This 350-room property is mostly what you'd expect from an upscale airport chain hotel -- functional, efficient, and a bit anonymous. However, its impressive tropical-style garden with large pool and attached cocktail bar exceeds expectations. Rooms are pretty generic, but do have an emphasis on quality sleep, with triple-glazing and black-out blinds. The choice of dining options is also impressive, as is the spacious and fully-equipped gym. It's certainly not the cheapest four-star in the area, but it might be worth it if you enjoy a poolside cocktail.

The 459-room Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow sits at the higher end of airport hotels, and bucks the trend for the often faceless and functional properties of this type. Interiors are elegant, while eating and drinking areas are sleek and inviting. A proper spa, too, is an unexpected bonus, and extensive on-site parking is a big plus. Rooms are good -- with stylish interiors, big flat-screen TVs, and electric kettles -- though lacking a certain pizzazz, and soundproofing could be better in some rooms. There are plenty of hotels to choose from in the immediate area, but for this caliber of hotel, this is probably the best value.

A 10-minute drive from Heathrow Airport , the lower-middle-range Ibis London Heathrow Airport is a good choice for stopover travelers seeking affordable rates. Its 356 rooms are compact and minimally decorated, but they come with tea- and coffee-making facilities, flat-screen TVs, and double-glazed windows to block out noise. Parts of the hotel are showing wear and tear, and breakfast and the airport shuttle are all at a fee. but for the price, it's a solid pick for a good night's rest before the airport return. The design in the lobby and restaurant is modern and moody, a step up for the typical airport hotel. It's worth comparing rates with Holiday Inn London-Heathrow M4, Jct. 4, which has more cozy rooms, a 24-hour fitness center, and free airport shuttle service.