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ZUTF/TFU - Chengdu Tianfu International Airport - Joyhub Air Hotel - October 2026

We used the Joyhub Cheer Hotel It's located a short walk from the transportation hub in the terminal.  The hotel can bee seen on the map as the circular building split in half in between the terminals. The Cheer is the east block, The Air is the west block. The Air will have some rooms that work however they will not have any views over runway 11 (the cross runway). 

You need even numbered Rooms 6902 – 6910 (no 4 its unlucky) and these are all 9^th floor Deluxe King Rooms with a single king sized bed, the Hotel does not do rollaways so if you are traveling with someone you need to be prepared to snuggle up or book two rooms.  The rooms have a balcony and give a great view down the central cul-de-sac which is suitable for photographs. The 8^th and maybe the 7^th floors would also work but below this the flyover will interfere with the view. 

On our visit Runway 1 was being used for Arrivals and departures, Runways 1 and 2 were being used for arrivals and departures and Runway 11 was being used for departures only. All aircraft could be seen from the hotel in this configuration with Runway 11 being viewable on the climb out. If runway 19 and 20 were in use you would probably be able to see all landers as they turned off the runway and all departures as they climbed out. 

Although we didn’t see the view room room 6950-6960 may have a view over the runway 11 and the maintenance area but runway 02/20 will be totally out of view albeit things on approach or climb out may well come into view.  I don’t believe any other rooms will work in the hotel.  If its clear you can get some Chengdu (CTU) inbounds over the hotel.

The Hotel has good room service options as well as a two restaurants and Western, Chinese and Japanese breakfast options. 

As of May 2026 the Hotel Wi-Fi allowed FR24, which also had good on the ground coverage.

Credit Volker Wackernagel / Bulldog and Cat / Nick

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iLrCHPb7SmXDj2yJ6 

Note: Locations in China are often inaccurate.

 

View from room 6928.

ZBAD/PKX - Beijing Daxing - Daxing Radisson - October 2026

 

 

Just started some travels in Asia. First two nights enjoying the view from room 915 at the Daxing Radisson. New hotel has 10 floors and the front aspect faces back towards the terminal. Decent views of movements on runways either side .. some readable but mostly with the help of FR24 which takes a bit of time to get used to glitchy coverage. SBS would likely assist but left my 1090 stick at home .. not helpful as multiple movements from the mil base missed … 738/319/734/CR7 and An12 types incl AWACS variant seen 1x CRJ pinged on FR B-4069. 738 B-290A seen doing circuits, also pinged on FR but not read.  Plenty to see and when arriving from South .. a steady stream OTT into PEK also.  About £80 per night in a premium room after registering for loyalty scheme. 

Other rooms that work are 917, 915, 818, 810 and 718 on floors 9, 8 & 7.

Room 818 and 810 have two beds

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ERYddAgnSsFwkRCS8 

Note: locations in China are often inaccurate.

KEWR/EWR - Newark Liberty International - Hampton Inn and Suites, Elizabeth - October 2026

The Hampton Inn and Suites Elizabeth is located to the South East of Newark, not too far from the southern end of the parallel runways.

The hotel has a half hourly free shuttle bus, but in the interests of time I opted to get an Uber from the terminal which was around £15.

I checked in online in advance and chose top floor room 733, which was the only one available on top floor. The room was a double queen with fridge and microwave, facing north.

The room plan is above, with the arrow pointing towards the airport. Most of the north facing rooms on the 6th or 7th floor would be fine, any lower could be an issue (odd numbers 701 - 735)

The hotel was fit for purpose with snacks and drinks available from the downstairs lobby and a small bar. There is an Ihop next to the hotel which was open 24 hours and does a great breakfast.

View from the room

The view from the room is below, there is a reasonable view of most of the apron. During my visit they were landing from the north and departing over the hotel, everything could be seen easily.  The same would be true if they were landing in the other direction.

As well as Newark, I could easily see inbound traffic into La Guardia over to the right as they descended over the Statue of Liberty / Hudson River. Cloud permitting, I was also able to pick out a few outbounds from La Guardia as they turned left over the north of Manhattan.

Conclusion

This is probably the best spotting hotel in Newark. The obvious other contender is the Marriot right next to the terminal which is much more expensive, but that doesn't afford as good a view of the terminal as this hotel. 

I stayed at the hotel following a post on a spotting group by Mark Paulin who stayed in room 701 the previous week, great recommendation.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YZaT67ZTK4gM37yX7