We used to do this when we flew east to Europe or south to Caribbean. We’d drive the 1.5 hrs to Philly and stay at hotel, enjoy dinner in the city, then fly out early. Parking was free for unlimited days if you spent one night.
Some hotels are better than others, some very quiet.

… cannot do the night before…

Anonymous wrote:I know I should be able to make this decision on my own, but I'm hoping you all will make some good points that sway me one way or the other!

We’re not currently in DC, but we're about the same driving distance to Dulles as someone coming from Fairfax, so roughly 30 minutes, give or take. It'll be me, DH, and our two teens traveling.

Our flight is at 7:00 AM, with boarding at 6:10. The airport we’re flying out of has a hotel inside the terminal (with its own TSA checkpoint that never has a line), so we're considering staying there the night before instead of waking up super early the day of.

On a normal day, we’re all up around 5:30 anyway, so it wouldn’t feel like a shock to the system. In theory, we’d start our first vacation day feeling a bit more refreshed than if we had to wake up at 3:00am to pack up the house, wait for Uber, and deal with the regular TSA lines, which are often long. At the hotel, we can just wake up and walk out into the terminal.

So I’m wondering, is it really worth the $350 just to avoid an early wake-up? What would you do? Has anyone stayed at an in-terminal hotel and found it to be a game changer, or a waste for just a few hours of sleep?

For the hotel characteristics you mention, and for a longer drive - say 2 or 3 hours, absolutely. For a 30 minutes drive, would prefer just to stay home where each sleeps in their own bed. Is there that much “closing the house” that you have left for the morning, some of which you cannot do in the AM? Airport hotels are not too much fun either. I just don’t feel with a 30 minute drive, you’ll end up with huge sleep savings…

for me the biggest stress would be the uber at that hour and so I'd probably plan to drive and park. I also don't think my kids would like having to be crammed in a hotel together if the alternative is being at home in own beds.

No way, just go that morning. Not worth the cost of a hotel. Its a 30 minute drive, suck it up.

Tell us the airports Op.
Why so secretive?

Chances are we've BTDT and can give you specifics.

I would not. I do not sleep well the night before an early flight regardless so I would rather be at home.

We did this for a very early flight out of JFK. We drove to JFK and stayed at a hotel where we could park our car the entire trip. The hotel had a fantastic shuttle to and from the terminals. It worked perfectly, the hotel was actually decent and there were tons of families doing the same. (The terrible part was driving home from JFK!)

I would not do this for Dulles from Virginia. Hope this helps!

No way for a 30 minute drive. It if were 1.5-2 hours then I think it's worth it

Is this for a flight home - rental car return, not 100% sure of route to airport, other various things that could go wrong in unfamiliar area -OR is this a flight TO the destination - Uber/parking NBD, leaving from leisure of own home, etc.

Leave even earlier and though it's less time sleeping, the sleep will be of higher quality at home

Airport hotels are also a bedbug risk imo.

In my opinion, it’s never worth it. You get to the hotel, which is not nice, and then you spend the whole night in an uncomfortable bed listening to hallway noise and waking up every hour to see if it’s time to go to the airport. It’s still an early start with the added stress of being in an unfamiliar place.

Only you can decide. Sorry!

I know I should be able to make this decision on my own, but I'm hoping you all will make some good points that sway me one way or the other!

We’re not currently in DC, but we're about the same driving distance to Dulles as someone coming from Fairfax, so roughly 30 minutes, give or take. It'll be me, DH, and our two teens traveling.

Our flight is at 7:00 AM, with boarding at 6:10. The airport we’re flying out of has a hotel inside the terminal (with its own TSA checkpoint that never has a line), so we're considering staying there the night before instead of waking up super early the day of.

On a normal day, we’re all up around 5:30 anyway, so it wouldn’t feel like a shock to the system. In theory, we’d start our first vacation day feeling a bit more refreshed than if we had to wake up at 3:00am to pack up the house, wait for Uber, and deal with the regular TSA lines, which are often long. At the hotel, we can just wake up and walk out into the terminal.

So I’m wondering, is it really worth the $350 just to avoid an early wake-up? What would you do? Has anyone stayed at an in-terminal hotel and found it to be a game changer, or a waste for just a few hours of sleep?