The Best Hotels to Book Near John F Kennedy International Airport

TWA Hotel at JFK takes the intimidation out of a trip to the Big Apple. Your head will land on a pillow right next to the airport, allowing you to wake up and hit the main terminals in a quick AirTran ride. The rooftop infinity pool overlooks the runways, so you can milk every second of time before your flight arrives. Hoping to hop to Manhattan on your long layover? Ask for a 6pm check out and have more than a New York minute to explore NYC luggage-free.

Slip into an empire state of mind at Boro Hotel. While you wait for dry cleaning to send your best suit, say cheers to the Manhattan views from your balcony. How better to start the night than with a whisky neat in the lounge before heading out into the streets? No matter which side of the river you’re partying on, Boro will welcome you home with old-school New York pies at Beebe’s.

Write your own page in Long Island history at the Collective – 125 rooms are bound in the halls of a former paper factory, all sketched with reclaimed furniture and eye-catching canvas art. Co-working spaces, a 24-hour gym and a game room fill the communal blank spaces. Turn the page on every new day under a rainfall shower before stepping out to discover how the script makes it to the screen at the Museum of the Moving Image.

As vibrant and colorful as Brooklyn itself, you can’t miss the giant elephants painted across the Artel Hotel. The rainbow of colors along the exterior bleed inside, filling the interior with a unique exhibition experience – craft beers and creative cocktails will inspire you if the walls don’t. Bunk with your buddies or chill on the balcony of your queen room; either way, your artsy group will find galleries and art centers right on the block.

When they said “no sleep ‘til Brooklyn”, they surely meant no sleep until you hit the queen sheets of Hotel RL. Set an early alarm so you don’t miss a beat of New York’s creative capital, perking up with an ethically sourced latte at the on-site cafe before painting the town whichever color you please. Nights can be spent bar-hopping or stumbling around the art scene; just make sure you come back to the hotel for a thought-provoking performance at the Living Stage.

Keep it casual before your early morning flight at Five Towns Inn. This hotel is across the bay from JFK and their shuttle service will get you to your terminal without fail. There are computer stations in the lobby, if you absolutely need to get a little pre-flight work done – and it’s not a bad idea to note that the Inwood Country Club is close, too (because even conference calls are best completed on the links).

Save a bite of the Big Apple for later and eat out in Chinatown when you stay at the Asiatic Hotel. A standard room is all you’ll need, though if you’d like a refrigerator and microwave, we’d suggest getting the extra square footage of the Junior Suite. A complimentary breakfast awaits at sunrise, but no one will take offense if you save your appetite for the noodle boxes, rice bowls and hot pots right outside the hotel.

If Let’s Go Mets is your holiday refrain, Elmhurst will knock it out of the park. A close subway ride from Citi Field, this hotel’s seat beside 82nd Street Station keeps you connected to the best of NYC. Hang around your double room with your buddies before the game, catching the latest updates on your HDTV. When it’s time to head off, grab some fast food on the block and hop on the subway.