Hotel Review: Aerotel Singapore – Changi Airport Terminal 1 Transit Hotel

The Aerotel Singapore, located in Changi Airport’s Terminal 1, debuted a year back as a one-of-a-kind transit hotel with a style that was a departure from the stuffy decor usually found in transit lodgings. Boasting facilities such as an outdoor swimming pool and a mini gym within Changi Airport, the Plaza Network development could be thought of as a leisure zone while waiting out for a flight. I recently had a Singapore Airlines Suites flight to Beijing with an early morning departure and thought to check out the Aerotel Singapore the night prior.

Aerotel Singapore is comprised of 70 rooms and is located at the 3rd level of the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1, above Gate D41. An escalator takes you up to the reception area. The hotel has three types of rooms – aptly called S, M and L. The S room is a single room, M is twin while L is a family room that can fit up to 4 people. The standard stay duration in Aerotel Singapore is 6 hours although the stay can be extended for an additional US$ 14 for each incremental hour.

For this particular stay, I decided to check out the M room. Do note though that this room category varies in size. Depending on which side of the building your room is, the room could either be (a) slightly smaller and have faux windows or (b) slightly bigger with real windows that look out to the runway.

My M room came with twin beds. Upon entering, one notices the meager space for hanging clothes and luggage. As the transit hotel is located after immigration, guests are expected to be carrying only hand luggage by this point and the amount of storage available is sufficient in this respect.

That being said, I was still pleasantly surprised with the type of amenities that were readily available. Slippers, for instance, were found by the drawers while a water kettle allows guests to prepare piping hot cups of tea from the comfort of their own room. You even get quite a few pillow types to choose from.

The bathroom came equipped with a rain shower which was a nice touch. In case you forget to bring any toiletries with you, fret not. You will find dental kits, combs and even a simple vanity kit within the bathroom. Shampoo and shower gel is the 2-in-1 dispenser type.

Part of any stay at the Aerotel Singapore is access to the Library Lounge located behind reception. Guests can come here to unwind and watch television, read some books or look out to the runway. The decor here is very modern and reminds me of a more modest version found in CitizenM hotels.

A staircase leads to a modest gym. If you are here on a 6 hour stay, the equipment is sufficient for a run and some weight training. Separated from a glass door, the outdoor swimming pool is also visible from here but it was closed at the time of my visit as it was already late in the evening.

When booking a stay at the Aerotel Singapore, you can also choose between a room-only package or a room and meal package. The latter gives you the option of choose one meal during your stay. It could be breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on your preference. During my stay, I opted to have breakfast and this was served ala carte in the Library Lounge.

With prices that start from a reasonable US$ 38 (the M room starts at US$76 without breakfast), the Aerotel Singapore is a compelling option for transit passengers who have a long layover in Changi Airport. Its facilities and comfortable rooms make it a decent alternative to staying outside. If you don’t mind foregoing certain luxuries such as club access or a more spacious room, it is also a lot cheaper than staying at the nearby Crowne Plaza Changi Airport. Even residents of Singapore who are expecting to take an early flight out of the airport could very well benefit by staying here for a prolonged shut-eye and to avoid taxi midnight surcharges.

Aerotel Singapore
Level 3, Departure Transit Lounge
Terminal 1 (above Gate D41)
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore 819642

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You can read more of my hotel reviews here.