After a long delay in Dusseldorf resulting from a cancelled flight, I finally made it to Munich. I spent the night at the Hilton Munch Airport Hotel and then flew to Thessaloniki the next morning. The Hilton Munich Airport was formerly a Kempinski Hotel and is located right between Terminal 1 and 2.
There were lots of cheaper hotels in the area, but this was the most convenient option and didn’t require a shuttle ride. Getting there, however, was a bit of a walk.
How to get to the Hilton Munich Airport
The Hilton Munich Airport is located between Terminals 1 and 2. You can walk from the Hilton Munich airport to the terminal easily if you cut through the courtyard and go straight to the lobby. I didn’t, and wound up making a loop around the airport to get there. It was quite a trek.
I followed the signs and was directed down the escalators, through a long tunnel, into an abandoned part of the airport where I was the only person passing through. It was kind of spooky actually. Then I took two other long outdoor walkways before I finally made it into the building.
This journey resembled a late night infomercial because “wait, there’s more!” There was yet another long hallway before I finally arrived at what I thought was the Hilton lobby. Except it wasn’t. From this point, you have to take an elevator up to the lobby. By the time I arrived, I wondered if it might just have been easier to take a shuttle to one of the other airport hotels.
The next day, I found a slightly shorter way out: across the courtyard, past the airport shops, and straight into the terminal.
Checking into the Hilton Munich Airport
I was relieved and exhausted by the time I arrived at the front desk. The hotel’s glass atrium is pretty stunning. It fills the space with natural light and in the middle is a row of beautiful palm trees adorned with twinkle lights.
The agent checking me in was warm and welcoming, asking how my journey was, acknowledging my Hilton Honors Diamond status, and thanking me for my loyalty. I was handed a coupon for 20% off dinner at the Charles Lindbergh restaurant and the agent walked me towards the elevator while explaining my elite benefits.
She also pointed out that all I’d have to do was tap my keycard and the elevator would take me up to my floor. It’s becoming more and more apparent to me that Hilton, as a chain, is superior in terms of the service it provides to elite members.
Hilton Diamond benefits at Hilton Munich Airport
Every single one of my Hilton stays over the past two years, whether as a Gold or Diamond member, has been exceptional. I always get upgraded and the front desk agents never fail to inform me of my benefits. I almost never get the same treatment with Hyatt, despite how loyal I am to them. This point was further confirmed when I walked into the room and discovered I’d been upgraded to a corner junior suite.
Hilton Munich Airport Junior Suite
The living room was nice and airy, with large windows letting in lots of natural light and offering up views of the airport. There was a couch and a welcome amenity consisting of a water bottle and a bowl of apples. On this trip, more than any other, I really came to appreciate complimentary water bottles in hotel rooms.
At that moment, I was tired and I sure wasn’t going to go back to the terminal, so having something to drink (even if it was lukewarm) along with a healthy snack was appreciated.
The living room also featured a Nespresso machine, which I always have the worst time using. Nonetheless, I managed to make a cup with little trouble after a power nap, which I desperately needed to battle the jetlag.
There were plenty of power outlets by the desk in the living room, which was great because the bedroom had none in convenient locations. I always appreciate when hotels have outlets by the bed, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.
One thing I love about German hotels/homes are their windows – I’m not a fan of the sliding windows we have in the U.S., with half the view blocked by a mesh screen. I’ve always loved (and missed) the large, unobstructed windows that open outward to let in fresh air.
I don’t know that these opened, but they were nice and large. The bedroom had a pretty simple set up – a bed, tv, and a couple of tables to the side of it.
Junior Suite bathroom
The bathroom was a bit tacky, but it had everything you’d need. I was a huge fan of the Peter Thomas Roth products that were supplied. That’s another thing I love about Hilton that I wish Hyatt would implement: Better amenities, in large quantities. This wasn’t just your standard shampoo, conditioner and lotion.
There was a comb, ear plugs, a toothbrush, mouth wash, and I believe floss – pretty much everything you’d need. I always appreciate hotels that supply toothbrushes in the room, so I don’t have to go down to the reception desk to pick one up or have someone deliver it.
What I didn’t like was the blow dryer in the bathroom. It barely worked and the power button had to be held down. It really got tedious after a while.
Past the bathroom was a small closet, with enough room for one bag. If you’re traveling with a companion (or you happen to be a packrat), you do at least have lots of space in the rest of the suite to store your bags.
The agent offered me a second one 15 minutes after the first, which I took her up on. Despite my worries, I ended up waking up well before my wake-up call.
I contemplated taking a 20-minute Uber ride to the nearest Aldi to stock up on non-pork Bacon chips, but ultimately decided to sleep instead. While traveling, I’m always extra worried I’ll oversleep and miss my flight, so I called the front desk and asked for a wake-up call.
Charles Lindberg Restaurant at Hilton Munich Airport
After waking up bright and early, I headed down to the Charles Lindbergh Restaurant for breakfast. Both Hilton HHonors Gold and Diamond members get breakfast free of charge at the restaurant, since the hotel currently has no club lounge.
There were maybe three other tables occupied in the massive restaurant, which boasted two large seating areas. A separate room was blocked off for a Thai government function.
The hostess took down my name and room number, then seated me next to an American family. She took my drink order, brought me orange juice, then told me to help myself to the buffet.
The breakfast buffet at Charles Lindberg Restaurant
The buffet was pretty extensive, with separate stations for juice, coffee, an Asian breakfast spread, bread, fruit, yogurt, cereal, pastries, and hot items.
I ordered eggs and added some turkey sausage to my plate, at which point the chef pointed out a sauce that he recommended would go well with it. The breakfast spread was very nice and beyond anything I’d expect at an airport hotel.
Would I stay here again?
I enjoyed my stay the Hilton Munich Airport. The breakfast buffet was top notch and I loved the junior suite for its spaciousness, large windows, and lovely view. More importantly, the rooms are all soundproof.
This was absolutely accurate because I never heard as much os a pin drop when I stayed there. You could almost mistake the ambience to that of a resort…where you’re the only guest. Really, you’d never know you were at next to the airport if it wasn’t for the views outside the window.
Have you ever stayed at the Hilton Munich Airport? What was your impression of the hotel?
Other stories from my trip to Calais
- Air France KLM Lounge at San Francisco International Airport review
- AirBerlin Business Class A330 San Francisco to Dusseldorf review
- The Met Hotel Thessaloniki Business Suite review
- Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki review
- Aegean Airlines economy class Thessaloniki to Paris review
- Hyatt Regency Paris Charles de Gaulle Hotel review
- Taking the TGV Train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Calais
- Hotel Ibis Calais review
- My observations of the Calais Jungle refugee camp
- Banksy’s mural in the Calais Jungle
- New Kabul Restaurant, The Welcome Wagon, and a memento
