Felix Hotel - Sydney, Australia

Far from being a standard airport hotel, the 150-room Felix in Sydney raises the bar for layovers and transits with a light-hearted design, by local studios Fox Johnson and Space Control, that takes it cues from the 1960s golden era of air travel. 

Hard timbers, metals and concrete form the base for clean lined furnishings and standout features such as beehive floor and wall tiles and patterned curtains in bubble gum pastel shades. 

Rooms are quirkily named in accordance with their level of luxury from Economy to First Class, while the sky-high penthouse lobby is crafted with the nomad in mind. Here, wicker chairs dangle beside a cocktail bar and a 24-hour self-serve shop that sells everything from flying essentials to food. If weather permits, head up to the rooftop cinema to unwind, or watch aircraft as they touch down on Aussie soil.