Milan
SHERATON MILAN MALPENSA
It took architects King Roselli five years to create this futuristic newbuild, built on a scale to match the airport terminal. The exterior is created from stretched fibreglass panels and inside you'll find 433 rooms, including 19 suites and 58 club rooms, plus a vast club lounge. The conference and meeting space alone amounts to 21,000 square feet. The soundproofing is good enough to help you forget that you're seconds from busy runways (this is the only hotel with direct access to Terminal 1). Book a club room if you want internet access included in the price, or else take your mind off the €15 per day fee by focusing on the view of the distant Alps instead.
starwoodhotels.com
Munich
KEMPINSKI AIRPORT HOTEL
You might find yourself admiring models, rather than planes, on the runway here. The hotel's distinctive domed lobby is one of the largest in the world and regularly hosts fashion and other events, including a weekly live football show. There's also a grove of 18-metre high palm trees. The hotel is located between Terminals 1 and 2, and you can't miss its steel-and-glass good looks. Energy-conscious architect Helmut Jahn is behind the design, which includes a Fit & Fly Spa offering quick-fix treatments, plus well-equipped gym, sauna and pool. There is meeting space for up to 1,200, but look out for iffy internet access and teeny twin beds.
kempinski.com
London
SOFITEL HEATHROW
You could move into this multiple-award-winning hotel and not miss much about the outside world. Many of its services are available around the clock, including the gym — though you could equally keep fit racing down its vast corridors. There are 605 large rooms, and those facing the runway are triple-glazed. It's the UK's third largest conference hotel, and its Arora Suite has space for up to 1,700 delegates. Other draws include five restaurants and bars — Brasserie Roux is as good as anything you'll get in central London. If you're driving to the airport, check out the hotel's park-and-fly deals, which offer great value. There are also touches of bling, including Swarovski Crystal bathrooms.
sofitel.com
Zurich
MÖvenpick airport hotel
This is a five-minute transfer from the terminal by free shuttle bus running every 15 minutes or so. All 333 rooms have been recently renovated, and the comfy, large beds come in for particular praise from regular visitors. Three restaurants include the Appenzeller Stube serving Swiss specialities, with lighter dishes available in the Chinese Dim Sum restaurant. Three conference rooms — Zurich, Zurich I and Zurich II — epitomise the hotel, being efficient and well-lit, without any frightening design touches that might scare anyone who has just rolled off a long-haul flight. The largest can host cocktail parties for up to 300.
moevenpick-hotels.com
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