Some travelers consider airport hotels as afterthoughts, but that’s a wrong mindset because many are quite memorable.

Take the Radisson Blu Hotel at London Heathrow Airport.

After a lovely tour of England, we wanted to spend the last day as close as possible to the airport to make the next morning bearable. After all, we had an early morning flight and didn’t want to wake up any earlier than usual.

But the Radisson Blu Hotel at London Heathrow is much more than just a convenient stop; it’s an enjoyable adventure.

The first sign that this wasn’t just some run-of-the-mill operation was the lobby, which featured lovely marble flooring and well-appointed ceiling. The décor throughout the hotel was eye-catching. That’s because it was tastefully decorated in Edwardian style. After all, this used to be called the Radisson Blu Edwardian.

Upon checking in, we were each given a ticket to enjoy a drink in the tastefully decorated Bijou Bar. What a great spot! We lounged there for two hours because of the wonderful atmosphere.

Alas, our room beckoned. The 464-room hotel is quite spacious, and so was our room, which featured impressive marble in the bathroom to complement the stylish, comfortable room. Best of all, the walls seemed nearly soundproof as we couldn’t hear the nearby airport runways or our neighbors.

Strolling around this vast complex was a great way to work off dinner at the delicious in-house restaurants. Later, we visited the substantial gym to burn even more calories.

It’s a good thing we did. The next morning, we ate an amazing buffet breakfast at the in-house brasserie. We had to do a double-take at the wide variety of choices, all of which tasted scrumptious. To miss this buffet would be a big mistake.

So would not staying at the Radisson Blu Hotel at London Heathrow.