. There's really no reason to stay right in the airport unless you're a transit passenger or have an early-morning flight to catch. One half provides access to international gates, while the other is attached to domestic gates. The IGI Airport Metro station is a six-minute walk from the hotel. It will take about 40 minutes via the Delhi Airport Express line or up to an hour by car to reach Connaught Place, where there are plenty of upmarket shops and restaurants. Old Delhi can take about the same amount of time to reach by road, depending on traffic. The IT hub city of Gurgaon takes about the 45 minutes to reach by car, traffic permitting.

Typical of most in-terminal airport hotels that we've seen, rooms at the Holiday Inn Express are compact, with either two twin beds or a queen. All have pleasant decor including soft rugs on wood floors and decorative wall tiles in alternating shades of egg-yolk-yellow and off-white. Bed runners and additional modern wall art is tinted to match, creating a look that's fresh and modern. Small work desks with flat-screen TVs and office chairs are a nice touch for business travelers, and all rooms come with minibars, kettles, and electrical outlets with multiple voltages for international appliances. Bathrooms are sleek and covered with black tile. They feature walk-in showers and high-end hairdryers. Some guests have noted thin walls creating noise issues from neighboring rooms and the hallway.

The Holiday Inn Express offers a decent selection of amenities, especially considering that it's a transit hotel for short-stay guests. The Great Room, the hotel's on-site restaurant, is open for all three meals, and a continental buffet breakfast is included in room rates. There's a 24-hour fitness center with a few modern pieces of weight-training and cardio equipment, as well as a small spa offering massages and beauty services, such as haircuts and mani-pedis. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property (although guests have to join the free IHG Rewards Club to use it).