If you have a long layover, look for a transit hotel. They're my low-cost secret to not having a miserable trip.

• I stayed at a Yotelair transit hotel for the first time during a long layover in Istanbul.
• They're inside airports, past immigration and security, so they're super convenient for travel.

As a frequent traveler, I sometimes take flights with long layovers.

They can be miserable, but they can also be a great deal, which is why I recently brought my kids onto a flight with a 32-hour layover in Istanbul.

An upside of this odd itinerary was that it gave us a full day in Istanbul, where we caught our connecting flight home. A downside was that our first flight landed close to midnight, and our connecting flight left early in the morning.

I frantically searched for somewhere to stay during our two-night stopover that was both conveniently close to the airport and would give us easy access to the city, about an hour away.

My search led me to a fantastic new-to-me concept: transit hotels.

Transit hotels aren't the same as airport hotels — they're way better

Airport hotels are close to or connected to airports, but transit hotels are inside airports. Many are in the airport's transit area, where duty-free shops are usually located.

Unlike airport hotels, transit hotels are usually beyond airport security and immigration. Not having to get a passport stamped before checking in or boarding the plane saves a ton of time for travelers who don't leave the airport.

Because of their unique location, transit hotels are often limited to international passengers who have a boarding pass for an onward flight anywhere from a few hours to a day or two later. Rooms can typically be booked for several hours or overnight.

Many transit-hotel guests never leave the airport. However, some passengers, like me, find that transit hotels make sense even if they plan to leave and explore.

My first transit-hotel experience was incredibly stress-free and relaxing

My family stayed at a Yotelair transit hotel in the Istanbul Airport for about $236 per night.

Before checking in, we had to scan our boarding passes and go through an additional level of airport security. However, this was a quick process.

Since the hotel was inside the airport, we were in our room within 40 minutes of our plane landing.

If I'd booked a hotel outside of the airport, I would've had to go through immigration, take a cab, and navigate the city late at night with my kids to find it. I would've been exhausted for the one day I had in Istanbul to explore.

When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find the hotel was more than basic and much nicer than a sleeping pod.

Our modern room also had great amenities.

It had outlets that could accommodate American plugs without a converter and toiletries. We also got a towel warmer, cozy slippers, and a free toothbrush.

I could also change the room's vibe by adjusting the lighting to blue or purple.

There was plenty of space for me and my two kids to sleep and our shower was spacious, too.

When we headed out the next morning, we had to go through immigration, but it was a fast process. When we returned to the hotel, we went through immigration and security once more.

I was glad to get that out of the way at night so we could sleep in before the 11-hour flight early the next morning.

Instead of waking up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport by 7 a.m., we slept in until 7:45, grabbed a quick breakfast to-go, and got to our gate with plenty of time to spare.

It was the most relaxing and stress-free travel day I have ever had.

These hotels solve a major travel problem, and I wish more airports had them

Although I could've found a cheaper hotel in the city, paying a little more was well worth the convenience and allowed us to maximize our short time in Istanbul and still get plenty of rest.

After all, a long layover is draining and can exhaust and stress out any traveler. I've spent too many layovers trying to sleep on the floor or wandering aimlessly. Transit hotels are the perfect fix.

Unfortunately, they aren't as widespread as I think they should be and can be tough to find. Yotelair has airside transit hotels in Paris, Singapore, and Amsterdam. Airports in places like Oman and Malaysia also have transit hotels under other brands.

In the US, the closest thing you'll find to transit hotels are usually sleeping pods or short-term suites for rent in select major airports.

Now that I know how fantastic transit hotels are, I'll actively look for them whenever I have a long layover — and I hope one day to see them in every airport.