I spent $483 on hotel day rooms to combat long connections and jet lag before a big conference. Take a peek inside JFK's wacky 1960s-inspired hotel — and a hidden oasis within Heathrow's terminals

Kari McMahonMay 15, 2022, 19:39 IST

Entrance to TWA Hotel, a short walk from JFK's Terminal 5.Kari McMahon/Insider

I had a 32-hour flight from the UK to the Bahamas to reach a major conference, Crypto Bahamas.
To combat jet lag and long connections, I spent $483 on day rooms to rest from traveling.

I had a 32-hour trip from the UK to the Bahamas for a major crypto conference.

Crypto Bahamas sign at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.Kari McMahon/Insider

Traveling internationally is a completely different experience now compared with before the pandemic.

Long queues at security at Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 around 6 p.m. on a Monday.Kari McMahon/Insider

With an 8-hour wait from arriving in London Heathrow until my flight to JFK, I headed to Terminal 3's Aerotel.

Aerotel entrance at London Heathrow Terminal 3.Kari McMahon/Insider

I booked a $68 solo plus room for around 6 hours in London Heathrow's Aerotel.

A solo plus room at London Heathrow's Aerotel.Kari McMahon/Insider

The hotel provided amenities, such as bottled water and tea and coffee-making facilities.

Tea and coffee facilities in the room.Kari McMahon/Insider

A bathroom with a walk-in shower to freshen up in.

Aerotel's solo plus room's bathroom.Kari McMahon/Insider

The hotel was within walking distance of a number of cafes in the departures and arrivals area of the terminal.

The hotel faces out into the arrivals section of Terminal 3 close to cafes and the Heathrow Express.Kari McMahon/Insider

The only frustrating part of using a day room was there was no desk with a chair to eat or work at.

The storage area of the room with no table or chair to work at.Kari McMahon/Insider

I had to come up with an inventive way to eat lunch.

Creating a makeshift table at the end of the bed to eat lunch.Kari McMahon/Insider

I spent around 6 hours in the room working on the bed and freshening up before my next flight.

Bed in Aerotel rooms.Kari McMahon/Insider

I checked out of Heathrow's Aerotel around 5:30 p.m. to grab dinner ahead of my 8:00 p.m. flight to JFK. Getting food at Heathrow is no easy task right now.

Dinner at Spuntino at Heathrow Terminal 3.Kari McMahon/Insider

I paid $115 in total to upgrade my seats to economy delight for the journey to and from London and New York.

Economy delight seats on Virgin Atlantic flight.Kari McMahon/Insider

I arrived in JFK around 10:00 p.m. and reached my second day room by 11:30 p.m.

Entrance to TWA Hotel, a short walk from JFK's Terminal 5.Kari McMahon/Insider

The hotel is designed to replicate many of TWA Flight Center's original features. It also features bars, a food hall, an infinity pool overlooking the runway, and a roller rink.

The bar area in the TWA Hotel.Kari McMahon/Insider

The hotel is designed to replicate many of TWA Flight Center's original features. It also features bars, a food hall, an infinity pool overlooking the runway, and a roller rink.

I paid $323 for a deluxe king room. It was huge.

A deluxe king room at TWA hotel.Kari McMahon/Insider

There was far too much to explore in the TWA Hotel making it a worthwhile stopping point for anyone with a long connection.

Food hall at TWA hotel where several stalls are open 24/7.Kari McMahon/Insider

TWA hotel does offer day rates. Despite only spending around 6 hours in the hotel I had to pay an overnight rate.

Departures and arrivals board at TWA Hotel.Kari McMahon/Insider

I used the AirTrain to head to Terminal 2 where I got breakfast before the final leg of my journey to the Bahamas.

A tablet to use for ordering at food at Due Amici in Terminal 2 departures.Kari McMahon/Insider

When I arrived I didn't immediately feel like I conquered the jet lag but after a night's sleep I found a good routine for the rest of the week.

Sunset at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.Kari McMahon/Insider

I even managed to attend a party with my colleague the day I arrived in the Bahamas.

Insider reporters Vicky Huang on the left and Kari McMahon on the right.Vicky Huang/Insider

On the way back, I had a last-minute need for a day room at Heathrow. I used alternative sites to find a better and cheaper deal.

Aerotel solo plus room at Heathrow.Kari McMahon/Insider

The second day room at Aerotel still didn't have a desk or chair.

No desk or chair in second Aerotel room.Kari McMahon/Insider

I found having a strategy for combatting jet lag is one of the best approaches.

Pepperoni pizza at the Pizza Lab at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.Kari McMahon/Insider

But don't expect to always be on the go and working.

The view from the room's balcony.Kari McMahon/Insider

See inside: an NFT art gallery with 36 TV screens, 6 advisors, and space-themed dog sculptures. Investors can pay however they want.

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I spent $483 on hotel day rooms to combat long connections and jet lag before a big conference. Take a peek inside JFK's wacky 1960s-inspired hotel &mdash; and a hidden oasis within Heathrow's terminals

I had a 32-hour trip from the UK to the Bahamas for a major crypto conference.

Traveling internationally is a completely different experience now compared with before the pandemic.

With an 8-hour wait from arriving in London Heathrow until my flight to JFK, I headed to Terminal 3's Aerotel.

I booked a $68 solo plus room for around 6 hours in London Heathrow's Aerotel.

The hotel provided amenities, such as bottled water and tea and coffee-making facilities.

A bathroom with a walk-in shower to freshen up in.

The hotel was within walking distance of a number of cafes in the departures and arrivals area of the terminal.

The only frustrating part of using a day room was there was no desk with a chair to eat or work at.

I had to come up with an inventive way to eat lunch.

I spent around 6 hours in the room working on the bed and freshening up before my next flight.

I checked out of Heathrow's Aerotel around 5:30 p.m. to grab dinner ahead of my 8:00 p.m. flight to JFK. Getting food at Heathrow is no easy task right now.

I paid $115 in total to upgrade my seats to economy delight for the journey to and from London and New York.

I arrived in JFK around 10:00 p.m. and reached my second day room by 11:30 p.m.

The hotel is designed to replicate many of TWA Flight Center's original features. It also features bars, a food hall, an infinity pool overlooking the runway, and a roller rink.

I paid $323 for a deluxe king room. It was huge.

There was far too much to explore in the TWA Hotel making it a worthwhile stopping point for anyone with a long connection.

TWA hotel does offer day rates. Despite only spending around 6 hours in the hotel I had to pay an overnight rate.

I used the AirTrain to head to Terminal 2 where I got breakfast before the final leg of my journey to the Bahamas.

When I arrived I didn't immediately feel like I conquered the jet lag but after a night's sleep I found a good routine for the rest of the week.

I even managed to attend a party with my colleague the day I arrived in the Bahamas.

On the way back, I had a last-minute need for a day room at Heathrow. I used alternative sites to find a better and cheaper deal.

The second day room at Aerotel still didn't have a desk or chair.

I found having a strategy for combatting jet lag is one of the best approaches.

But don't expect to always be on the go and working.

I spent $483 on hotel day rooms to combat long connections and jet lag before a big conference. Take a peek inside JFK's wacky 1960s-inspired hotel — and a hidden oasis within Heathrow's terminals