June 2024. For our first visit to the United States of America since the COVID-19 pandemic, we flew to New Orleans via London Heathrow with British Airways. After two days of exploring NOLA, Amtrak‘s Crescent overnight train brought us from Louisiana to New York, where we we stayed one night only before flying home. 

We payed for a late check out at the Hyatt Herald Square New York but at 3 PM we finally did. 

We travelled from Penn Station to John Fitzgerald Kennedy Airport (JFK) by train. First a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train to Jamaica, then the AirTrain to the airport. For the AirTrain, you tap in with your credit card. 

As we were there early, to pass the time, we decided to visit the TWA Hotel.

What is the TWA Hotel?

The TWA Hotel at JFK is a unique and stylish accommodation option that revives the iconic Trans World Airlines Flight Center, originally designed by the renowned architect Eero Saarinen, from Finland. 

Opened in 1962, this terminal was celebrated for its futuristic design and served as TWA’s flagship hub until its closure in 2001. 

After years of neglect, the terminal was meticulously restored and transformed into a luxury hotel, which opened its doors in May 2019. This transformation preserves the architectural brilliance of Saarinen’s creation while incorporating contemporary amenities to cater to modern travelers.

As a visitor awaiting your flight, the TWA Hotel offers an array of activities and experiences that can make your time at the airport enjoyable and memorable. 

TWA Hotel offers a ‘Daytripper’ arrangement. You can book a room from 6AM to 8PM and enjoy the year-round swimming pool, the Huge Gym and other amenities. 

Food and drinks

One of the most captivating aspects is the preservation of the original Sunken Lounge. This vibrant red-carpeted space, with its retro furnishings and sweeping views of the airport, provides a nostalgic ambiance. Here, you can relax, enjoy a cocktail from the adjacent bar, and soak in the atmosphere of 1960s air travel glamour.

Dining at the TWA Hotel is an experience in itself. You can visit the Paris Café, operated by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. This restaurant offers a menu that blends contemporary cuisine with dishes inspired by the golden age of air travel, set in a dining room that beautifully merges modern design with historical elements.

Other food and rinks options are The Pool Bar, Connie Cocktail Lounge in a 1958 Lockheed Constellation. There’s the Food Hall and Intelligentsia Coffee.

Heated pool

For those seeking leisure and relaxation, the rooftop infinity pool and observation deck offer stunning views of JFK Airport and the surrounding areas. 

The pool is heated, making it a year-round attraction where you can swim and unwind while watching planes take off and land. The observation deck provides a perfect vantage point for aviation enthusiasts and photographers alike.

If you’re interested in history, the TWA Hotel houses a museum dedicated to the legacy of Trans World Airlines and the Jet Age. 

The museum features a collection of vintage uniforms, memorabilia, and interactive exhibits that chronicle the evolution of air travel and TWA’s role in it. This museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, making it a perfect way to spend your time learning about aviation history.

Huge Gym

Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the 10,000-square-foot (929 m²) fitness center, one of the largest hotel gyms in the world. It is equipped with state-of-the-art workout equipment and offers a variety of fitness classes, ensuring that you can maintain your exercise routine even while traveling.

TWA Shop

For those interested in shopping or picking up a unique souvenir, the TWA Hotel’s gift shop and various retail outlets offer a selection of TWA-branded merchandise, books, and travel accessories.

Other gimmicks

There’s a fake pink salon. “The famous little pink packet, Sweet’N Low, is bringing the glam at our 1960s salon exhibit! Take a seat under the beehive hair dryer, flip through vintage magazines and snap a picture with our retro wig collection. Then grab a cup of sweet’n joe at Intelligentsia coffeebar in our lobby.”

Next to the salon, there’s a lifesize Twister game. And if you fancy it, you can go curling as well. 

More

The hotel also features multiple lounges and quiet spaces where you can read, work, or simply relax before your flight. The mid-century modern design elements throughout the hotel create a cohesive and visually appealing environment that enhances your overall experience.

So?

Sam reportedly wants to stay at TWA Hotel. It’s certainly striking. We thought of getting a drink or snack, but it was so expensive. So we decided to head to our actual terminal.

But the TWA Hotel is certainly worth a visit. 

From New Orleans to New York on Amtrak’s Crescent – USA 2024

1. REVIEW | British Airways Brussels to London Heathrow.
2. REVIEW | British Airways World Traveller London Heathrow to New Orleans.
3. NEW ORLEANS | Streetcars, Garden District, Algiers Point, Riverfront, Jackson Square.
4. REVIEW | Louisiana State Museums – the Presbytère and the Cabildo, in New Orleans.
5. NEW ORLEANS | French Quarter ft. Bourbon Street.
6. REVIEW | voco St. James Hotel.
7. NEW ORLEANS | Riverwalk and Riverfront at the Mississippi River.
8. REVIEW | The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
9. USA | A Sunday and a Monday in New Orleans, Louisiana.
10. REVIEW | Amtrak’s Crescent overnight sleeper train from New Orleans to New York in a roomette.
11. REVIEW | Hyatt Herald Square.
12. REVIEW | SUMMIT One Vanderbilt panorama / observation deck in New York City.
13. NEW YORK | The High Line and Little Island.