Although Lufthansa is among the more pleasant and well run airlines plying the skies these days, the prospect of a lengthy layover after an overnight flight from New York to Munich left me groggy, foggy and generally unhappy. I knew the Munich Airport was among the world’s best having been there a few years earlier — and if I had to be stuck in an airport for endless hours, this was the one to be stuck in.

I remembered reading somewhere that as fab as the airport is inside, there’s a whole lot going out outside, too. With such a long time to explore, I asked around and found that The Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich was just a few steps beyond customs with a spa that welcomes visitors in transit. Known as the Fit & Fly SPA, they not only allow day visitors, they embrace them.

With a residual headache and a slightly stiff neck from my red eye, I was soon standing outside the beautiful Kempinski breathing fresh air and looking forward to the rejuvenation ahead.

Once inside, the friendly concierge directed me downstairs to the SPA entrance where I was given a comfy robe, slippers, a towel and a key. I took the day pass for EUR 30, but a two-hour option was also offered for just EUR 20. The locker room was spacious and I slipped on my swimsuit. Within minutes, I was relaxing at the nearly empty pool surrounded by soothing watery tones. With my pick of sleek white lounge chairs, I picked my spot and settled in while the only other patron swam silent laps before me. With the hot tub to my left and a snack bar across the room, things were looking very good.

Two cappuccinos later (the staff at the Snack Bar could not have been nicer), I moved over to the hot tub with my Vanity Fair and a few unread articles I’d been too tired to read on the plane. The more time passed, the better I felt and soon my headache was a distant memory. I visited the snack bar again for a fresh, light salad and made a stop in the steam room before showering and getting dressed. Fit & Fly also has sauna, fully-equipped gym and a whole array of massage treatments, which can be booked ahead of time.

With its soaring glass atrium and tall palms, The Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich is truly impressive. The rooms are comfortable, luxurious and very well designed. If you find yourself with an early morning flight to catch out of Munich, it’s a great place to spend the night — just steps from the terminal itself.