I’ve always been intrigued by the glamor and elegance of aviation and the jet age in the 60s. Back then, flying was an enormous privilege, and it came with a level of sophistication and excitement. Right at the center of that was Trans World Airlines (TWA), and the TWA flight center was at JFK Airport (then known as Idlewild Airport).
This terminal, built in 1962 and designed by Eero Saarinen, was a true model of the times. In May 2019, the iconic TWA terminal was transformed into the brand-new TWA Hotel, a step back in time to the 60s. It’s such a great recreation that the TV show, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, filmed scenes of their season 5 premiere at the hotel.
We paid in full for our stay at the TWA Hotel. This post contains affiliate links. A purchase / click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
Review of the New TWA Hotel at JFK Airport
Location of the TWA Hotel
The TWA Hotel is connected to JetBlue’s Terminal 5 (T5) at JFK International Airport. Upon deplaning at JFK, we walked to the baggage claim area and followed the ample signage to the TWA Hotel airport. Once you arrive at the hotel, you can walk through the beautiful red-carpeted tubes to the main terminal area, where you’ll find the “arrivals” area.
The check-in section, which is the former airline check-in desk, offers self-service kiosks. There, you can check in, swipe your credit card, print your keys, and get your room number. Although this area is self-service, a staff member kindly walked us through the check-in process. We were handed a map and were directed to our room.
Once you exit that elevator from T5 or enter through the main entrance, you are immediately inserted into the 60s. From the 60s-era flight arrival/departure board right above the main entrance to the 60s music playing in the lobby, it really feels like a trip to the past.
JFK airport isn’t located in Manhattan, so if you are planning on seeing any of the best sites in NYC, you’ll need to get from the airport to down. Here’s one option if you need to go from JFK to Penn Station for an Amtrak train. We chose to take Uber to get into town, but it’s definitely not the most affordable option.
Rooms at the TWA Hotel
When booking your room at the TWA Hotel, you’ll be faced with a variety of options. You can also pre-pay for your room for a discount, but won’t be able to cancel.
Room types include:
- King bed rooms with a standard view, Historic TWA view, or Runway view
- 2 Queen bed rooms with a standard view, Historic TWA view, or Runway view
- Accessible rooms and suites are also offered
The TWA Hotel also offers day-stay rooms, called DayTripper stays. If you have a flight delay or a long layover, you can spend the day in a room, enjoying the amenities of the hotel. These can be booked in advance so you know that you’ll have a room available when you arrive. DayTripper stays are available for four hours or more from 6 AM to 8 PM, based on availability.
We booked a room with 2 queen beds with the historic TWA view. There are two separate wings to the hotel – the Hughes wing and the Saarinen wing. Our room, located on the 6th floor, had a beautiful view of the main building.
Rooms are small, in line with what you’d expect from a New York City hotel. These are beautifully appointed with fun little touches that are reminiscent of the 60s in a midcentury modern style. Room features include a full minibar (including cans of Tab!), comfortable beds, rotary phones, TWA pencils and paper, shower-mounted shampoo/conditioner/body wash, television, and hairdryers. While the minibar is huge, there is no coffee maker in the room.
One big negative I noticed about the room is a complete lack of storage space for clothes. There are no drawers for clothes and no closet. I suspect they planned this hotel to really be for just overnight guests who don’t want to unpack. There’s no iron/ironing board in the room, but there is a steamer if your clothes are wrinkled.
If traveling with kids, I definitely recommend having a minibar conversation before you arrive. There’s a tray full of temptations on the desk, and it isn’t immediately obvious what the charges for these items are.
Rooms have wall-to-ceiling windows and automated blackout shades. When we arrived, our room was pretty warm from the sun beating down in the room, but the air conditioning kicked in quickly. The windows are a bit awkward as anyone can see in the room unless you have the full blackout shades closed.
Our room was fairly quiet, but we were located by the elevator. I’d recommend requesting a room away from the elevator because we could hear the dinging of the button starting at 3:30 am. It didn’t keep me up, but when I woke up in the middle of the night I heard it.
My son and I loved checking out all of the little touches in the room. It really does bring you right into the 60s.
Amenities at the TWA Hotel
While the theme and location are probably the top two reasons why someone would book a room at the new TWA Hotel, there are some fun amenities as well.
The fitness center, located on the bottom floor, is probably the nicest hotel fitness center I’ve seen. It’s huge, with loads of equipment. We were down there twice and only saw a handful of people working out.
The rooftop pool is an amazing amenity. It’s a small pool, but it’s absolutely gorgeous with a full view of the runway. Tables at the Pool Bar can be reserved in advance, and I’d recommend doing that. Reservations are currently required for pool times.
The pool is heated and open year round. It’s located on the roof of the Hughes wing.
The TWA Hotel offers shops, including a TWA shop filled with merchandise with the TWA logo (things like water bottles, t-shirts, tote bags, and sneakers). Two sundries stand are set up in the lobby, and those purchases can be paid for at the TWA shop.
Valet parking is offered at the front of the hotel. Bell service isn’t offered, so you’ll need to walk your own bags to your room. However, bags can be held if you arrive before check-in time or leave after check-out time. The official check-out time is 11 am, but our request for a noon check-out time was granted. It will definitely all depend on availability.
One of the hallmarks of the TWA Hotel is the Lockheed Constellation aircraft located outside the hotel. Nicknamed Connie, this beautiful aircraft has been restored and transformed into a cocktail lounge. It’s one of only 4 Constellation aircraft remaining and is a must-see for any aviation lover.
Aviation lovers will also enjoy looking at the various museum exhibitions located throughout the hotel. These include Howard Hughes’ desk located right by the elevator to T5, as well as some original flight attendant and pilot uniforms. You’ll definitely want to plan some time just to explore the various areas of the hotel.
There are other fun areas to explore, including a Sixties Living Room and a Twister Room. These are all great photo opportunities, as well.
Food at the TWA Hotel
The main restaurant, Paris Cafe, is overseen by famous chef Jean-Georges. It offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During our first morning there, my son and I walked in for breakfast and were immediately seated. The food is a bit expensive but in line with other hotel breakfasts.
We loved our breakfast so much that we returned the following morning. Although the restaurant appeared empty, we were told that they were only able to accommodate those with reservations. If you want to eat there, I’d definitely recommend making a reservation.
The departures lounge offers kiosks operated by popular local food trucks and cafes, called the Food Hall. There is also seating in this area so you can grab a quick meal or snack and enjoy it there.
The centerpiece of the hotel is the Sunken Lounge, located off the lobby. This gorgeous red-carpeted cocktail bar serves cocktails, wine, and light bites. I was traveling with my son and we visited it twice, so it’s definitely okay for kids to visit. You do not need to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the Sunken Lounge.
There’s also the Connie, which offers a small menu of cocktails and very light bites (olives, etc). It’s so fun to visit, even if you aren’t planning to eat or drink there. The Connie does offer non-alcoholic drinks if you are bringing your kids.
Coffee by Intelligentsia is served throughout the hotel and is absolutely delicious. There are both coffee bars and coffee carts serving whatever coffee drink you prefer.
Because we were unable to eat at Paris Cafe on our second morning, we walked into the JetBlue terminal and got Dunkin’ Donuts. It’s a good option if you want a lighter breakfast and is just a few steps from the hotel.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend a stay at the TWA Hotel if you are an aviation or 60s lover, or have an early morning flight at JFK. The staff was incredibly friendly and the theme/decor absolutely can’t be beaten.
You can book the TWA Hotel here and read more reviews here.
More resources: Read our New York City Travel Tips post here to read hotel, attraction, and restaurant reviews, tips, and ideas.
