TWA Hotel at JFK Airport

We have always enjoyed stating at the TWA hotel. The only drawback was that the pool was closed for winterization during our stay. Although this was understandable, there was no communication from the property prior to our arrival; as the rooftop pool was a primary reason we chose to stay at this property, it would have been beneficial information to have been provided ahead of time. This stay = 3/5, regular stay = 4.5-5/5

I was stranded overnight after the Air Traffic Controller shortage due to the Trump and Republican shutdown hit. Most hotels near JFK are mediocre at best, plus with the construction around the airport take awhile to get to/from. As such, after a lot of looking at reviews of external hotels to confirm my recollection, I booked at the TWA Hotel and was very pleasantly surprised. First, the room was very clean. This is always my main consideration, and I was happy to see this held true here. The location is as good as can be expected at JFK. AirTrain to Terminal 5 then a walk through the construction wasteland to the hotel. But it was VERY well marked so you knew exactly where to go. The hotel itself is very cool. Retro to hit that TWA vibe, Saarinen architected so swooping 60's Jetson-like modern. Check-in desk is like an airline desk. Room includes a functioning rotary phone, an old Life magazine, and retro touches while being modern (motorized blinds) and comfortable. Food options were decent - I got an $11 hotdog but there was also a sitdown restaurant (I just wasn't that hungry). Bar was fine, decent martini, plastic non-martini glass though. I would have loved to go in the airplane bar but it was closed for a private event. VERY quiet - super thick glass so you don't hear the airport. All in all, I've been recommending this to my friends and colleagues as a good option at JFK, and by far the coolest option.

We were in New York for the New York marathon. My hubby is a plane fanatic so we booked our last night in NYC at the TWA Hotel. I had requested an early checkin which was not possible. That is fine as the T&C's do state it might not be possible. However, when doing the self check in, it didn't work. We asked the checkin lady why there was a problem and we were directed to another member of staff. She was very indifferent. The USP of this hotel is the pool overlooking the runway. Luckily I had checked the hotel details the day before and noticed on the website that the pool was closed from 5th November. This meant that the day we checked in on the 4th, we headed straight to the pool. It would have been nice if the hotel had contacted us prior advising that the pool was closed from the 5th. If we weren't able to use the pool, it would have been a real disappointment. We had booked a room that overlooked the runway which cost $870 dollars for one night. The room was dusty, limited towels, no water provided or tea/coffee facilities which I thought was disappointing given the amount of $ for the room. We had dinner and breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Our server, Jules, was great and the food was good. It is a novelty hotel and very interesting with an exhibition of previous TWA captain and hostess outfits and their history. Overall, I would recommend this hotel if you an airplane enthusiast.

I have stayed at the TWA Hotel multiple times since it opened. On my first stay in Aug 2020, I was impressed by the atmosphere and the unique property. Unfortunately, the quality has gone downhill since then and I will not be returning. The only real advantage of this hotel is its location within walking distance of Terminal 5, which is convenient since getting to any other JFK hotel by shuttle is a real pain. However, everything else is disappointing. Most rooms have no view at all and with the floor-to-ceiling glass, you have to keep the curtains shut the entire time, making the room feel claustrophobic. The hotel feels dirty and worn down. The red carpets are everywhere and never seem to be cleaned. In the elevator, someone had spilled a cocktail and the empty glass and lemons were still on the floor, making it sticky. I had no choice but to step into it. The staff does not listen to guest preferences anymore. I am a light sleeper and specifically asked for a quiet room on a higher floor without a connecting door. They acknowledged me as a “frequent customer” and said they were “upgrading” me. I ended up in the worst room I have ever stayed in: on the ground floor, cars driving right by my window, a connecting door, and right next to the ice machine that woke me up several times with loud hammer-like noises. After rolling my luggage across endless dirty red carpet at midnight, I didn’t have the energy to go back to reception, especially since I had to leave at 6am. The worst part was a step leading to the bed, which was barely visible. When I woke up at 5am I didn’t see it and fell hard and injured myself. I mentioned it on my way out, but the staff didn’t seem to care. I still have bruises and it could have been much worse. The value for money is close to zero. The rooms are overpriced and they charge a $19.83 “facility fee” (plus taxes) that supposedly covers WIFI, which should be free anyway. The cancellation policy is also joke, with “flexible” rates that can only be canceled up to 7 days before arrival. When my flight to New York was canceled in August 2025, they refunded only the taxes and refused to move my stay to the next night. Access to the pool or pool bar in summer is not included. They don’t even offer complimentary water bottles in the room. Since there is no loyalty program, there is no benefit to staying multiple times. As a Marriott Ambassador member, I find it shocking how little TWA values returning guests. The hotel is open to the public, so I suggest visiting just to see the design, maybe have a drink at the Connie airplane bar or the rooftop bar (if you can get in), but don’t stay or eat there.

If you love retro, this hotel is for you. From rotary phones, to Twister and old fashioned beauty salon hairdryers - every detail is perfectly curated to transport you to the 1960s. The sunken bar and Paris Cafe are great food and drink options that make you forget you are in an airport hotel. The rooftop heated pool with a view of the runway was the icing on the cake. Our night here felt more like a destination than a functional layover spot between our international flight arrival and domestic departure the next day.

Very neat experience, like stepping back into the ‘60s when TWA was a luxurious way to travel. Rooftop pool was great, the drawback is the food is very less than average and overpriced for what you get. The staff was friendly, but a bit lazy when it came to keeping tables and bar area clean.

Extremely convenient for JFK/NYC overnight(s). Train(s) to city center fast & inexpensive make the TWA hotel a viable option for several nights in the city. Great hotel views of JFK operation, especially from the rooftop pool & lounge. Staff - excellent!

Stayed in the presidential suite: - Broken bathroom door. - no fridge - dirty - no water or coffee. - broken TV - flickering lights - lukewarm staff - it cost 1700 dollars to stay for 2 nights. -felt like a motel room

After a very long day of travel we were welcomed by the incredible staff at TWA hotel. Kevin was amazing! He took incredible care of us, with a goofed up reservation, he was able to get things cleared up and find us a room. We are forever grateful and look forward to staying again. Also a shout out to Kareem to staying positive and keeping a smile on his face as we figured it all out. Great team and so positive and service oriented. Employees like these are real gems and made a lasting impression on us.

A great hotel if you have a long layover or an overnight stay for a connection - food at Jean Georges is great, and the entire 60s experience is well done