As if travel didn’t cost us enough already, those of us visiting the United States will now have to fork out another £9 on top of their usual holiday costs. This is thanks to the US Government announcing that ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) applications will become chargeable from next month.

If you aren’t familiar with ESTA, you should be. As part of the visa waiver program adopted by the United States many years ago, Britons qualify for entry to the USA for business or pleasure and previously had to complete an i-94 card on flights to the country. This green form was replaced last year by ESTA and now you must complete the process online before you travel, in fact, failure to do so will actually stop you from being able to board any plane to the United States, so its imperative you complete it.

This process was always free, but recent announcements from the US government mean there will now be a £9 charge starting on the 9^th September 2010. It probably isnt the US governments fault, but when you add all the costs up for travelling including travel insurance, airport tax, fuel duty, transfers, air (ok, not air), airport hotels and so on, the cost of holidaying and travelling is really starting to become a serious financial problem.

The good news is, if you have a holiday booked in the next 2 years, you can complete ESTA right now, free of charge and avoid the extra cost. The same goes for those regulars who are often found frequenting Gatwick airport hotels (you know who you are!) waiting for the next flight to JFK, its best to fill it out right now and save yourself the money and hassle for at least the next 2 years.

Whether or not the US government decides to use the money for tourism, as they have stated, one thing is certain, they will be raking in the cash with over 4 million britons alone travelling to the USA this year.

You know how it is; you arrive at the airport the night before so you can be fresh for that business meeting in Prague at 9am, only to find that you’ve been booked in to the hotel from hell. There is nothing worse than having to spend a night before an important business meeting in a crummy, 2 star, box room and having to share the only bathroom on the entire hotel floor with 4 drunk Norwegians.

There isn’t a simple solution to the problem of finding the right hotel at short notice, so we’ve gone about the trouble of finding the very best airport hotels for you and we’ve come up with some crackers. First up, it will matter where you fly from as not every airport has a decent hotel, but fear not, we’ve not just sourced one, but two of the finest Gatwick and Heathrow airport hotels as these are the two most popular airports in the UK.

First up, is the fabulous Hilton, the only Gatwick airport hotel linked to the South Terminal by a covered walkway. Offering 4 star accomodation, the Hilton at Gatwick is ideally placed for travellers flying out from the South Terminal as well as those seeking a crafty day of shopping in the nations capital. Every room comes with the standard tea and coffe making facilities as well as TV and phone and the all important private bathroom. You also find the rooms have la source toiletries (a nice touch) and a great plasma TV with movies (pay per view), internet access, a radio and even an mp3 docking station and of course as standard air conditioning and 24 hour hour room service.

Meanwhile, if you are flying out of Heathrow, then look no further than the luxury five-star Radisson Edwardian Heathrow Hotel. It’s situated minutes from Heathrow Airport and is lavishly designed and decorated with Oriental artefacts, specially commissioned artwork and even designer furniture. A standard room includes private bathroom, tea/coffee making facilities, TV and phone as you would expect, but they go a little further than most by also providing a luxury en-suite bathroom, mini bar, cable/satellite TV, AM/FM Radio, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, in-room movies and in-room safe.

Still not convinced? The hotel also offers 24 hour room service with some exceptional food and air conditioning throughout, including your room so even if you need to work in to the midnight hour, you can be certain you’ll do it in style at the right temperature.

If you have to spend a night in an airport hotel, then do it in style and you won’t find two better hotels in the UK than these.

It might not be too difficult finding a decent hotel at a large metropolitan airport like Gatwick or Heathrow, but what happens when you have to fly out of a smaller airport and you just don’t have the same breadth of choice?

Take for example Luton airport, not only is the place tiny in comparison to its massive multi terminal airport cousins, but it just doesn’t have the plethora of choice when it comes to hotels. There is a pretty simple solution however, ignore everything you have ever heard, good and bad and instead head straight for the Hilton Garden Inn. Unless you are planning on staying for a week, it offers the perfect place to relax and unwind for that early morning flight the next day.

It’s also perfectly situated just a couple of miles away and free from aircraft noise while you get a good night’s sleep. The rooms are comfortable and unlike other Luton airport hotelsThe hotel offers a modern feel to it and will reassure you that instead of getting up to the fire alarm in the middle of the night, you’ll be safely sound asleep. It’s smart and modern too so you won’t have any worries about the roof leaking or the place falling down around you!

