If you have an upcoming trip that connects through JFK airport in New York, you may want to click through to the full article of this and print it out and keep it handy in your carry-on! This hotel information may end up being a life-saver.

I hadn’t planned on learning about overnight hotels at JFK airport on my flight back from Italy last week. My flight was scheduled to come in at 6:05 PM and my connecting flight wasn’t due to leave until 7:30 PM – plenty of time to make the connection. However, when it became clear that my flight in Italy was leaving late, then later and later, it became increasingly clear that I would probably miss my flight. The 7:30 PM flight was the last flight to San Francisco that day and my only option would be to overnight at JFK, something I had tried to avoid when planning my trip because I thought it would be too much hassle.

While on the flight I was given a local JFK hotel phone number by a fellow passenger (Thanks!) and gave them a call as soon as I landed, since I had indeed missed my flight. At that moment, of course, I didn’t have many options and not a lot room to be picky. I made my flight change at the Delta counter and proceeded to learn more than I planned to know about hotels located at Kennedy airport.

First, there are a number of hotels that serve JFK airport and most of them provide shuttle service pickup downstairs at the Federal Circle stop on AirTrain . There is no charge to travel from the terminals to the Federal Circle stop, but it is important to not get on the train that is for All Terminals LOOP, since this train never travels out of the airport itself and never goes to the Federal Circle stop.

Once you get to the Federal Circle stop and go downstairs to the shuttle pickup, you can wait or call the hotel to confirm the next expected pickup. Once you are picked up and taken to your hotel, check in and be sure to note when the morning shuttles will be going out. Subtract AT LEAST 2 hours from when your flight will depart and longer if you are traveling internationally and plan to be on that shuttle. Remember to ask for a wake up call to get yourself going at the right time. The hotel I stayed at had shuttles back to JFK on the half hour, so be sure to give yourself extra time.

The area in Jamaica, New York where most of these hotels are located makes an industrial park look like Tahiti. There is nothing nearby except more hotels. Because of this, my hotel handed me a set of menus from local restaurants that deliver to your room. Nice! Breakfast was also included so in today’s world of less meals on the plane, this is another plus.

Most hotels serving the JFK airport traveler run between $100 and $200 per night. I stayed at Best Western, on the low end of that price range and it was clean, comfortable and functional. These hotels are not luxury resorts, since most of time you spend in them your eyes will be closed. Just what you need, just where you need it. Be sure to keep this list handy in case your travel plans go awry or when you are planning flights through Kennedy airport and need to make a hotel stop part of your travel itinerary.

To book these hotels you can click through directly through from the links below or, if you are like me and are having to make a reservation NOW by phone and you are in the US, please call 1 888-254-0637. If you are overseas, call international toll free 00-800-84469370 or direct 1-210-507-5997. For maximum savings, please be sure to give code 3621 when calling.

Holiday Inn Express Kennedy Airport, NY

Howard Johnson Express Inn

Ramada Plaza Hotel JFK Airport

Days Inn JFK Airport

Doubletree Hotel JFK Airport

Hampton Inn

Holiday Inn JFK Airport

Best Western Kennedy Airport

Crowne Plaza JFK Airport

Fairfield Inn  NY JFK Airport