Have you ever wondered how some hotels can be called an ‘airport hotel’ when they’re miles from any runway, you often need a Himalayan guide to get to them and they were designed by someone who once picked up their nanna from an airport in the 70s rather than someone who actually travels.

When we flew into Adelaide, we were delighted to discover the Atura Adelaide Airport hotel is nothing like this with no Himalayan guide required. In fact, it’s so close to the terminal you barely have time to say ‘there’s our hotel’ before you’re at the front door. Even better, it’s a study of all the things modern, efficient and clever that you could possibly want in an airport hotel. We were inside the airport (or out of it) in seconds, no transport or long walk required. We were heading off early the next morning but if you’re staying longer and want to head into Adelaide for the day, it’s a 15 minute taxi ride to the CBD.

The Atura hotel at Adelaide Airport has a great location, funky design, decor and facilities that all score a big tick for style and functionality. However, it’s possible the designers did miss adding some signage. The reception desk looks more like a shop counter, especially as it backs onto the hotel’s boutique store (which we loved, more on this later). We weren’t the only ones confused about where to check in, with several other couples also scanning the busy lobby for a reception desk when we checked in.

Aside from this, the hotel is very well laid out and makes the arrival and departure process quick and easy. The Atura Adelaide Airport Hotel features 165 rooms over seven floors and multiple room categories with either twin and king size beds. The better the view and the larger the room, the more it costs. Hotel amenities include a restaurant plus an appealing bar with indoor and outdoor seating, multiple lounge areas, the lobby boutique and store and meeting and event areas.   

We stayed in an Atura Runway King room on the 7th floor with views of the runway and the Adelaide Hills beyond. The room was very modern and stylish with an industrial chic look and retro travel accents featured in decorations and soft furnishings. As a couple of travel tragics, we loved the view and also the funky retro artworks featuring travel memories from days gone by.

Our room had a comfy king size, a sofa, a work desk with a chair,  coffee machine, minibar and a TV. A small closet, in-room safe and ironing board with iron was also included. The bathroom was a good size with a large shower area, good-sized vanity, high-quality amenities and a toilet. Water pressure was also excellent, a must when you’ve come off a flight and want to feel really refreshed.

One feature that is essential to any airport hotel is noise suppression and this Adelaide airport hotel ticks this box very well. Plus Adelaide Airport has a curfew from 11:00pm to 4:00am which means you don’t have to worry about a mighty Airbus A380 waking you up at 2am. Guests are given a cute complimentary eye mask as a gift at check in but we didn’t need to use it and slept very well.

The Atura Adelaide Airport menu offers plenty of choice. The Meeting Point Bar on the ground floor is open to both hotel guests and the travelling public and serves affordable menu options like burgers and pizza. It’s a top choice for an early morning coffee, afternoon beer or late-night glass of Barossa red wine. If you’ve got a longer layover, skip the airport dining options and come here for a meal and a drink instead.

If you’re after a cheap and cheerful bite, the bar is the way to go or you can dine at the Hangar Restaurant which offers more upmarket meals like steaks, pasta etc. This is also the place to come for breakfast with a buffet or a la carte menu available. We enjoyed our breakfast and the coffee from the Meeting Point Bar was very good.

There is also the attractive Atura Adelaide Airport lobby store which is very boutique and offers upmarket (yet affordable) heat and eat microwave meals with a microwave to cook them in for inhouse guests. There are also travel essentials if you’ve forgotten something (or someone and need to buy a classy gift at short notice) plus cold drinks, gum, chocolates and other goodies. We loved the fact that almost all of the things on sale here were local, including the bottles of wine which had a very small mark up. A great option if you fancy a quiet drink in your room and some room service while you take in the runway action outside.

One more feature in the hotel lobby area is a free-for-use pool table. This proved very popular with a family group with a couple of teens who took advantage of the coffee and snacks available at the bar and had fun playing pool while they waited for their flight. There is plenty of other seating as well if you have to check out of your room and need a quiet place to work or sit.

If you’re looking for something to do to pass the time, there’s also a museum that’s worth visiting just behind the hotel. The Vickers Vimy Museum is a 2-minute stroll from the main hotel entrance and includes the restored Vickers Vimy converted bomber which made the first official flight from England to Australia in the Air Race of 1919. It’s well worth a visit if you are in-between flights or before you check out of the hotel.

Overall, our stay at the Atura Adelaide Airport was excellent with a great night’s sleep, a refreshing shower and amenities and a tasty breakfast. The coffee was also a highlight with a steady stream of airport workers and regulars also dropping in for a caffeine fix and a snack. This Adelaide airport hotel is stylish, clean and efficient with cheerful and attentive staff who made our stay a pleasure.

Disclosure: The writer stayed as a guest of the Atura Adelaide Airport Hotel.

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