Airport hotels are about logistics
Use them when they reduce a difficult transfer, not simply because the listing says “airport.” Confirm terminal, shuttle hours and actual drive time.
Major multi-airport cities
Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu are among the cities where airport choice changes the entire hotel plan. Use the airport code on your ticket, then map the transfer.
One-night strategy
If you land late and leave by high-speed rail the next morning, a hotel between the airport and the correct station may outperform both a downtown room and a terminal hotel.