After a long-haul journey that started in Kuala Lumpur nearly 38 hours earlier, stopping over at an airport hotel before heading home just made sense. I wasn’t in the mood for any more travel after a packed itinerary, and the idea of unwinding in a quiet room for the night—maybe even watching some planes over coffee in the morning—was far more appealing than dealing with a late-night train or ride home.
Using a free night award earned during a previous Marriott stay promotion, I booked a basic king room for 30,000 points, expecting just a clean, comfortable, and familiar hotel experience. Nothing flashy, but something reliable and convenient.
Location and Accessibility
The hotel is close to Gatwick’s South Terminal and is technically walkable, though I wasn’t up for it in the dark after such a long trip. A £4.50 shuttle is available courtesy of Hoppa, and taxis are always an option, but I opted for an Uber, which was surprisingly expensive for such a short distance. Next time, I’m taking the shuttle or walking, weather permitting.
Check-In and First Impressions
The check-in process was quick and efficient, with a genuinely friendly and welcoming agent handling everything. Instead of the usual robotic transaction, there was actual conversation, which I appreciated.
To the left of the lobby, there’s a bar and restaurant area, which felt a little dark but had a mix of sofas, high-top tables, regular dining setups, and booths. The lobby itself was bright but with low ceilings, and a more relaxed seating area was off to the right. Functional and modern enough for an airport hotel.
The Room – A Welcome Upgrade
I was pleasantly surprised to find I’d been upgraded to a corner king room, which came with extra space, a couple of chairs, sofa and a dedicated workspace. If I were staying longer, I’d have made better use of it, but it was still a nice touch and much appreciated.
The room was in great shape, which was impressive given the sheer number of guests this hotel must see. The AC thermostat had recently been replaced, and while the job was technically done, there was a visible gap where the old unit had been—a bit of a lazy finish that could have been easily fixed with a fascia piece. But otherwise, everything was clean, fresh, and well-maintained.
Comfort and Sleep Quality
The bed itself was comfortable enough but not particularly remarkable. Something about it felt lower quality than the rest of the room, and the mattress had a few noticeable spring lumps in places. Despite that, I somehow managed to get a life-changing 10-hour sleep, which might have had more to do with the exhaustion of returning home after a long trip than the actual bed.
The room layout was cozy—but in a good way. It didn’t feel cramped, and even with two good-sized windows, it still felt private and quiet. My room was 209, so not a high floor, but still well away from the noise of the lobby and public areas.
Bathroom and Amenities
The bathroom was clean and stocked with the usual toiletries, including a small tube of hand cream and a larger hand-wash bottle. Nothing extravagant, but all the basics were covered. Water pressure was good enough, and the room was stocked with enough towels to dry a small army. The bath mat was torn and ragged, and found it surprising it hasn’t been replaced. While the room had clearly been cleaned, there were some parts that were missed, like the pictured sink vanity area. It occurred to me these were in spots out of the usual line of sight, but did demonstrate how housekeeping was likely rushed and left me wondering what else might have been missed on the cleanliness front.
View and Noise Levels
This hotel is a textbook example of excellent soundproofing. In the morning, when I opened the windows, I was genuinely shocked at how close I was to the main road into and out of Gatwick’s South Terminal—because from inside the room, I couldn’t hear a thing.
Aircraft noise was minimal, with only the occasional distant sound of an engine starting up or taking off. Absolutely no disturbances from inside the hotel, either.
Tech and Connectivity
The TV had a decent selection of digital channels, and Wi-Fi was functional but not great. It worked well enough for some streaming, but the signal from my room was on the weaker side (2/3 bars on my laptop & phone).
Dining and Room Service
The hotel has a fully equipped restaurant, which is exactly what you’d expect from an airport hotel—it trades creativity for consistency and reliability. It certainly wasn’t a destination dining experience (nor was that expected), but it did the job.
I ordered a club sandwich, which was hot, sizable, and plenty filling, and was happy to get a full pint of Camden Pale Ale to go with it. Not remarkable, but solid.
Room service didn’t appear to be available, and with my body clock all over the place, breakfast wasn’t on the cards for me this time around although it was offered at the hotel restaurant from 6am-10am. A 6am start for breakfast service at an airport hotel seemed a little late in my mind, given many travellers booked in advance of early morning flights from Gatwick.
Facilities and Services
The hotel has a small business center in the lobby with a printer and computer, which is a useful feature for those needing last-minute document printing before a flight.
For transport, there’s the Gatwick Hoppa shuttle, running every 30 minutes most of the day and every 20 minutes during peak times for 4.50 single. It’s a 24-hour service, but still, I can’t help but feel like a free, simple connection to the terminal should be a given at an airport hotel. N.B. This is a cashless service.
Service and Staff
One thing that stood out here—the staff were genuinely welcoming and polite.
Checking into hotels in the UK is often a mixed experience, where the default approach seems to hover between apathy and slight irritation. Here, the team seemed happy to be there, and indeed happy for me to be here– which really made a difference.
At checkout, I mentioned a small maintenance issue with the power sockets at the workstation, where the entire unit was slightly loose from the wall. Instead of the usual “we’ll look into it” dismissal, the receptionist seemed genuinely pleased that I’d flagged it, which left a positive last impression.
Final Thoughts – Worth It for Simplicity
For an airport hotel at Gatwick, the Courtyard Marriott is a reliable, comfortable stopover option. It’s quiet, well-maintained, and has genuinely friendly staff, which isn’t always guaranteed at airport properties.
Would I stay here again? Yes, for pre- or post-trip simplicity.
Best suited for anyone needing a functional, comfortable place to stay before or after a flight.
The only real downside is the transport situation. Unless you plan ahead with the Gatwick Hoppa shuttle, expect to pay a ridiculous amount for an Uber or deal with a reasonable, uncovered walk. For a hotel this close to the terminal, a better connection should really exist in my view.
That aside, if you’re flying in or out of Gatwick and need a night to reset, it’s an easy recommendation from me.