If that wasn’t enough, the staff are quite possibly the friendliest and nicest people you are likely to meet at an airport hotel. This added piece of customer service makes your stay all that little bit special.

The hotel has all the usual services you would expect of a modern hotel including a private bathroom, tea/coffee making facilities, TV and phone. Rooms also have an iron, ironing board, hair dryer, safe and high speed internet access. Whether you are a fitness freak or a drinker, the hotel caters to you with a complimentary fitness room available and a wonderful bar called the pavillion. One of the nicer touches includes complimentary use of the fitness room and the wonderful Pavilion bar is at your disposal if you desire a late night tipple to settle you.

In comparison to Gatwick airport hotels for example, you might not get the choice of hotels, but when there is one simple solution, why would you even need a choice?

As if travel didn’t cost us enough already, those of us visiting the United States will now have to fork out another £9 on top of their usual holiday costs. This is thanks to the US Government announcing that ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) applications will become chargeable from next month.

If you aren’t familiar with ESTA, you should be. As part of the visa waiver program adopted by the United States many years ago, Britons qualify for entry to the USA for business or pleasure and previously had to complete an i-94 card on flights to the country. This green form was replaced last year by ESTA and now you must complete the process online before you travel, in fact, failure to do so will actually stop you from being able to board any plane to the United States, so its imperative you complete it.

This process was always free, but recent announcements from the US government mean there will now be a £9 charge starting on the 9^th September 2010. It probably isnt the US governments fault, but when you add all the costs up for travelling including travel insurance, airport tax, fuel duty, transfers, air (ok, not air), airport hotels and so on, the cost of holidaying and travelling is really starting to become a serious financial problem.

The good news is, if you have a holiday booked in the next 2 years, you can complete ESTA right now, free of charge and avoid the extra cost. The same goes for those regulars who are often found frequenting Gatwick airport hotels (you know who you are!) waiting for the next flight to JFK, its best to fill it out right now and save yourself the money and hassle for at least the next 2 years.

Whether or not the US government decides to use the money for tourism, as they have stated, one thing is certain, they will be raking in the cash with over 4 million britons alone travelling to the USA this year.

You know how it is; you arrive at the airport the night before so you can be fresh for that business meeting in Prague at 9am, only to find that you’ve been booked in to the hotel from hell. There is nothing worse than having to spend a night before an important business meeting in a crummy, 2 star, box room and having to share the only bathroom on the entire hotel floor with 4 drunk Norwegians.

There isn’t a simple solution to the problem of finding the right hotel at short notice, so we’ve gone about the trouble of finding the very best airport hotels for you and we’ve come up with some crackers. First up, it will matter where you fly from as not every airport has a decent hotel, but fear not, we’ve not just sourced one, but two of the finest Gatwick and Heathrow airport hotels as these are the two most popular airports in the UK.

First up, is the fabulous Hilton, the only Gatwick airport hotel linked to the South Terminal by a covered walkway. Offering 4 star accomodation, the Hilton at Gatwick is ideally placed for travellers flying out from the South Terminal as well as those seeking a crafty day of shopping in the nations capital. Every room comes with the standard tea and coffe making facilities as well as TV and phone and the all important private bathroom. You also find the rooms have la source toiletries (a nice touch) and a great plasma TV with movies (pay per view), internet access, a radio and even an mp3 docking station and of course as standard air conditioning and 24 hour hour room service.

Meanwhile, if you are flying out of Heathrow, then look no further than the luxury five-star Radisson Edwardian Heathrow Hotel. It’s situated minutes from Heathrow Airport and is lavishly designed and decorated with Oriental artefacts, specially commissioned artwork and even designer furniture. A standard room includes private bathroom, tea/coffee making facilities, TV and phone as you would expect, but they go a little further than most by also providing a luxury en-suite bathroom, mini bar, cable/satellite TV, AM/FM Radio, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, in-room movies and in-room safe.

Still not convinced? The hotel also offers 24 hour room service with some exceptional food and air conditioning throughout, including your room so even if you need to work in to the midnight hour, you can be certain you’ll do it in style at the right temperature.

If you have to spend a night in an airport hotel, then do it in style and you won’t find two better hotels in the UK than these.