Detroit airport hotel exceeds expectations

Airports generally suck.

And that’s why I found myself overwhelmingly surprised last week when I traveled to Detroit for a quick meeting and thoroughly enjoyed myself without actually leaving the airport.

I flew in the night before and booked a room at the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The hotel is actually located in the McNamara Terminal just across from Gate A36 and next to McDonald’s. Guests walk through a simple doorway and suddenly leave behind the garishly lit terminal and that annoying, angst-ridden atmosphere found in most every airport. In just a few steps I found myself in the middle of a gorgeous, high-ceilinged lobby with fountains, pleasant music, and all the amenities of a high-end hotel. It was like traveling through some type of portal to a world of comfort completely opposite of anything normally found within an airport.

But wait, it gets better. The rooms are great (Heavenly Beds), the bar is relaxing and the restaurant is tasty, albeit expensive. I can confidently say it was the best food I’ve ever had in an airport.

In addition, when leaving the next day, I was able to get my boarding ticket from a kiosk in the lobby and then pass through Westin’s own, private security line back into the airport. If I really wanted to push it, I could have climbed out of my bed ten minutes before my flight started boarding and still made it in time.

Man, I wish all airports had such facilities. Hats off to Westin for really nailing it (although they really need to do something about the cost of those $15 hamburgers).