Budget Gatwick Airport Hotels: YotelAIR Review & Alternatives

If you’re looking for an affordable Gatwick airport hotel, YotelAIR London Gatwick is great for making an early morning flight easier to deal with.

One of the downsides of being a budget traveller? Hello, cheap early morning flights. Especially when you live in East London and your flight takes off at 6am from Gatwick. Unless you fancy trekking across London via night tube (or worse, the bus) in the early hours to get a train, a stay in one of Gatwick’s airport hotels is probably your best option. 

Last time we flew from Gatwick Airport for a long weekend in Rome, we stayed at a budget hotel that was actually slightly off-site, and had to get a bus into the airport. Which was a bit of a ballache. So for our recent Montenegro holiday, staying right in the airport itself at YotelAIR London Gatwick was the perfect way to maximise that snoozetime.

_{*This site uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I’ll earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you)*}

Getting to YotelAIR London Gatwick

YotelAIR London Gatwick is super easy to find. Hopping off the Gatwick Express (or, if you’re cheap like us, the Thameslink), it’s a minute’s stroll through the South Terminal and down a floor in the lifts, and you’ve arrived. It’s also conveniently located next to Wetherspoons, Boots and Marks & Spencer – perfect if you get a lil’ late night Percy Pigs craving. 

Rooms at YotelAIR

YotelAir London Gatwick offers three room types:

• Standard Single – a single bed designed for one (but for a quick snooze on a budget, you could possibly squeeze in two if you’re on the smaller side!). There are two configurations available, one has a lower bed while the other is a higher bunk style.
• Premium Twin – two bunk-style single beds, ideal for friends or couples who don’t mind a night sleeping apart!
• Premium Cabin – double bed, perfect for a couple or two friends, or if you want a bit more space to stretch out. There’s also more storage space here if you’re travelling with lots of luggage.

You can book your room overnight, or check in for a couple of hours to recuperate between flights with a day-use hire.

When we booked, there wasn’t actually a double room available, so we booked a Premium Twin cabin.

What to expect from your stay

I’m not gonna lie, the YotelAIR cabins at Gatwick Airport are pretty cosy. By this, I mean they’re small. But if all you need’s a sleep and shower, you don’t need all that much space. In our room, we had the bunk bed setup – I took the top one, like an excitable child. The beds were definitely comfier than I expected too!

The bathroom was almost as big as the sleeping area itself, with a powerful shower that woke me up nicely after a short sleep. If you’ve forgotten any toiletries, the friendly reception staff have supplies on hand – as well as some snazzy branded products if you want a souvenir of your YotelAIR experience.

If you like to have a bit of pre-bed entertainment, the rooms all have a TV in them – we ended up watching First Dates until around 1am, which defeated the objective of getting an early night. Whoops. There are also plenty of charging points for your devices, and a room service food and drink menu in case you get peckish.

Facilities at YotelAIR

With a premium location in the South Terminal’s landside area, you have full access to all landside shops and restaurants.

If you don’t want to leave your cosy room, that’s fine too! The 24/7 front desk reception area sells drinks, snacks and travel essentials. There’s also a 24/7 room service menu with pizzas, hot meals and small bites; plus a continental breakfast available in the morning.

For a little boujie extra, their ‘Slayover’ kits (additional cost) offer travel-tailored sets to suit your travel needs:

• Moment of Pause: Stretching guide, pillow spray, herbal teas
• Rest and Reset: Eye mask, sleep sounds, electrolytes and a vitamin drink
• Power Up: Protein balls, mood-lifting beats, a hydrating face mask, resistance bands and a rejuvenating soft drink

Alternative hotels at Gatwick Airport

If YotelAir doesn’t suit your needs, here are a few more suggestions of airport hotels at Gatwick, to suit a range of budgets:

• Sofitel London Gatwick (North Terminal): A short walk to the North Terminal via covered walkway, best for those looking for a proper hotel room with a bit more space.
• Hilton London Gatwick (South Terminal): More standard hotel rooms, right next to the South Terminal, offering a fitness centre and multiple places to eat and drink.
• Premier Inn London Gatwick (North Terminal): Usually the most affordable terminal hotel, combines affordability with convenience.
• Premier Inn Gatwick A23: Cheaper than the on-site Premier Inn, around a 10 minute walk to the North Terminal. Great for those with minimal luggage who want to save a bit of cash for sangrias.
• Travelodge Gatwick Airport: Budget-friendly accommodation less than 5 minutes drive from terminals. The Gatwick Hoppa Bus stops here around every 10 minutes, costing £5.25.

If you’re booking a hotel off-site, consider the costs and additional time factors of getting to the terminal, especially if you have an early flight. The Premier Inn is a nice middle ground for me – a little cheaper than the terminal hotels usually, but still within easy reach on foot.

Is YotelAIR London Gatwick worth staying at?

Staying at the airport definitely made a huge difference to how I felt on my first day of travel; and being so close to departures really made it easy to just get up and fly. 

YotelAIR at Gatwick Airport is also a great shout if you’re fancying a quick nap and some freshen up time between flights, or before heading off to somewhere else. Plus, unlike most hotels, you can book a 4 hour slot rather paying for the whole night. Which is definitely handy for a few hours rest (and charging all your devices, obviously).

YotelAIR Gatwick
South Terminal Gatwick Airport, Arrivals Concourse, RH6 0NN
Book your hotel stay