Hotels near Algiers airport: where to sleep after a late arrival

Your flight lands in Algiers late in the evening, the luggage takes its time, and your family lives in Tizi Ouzou, Béjaïa or Sétif. Nothing obliges you to drive through the night with children and suitcases. Many travellers arriving from France, the UK or elsewhere in Europe spend one night near the airport and set off the next morning, rested. Here is how to choose that first-night hotel, what to check before booking and how to pay for it from abroad.

Why spend the first night near the airport

• You avoid a night drive. After an evening flight, border control and the wait for luggage, it is often late by the time you leave the terminal. One night on the spot lets you travel in daylight.
• You spare your relatives. Nobody has to cross the region to collect you at midnight: the family meets you the next day, or you join them at your own pace.
• You keep a margin. If the flight is delayed, the hotel is close by; simply tell it your new arrival time.

Dar El Beïda, Bab Ezzouar or Hussein Dey: which area?

Houari Boumediene international airport is in Dar El Beïda, east of Algiers. Three areas come up most often:

• Dar El Beïda, the airport's own district: the most direct choice for a very late arrival or a dawn departure.
• Bab Ezzouar, the neighbouring district: home to the business district, a large shopping centre and hotels close to the airport.
• Hussein Dey, between the airport and the centre: a good compromise if you plan to spend the following day in town before moving on.

These hotels are listed with their current prices on our hotels near Algiers airport page. If you would rather sleep in the city from the first night, see hotels in Algiers.

Five things to check before you book

1. 24-hour reception. This is the key point for an arrival after midnight. The "24-hour reception" filter in the search keeps only the hotels that offer it. In every case, give your expected arrival time when you book.
2. The airport shuttle. Some hotels run one, often at limited hours. It only helps if it operates when you land: send the hotel your flight number and arrival time in advance, and read the conditions on its page.
3. Free cancellation. While your flight dates can still change, choose a room that can be cancelled at no charge. The cancellation terms are shown on every offer.
4. The board basis. Check whether breakfast is included and, if you are leaving early, from what time it is served.
5. The room. For a family, enter the number of children and their ages in the search: the rooms offered and the price depend on it. For a cot or adjoining rooms, write to us before booking and we will ask the hotel.

Shuttle, taxi or private transfer?

A hotel shuttle, where there is one, suits daytime arrivals. For a night arrival, with children or a lot of luggage, a private transfer booked in advance saves you from looking for a car outside the terminal: the driver is waiting and the price is known beforehand. You can also search for a transfer between the airport and your hotel on our Airport transfers page. Our Algiers airport guide explains the terminals and the ways into town.

Paying from abroad, or letting family pay in dinars

There are two ways to do it:

• You pay from abroad. On Nreservi, prices are displayed in euros when you browse from outside Algeria, and payment is made online by bank card. The voucher arrives by email once the booking is confirmed; keep it on your phone to show at reception.
• A relative pays in Algeria. A family member there can book in your name and pay in dinars without a bank card: bank transfer, post-office (CCP) payment or cash at our agency in Algiers. Details are on our travel agency page.

The full process is described in booking a hotel in Algeria from France.

How much should you budget?

The price of a night depends on the date, the category and how full the hotel is, so we do not quote a fixed rate here. For an order of magnitude, the Algeria hotel price barometer publishes every night the median price recorded in Algiers and in other cities.

And for the flight home?

The same reasoning applies at the end of the stay. If your flight leaves early in the morning and you are coming from another province, a last night near the airport spares you a departure in the middle of the night and the stress of traffic on the way into Algiers. Some travellers book both nights at once, the first and the last.

Frequently asked questions

Can I check in at 1 or 2 a.m.? Yes, provided you choose a hotel whose reception is open all night and you state your arrival time.

Is it better to stay near the airport or in central Algiers? Near the airport if you are travelling on to another province the next day or arriving very late. In the centre if Algiers is your destination and you want to be on the spot in the morning.

Can my parents pay for the room on my behalf? Yes: they book in your name and pay in dinars. The voucher names the traveller, who is the person checking in.

See hotels near Algiers airport

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.