I spent $298 to sleep in a hotel that used to be an airport terminal, and the retro spot made me feel like I'd stepped into the '60s

When I arrived at TWA Hotel, I felt like I'd been through a time machine and stepped back 60 years to an earlier era of commercial aviation.

This was exactly what was supposed to happen when I walked into the hotel, which opened in 2019, as it used to be the Trans World Flight Center, an operating airport terminal that opened in 1962.

One unique feature about this hotel is that visitors who don't want to book a standard overnight room can book a daytime room to rest during the morning and afternoon hours.

I chose to visit overnight — here's what my $298 stay was like.

I emerged from the elevator and walked through a dimly lit, bright-red tunnel toward a white light in the distance. As I made my way to the hotel, hidden speakers played music by The Beatles and The Beach Boys.

From the moment I walked into the lobby, I could tell that TWA Hotel was once a functioning airplane terminal. There were a lot of these check-in desks.

The decor featured cutouts of people dressed in '60s-era clothing.

In the images, they appear to be embarking on a trip back when travelers were supposed to actually dress nicely for a flight.

The hotel decor made me feel like I was traveling in the 1960s.

Of course, there was a New York poster since the city has always been a travel hub. I had fun just walking around and looking at the art and decor in the hotel's public spaces.

TWA Hotel also had some really neat exhibits featuring authentic historic artifacts that highlight TWA's legacy and air travel's impact on the modern world.

I didn't try to make any calls, so I'm not sure if they actually worked.

Chuck Foley and Neil Rabens invented Twister in 1966, so the game-themed room fit into the hotel's overall retro feel.

Almost 60 years later, people still pull out the polka dot-covered mat and spinner at parties.

I definitely could tell that this building used to be an airport terminal and was impressed by the restoration.

Outside of the lobby area, guests can spend the night in two separate wings. The wings host a total of 512 guest rooms, and both look out onto views of the JFK runways.

My room was on the top floor of the Hughes Wing, named after Howard Hughes, who once controlled TWA Airlines.

The other, the Saarinen Wing, was named after Eero Saarinen, the famous Finnish-American architect who designed the TWA Flight Center (now the TWA Hotel).

The same 1960s-themed soundtrack that played throughout the hotel's public spaces was also on loop in the elevator.

I will say that after being there for more than a few hours, I could've done with some more modern-day music.

It seemed like not a single detail about TWA's history and legacy was ignored or left out of the hotel's design — even in the elevators.

Even though I felt like I was taking a walk to Don Draper's office, Jon Hamm was nowhere to be found.

I used an electronic keycard to get into my room, and wireless phone chargers were available inside.

My room featured a view of airplanes taxiing and taking off from JFK but was really well-soundproofed. I couldn't hear any noise from outside.

JFK is one of the busiest airports in the United States, so there was always a lot of activity outside of my window.

It was fascinating to think about all of these people coming and going and wonder where they were traveling.

I'm old enough to remember using phones with cords as a kid, but I'm not sure how to use a rotary phone. Luckily, this one seemed to have a modern twist.

I can imagine the TWA flight attendants carrying little bags similar to these to stay fresh on long-haul flights.

From the big atrium area, I could see the Lockheed Constellation coined as "Connie" outside.

Hughes commissioned the plane in 1939. It broke the existing transcontinental speed record on a flight from California to New York and served as Air Force One in the 1950s.

I didn't get to see the interior in person because there was a private event happening, but it sounded pretty neat.

The Sunken Lounge is where fans gathered to watch The Beatles arrive in the United States back in 1965. Today, it's another bar.

The atmosphere in the Paris Café was laid back when I sat down on a Monday morning, but I could tell that it turned into a classic, lively spot with fun events in the evening.

Menu items were standard, and the prices were in line with what I'd expect for fancy food at an airport hotel. Plus, there was a beverage menu full of 1960s-inspired cocktails.

It featured a collection of local foods from spots like Feltman's of Coney Island and Mister Softee.

I purchased a very expensive latte from Intelligentsia. If only the hotel featured 1960s-era prices, too.

The infinity pool, the observation deck, and the Pool Bar are open year-round. Entry policies and schedules are broken down into two groups: summer/fall and winter/spring.

I visited in August, which meant I had to pay $25 for a pool reservation. However, I learned that non-hotel guests had to pay $50 for reservations in the summer.

The rooftop infinity pool had views of the 12,079-foot-long runway and exceeded all of my expectations.

In the winter, the hotel heats the water up to a toasty 95 degrees Fahrenheit, so guests can enjoy it year-round.

Guests can only bring personal items in clear plastic bags when they come to the pool area and observation deck. I couldn't even being my laptop bag to get some work done.

However, I understood the hotel's desire for people to enjoy their time on the pool deck, sipping on a signature cocktail and watching the planes take off and land instead of working.

From here, I could see the Bay Runway, which measures 14,511 feet. This runway has historical significance and served as the backup landing strip for NASA's Space Shuttle.

I appreciated that TWA Hotel wasn't just a place to sleep. It was a historically accurate, immersive cultural experience with plenty of on-site activities to enjoy.

It was amazing to see how far aviation technology has come since 1962 — and I'm looking forward to watching it progress in the next few decades.