No Rush: How to Avoid Stress and Hassle before your next Flight

This post is sponsored by the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport.
 

You stand before the departures board casually watching the flight numbers glide across the screen. A complete, utter and almost Zen-like calm drifts through your mind as you make a quick note your flight time and check-in counter, knowing that you’ve got all the time in the world and just a short shuttle ride to the terminal. It’s almost enough to make you feel guilty as you watch the parade of honking cars and cabs streaming in off the Airport Expressway, knowing all-too well the panicked and harried feelings of the passengers inside.

Last time you took a trip you were one of them. The white-knuckle cab ride to the airport was agonizingly slow, and by the time you pulled up to the terminal you were already drenched in sweat. You cursed yourself for not leaving the house ten minutes earlier as you frantically scanned the board to find your flight – you should have known well enough how bad traffic was going to be, but you were wholly unprepared for the crowded lines at the airport. 

And there you were, peering breathlessly at the departure board with mere minutes to go before boarding time, hoping on a wing and a prayer that you could somehow make the mad dash from the check-in counter to the tram and on through to customs without any further delays ... 

So this time you swore it would be different: No more stressing out from traffic and no more rushing through customs to make that early morning flight. But how, exactly, did you achieve this serene, stress-free state?

The answer literally lies just a minute away from T3. 
 

By now you have probably passed The Hilton Beijing Capital Airport dozens of times coming off of the Airport Expressway. You might have even gazed at its distinct L-shaped structure and presumed that it was just another layover/conference hotel. But what you probably didn’t know is how this proud member of the world-wide Hilton chain offers a convenient and hassle-free stay-over solution for T3 passengers booked for early or late flights. 

In addition to its striking decor Bagua-inspired motif, the Hilton’s spacious lobby serves as a satellite terminal for T3, where you can print out your boarding pass and check in several hours in advance. Simply arrive and check in to the hotel the night before your flight. You can then proceed to spend a stress-free evening wining, dining, working out, and even relaxing in their premium spa before drifting off to a great night’s sleep, knowing that you’ll wake up the next morning feeling completely refreshed, and best of all, completely stress-free. 
 

Here are just a few of the great services, amenities and dining experiences you can expect:

Fantastic Food and Dining for all Tastes

Imagine that you are leaving Beijing for good and heading home. What would be your ideal choice for a final meal in China? Sure it could be a greasy Whopper or some sketchy dish at one of T3's many subpar dining establishments, but that would most certainly be an anticlimactic way to celebrate your departure. Instead, check in to the Hilton several hours before and celebrate your send-off in style. 

Treat yourself to enticing Cantonese dishes at the Hilton’s Yue Shang restaurant, where the menu includes such tantalizing dishes as wok-fried beef tenderloin with wild mushroom and shallot, stone-pot cooked chicken with rice wine, an assorted roast suckling pig platter and more. 

If you prefer more fiery fare visit the My China restaurant, which serves up sizzlingly spicy Sichuan and Hunan dishes in chic atmosphere decorated with an eye-catching range of traditional Chinese motifs, including a neon bamboo installation and glistening minority jewelry from China’s southwestern regions, all with a modern twist. 

If you simply can’t wait to tuck in to Western fare, try the Compass Grill, which specializes in not only Continental cuisine, but also boasts a massive transparent showcase for its extensive wine collection, as well as nookish private dining rooms named after famous French chateaus like Bordeaux and Margaux, and more. 

Finally, if you want to seriously stuff your face before that long-haul flight, then go for the mouthwatering buffet covering a massive range of cuisines at the 360 Degrees Casual Dining venue. 

Sweat it out in the Gym, Go for a Swim and Unwind in the Spa

The Hilton's 25-meter pool is maintained at a cozy 28 degrees Celsius year-round and is perfect for serious lap swimmers and kids alike. The gym next door also comes fully-stocked with weights, treadmills, Stairmasters and stationary bikes, as well as numerous weight benches and leg weight machines. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows span the length of the gym and adjacent pool room and offer breathtaking views of the planes taking off and landing at the nearby T3 runway. After your workout and a hot shower, unwind in the Hilton’s luxurious spa where you can unwind, sooth those tense muscles and completely and utterly relax. 
 

Get a Good Night’s Sleep in Ultra Comfort

The Hilton has room selections to suit all budgets and party sizes, but they all have one thing in common: Supreme comfort and superior furnishings. 

From their cozy king size beds, to the pristine shower and bathtub – not to mention the subdued, but classy decor featuring oak and rosewood trim –  the Hilton’s various rooms are all comfortable oases that will allow you to fully unwind and recharge before your long-haul flight.
 

Best of all, T3 is just a Minute Away by Shuttle Bus

Why fight through traffic rushing to make your flight when it literally takes just a minute to go from the Hilton to T3 (and only two minutes to T2)? The Hilton has a fleet of shuttle buses offering door-to-door service every 15 minutes. Be gone with traffic snarls and long lines at the toll gates!
 

And there you have it! The Hilton Beijing Capital Airport's unique amenities, meals, and adjacent location to the airport make it an ideal start to your journey. For more information on how to book your room, and avoid the stress and anxiety of rushing to the airport at the last minute, click here.
 

As the first international business and convention hotel at the airport, Hilton Beijing Capital Airport offers five-star comfort and unique convenience for people in transit, business travelers, trade fair visitors and event organizers. With 322 luxurious guestrooms, all with 3.5 meter high ceilings and finished to the highest standard with sound-proofed floor-to-ceiling windows and comprehensive in-room facilities, the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport is one of the largest hotels in Beijing. Guests can enjoy an extensive range of food outlets featuring the most distinctive Chinese regional cuisines as well as classic Western and Asian dishes in their choice of four stylish restaurants, with a total of 32 private dining rooms. 

Photos: Uni You, courtesy of the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport