BLOC GATWICK

Aimed at transit passengers, BLOC Hotel is a basic transit hotel right in the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, with no common areas and just a reception desk for check-in (located next to the departures lounge). The hotel shares elevators with the main airport, which means that guests can go directly from their rooms to arrivals on the ground floor or to departures on the second floor, but floors with rooms on them (levels four through eight) require a key card. Travelers can check out using a control screen in their rooms and simply drop their key cards off in a drop box next to the elevators, alleviating any need to return to reception a the end of their stays. 

BLOC Hotel is located on the departures level of Gatwick Airport's South Terminal, a two-minute walk from the airport's railway station with direct connections to London or Brighton and a two-minute ride on the inter-terminal shuttle train to the airport's North Terminal. Reaching central London by train takes about an hour from here. 

There's a Cafe Nero right outside the entry to the hotel and a few restaurants, newsagents, and basic sundries shops right in the terminal. An M&S Food Hall one level down sells pre-made sandwiches and salads along with basic groceries and stays open late. 

BLOC Hotel offers nine different room types, from entry-level windowless units that are little more than cabins, with small nightstands, beds, and wet room-style bathrooms with rainfall showers clear up to a huge, 329-square-meter (3,541-square-foot) Runway Suite with a kitchenette, a separate bedroom and living room, and runway views that seems more geared toward plane-spotters than transit passengers looking to spend a quick night in the airport. While most rooms feature queen beds, some units -- such as the Sleep Twin Room (Bunk Beds) -- offer pairs of single bunk beds instead. Smart Family Rooms offer two bunk beds plus a queen bed. All rooms come with soap and, at minimum, a two-in-one body wash and shampoo, while higher-category units such as VIP rooms have lotion and separate shampoo, body wash, and conditioner. While storage space is limited (don't expect closets or drawers), there's plenty of space to stash luggage under the beds. TVs and lights are controlled using a bedside touchscreen that guests can also use to check out, speeding along the process. Note that rooms lack phones, but each floor does have a courtesy phone in the hall next to the elevators for reaching the lobby. Another thing to note: Most rooms don't have coffee- and tea-making facilities, but the hotel does give guests free coupons to use at terminal cafes and restaurants. 

BLOC Hotel is about as no-frills as you can get, and there aren't any public areas or amenities on offer, besides what you get in the rooms. That said, guests do get a booklet with discount coupons at airport shops, including Cafe Nero on the departures level (Level 3), right by reception, and at M&S Food Hall, where there are lots of ready-to-eat salads and sandwiches on offer. There's also a WhatsApp line for guests to message reception. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Parking is available for a fee at Gatwick airport, and the hotel offers packages that include rooms and valet parking, with the added bonus of Premium Security passes, which allow travelers to pass through the gates more quickly.