Chessington Resort Guide: Is the Safari or Azteca hotel better?

Table of Contents

Welcome to my Chessington World of Adventures Resort Guide – is the Safari or Azteca hotel better? If you’re planning a family trip to Chessington theme park, and you’re wondering about whether to book a short break, here’s everything that you need to know before your stay. I’ve included themed-room options, costs, photos, dining information, early access times, views of the Wanyama Reserve, how to book with a Merlin Pass and lots more! So, if you’re not sure whether to book the Safari or Azteca hotel (and you want to know more about what’s included) let’s get stuck in – here’s my guide and review of our family stay at the Chessington World of Adventures Resort.

CRAZY DEAL! 😍 When you book a short break stay at Chessington World of Adventures, between 3rd February and the 1st March 2026, you’ll get an Essential Merlin Annual Pass included for each person staying for FREE! You’ll need to stay between the 20th March and the 26th June 2026 – you can find all the details in my guide: How to get a FREE Merlin Annual Pass – short break offer!

Visit: April 2025 (Updated February 2026)

Where is Chessington World of Adventures and how do I get there?

Located in Chessington, Greater London, the Chessington World of Adventures Resort is easily accessible by car and public transport. Unfortunately, Chessington World of Adventures is within London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) – if your vehicle doesn’t meet the ULEZ emissions standards, you’ll need to pay a £12.50 daily charge (accurate April 2025) when driving to the resort. You can check whether you need to pay on the TFL (Traffic for London) website. If you’re driving, it’s just off the A243, with ample on-site parking available. For those using public transport, Chessington South Railway Station is about a 10 minute walk from the park (half a mile), with regular services from London Waterloo, Clapham Junction and Wimbledon.

Which Chessington Hotel is better – the Safari or the Azteca?

Chessington offers two themed hotels – the Safari Hotel and the Azteca Hotel – which are connected internally so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds no matter which one you choose for your stay. With shared facilities, easy access to the theme park and family-friendly extras like animal-themed rooms and evening entertainment, these hotels are designed with families in mind. In this guide, we’ll take a closer at the hotel room options at Chessington, the views of the safari area and I’ll show you around our hotel room – we stayed in the Azteca and it was pretty cool!

What’s it like inside a Chessington Resort hotel?

From the minute you enter into the lobby at the Chessington World of Adventures Resort, you’re immediately immersed in the safari theme – the kids will be so excited from the moment they set foot inside! From there you can check in and you’ll be guided to either side of the resort, depending on which you’ve booked. The facilities are all shared so, unless you’ve got a particular room theme you’re after, it doesn’t seem to matter much whether you book the Chessington Safari Hotel or the Azteca.

The Zafari Bar and Grill is just off the lobby – this is the restaurant with the views of the Wanyama Reserve. So, if you fancy breakfast or dinner with a view then you’ll want to get your time-slot booked for that. But don’t panic if it’s full, you can head out through the doors onto the decking for a closer look at the animals, or take the walkway which takes you right alongside the safari enclosure. We could see the giraffes having their breakfast just after we’d had ours! Guests at the Chessington Hotels can also walk the Wanyama Reserve paths – so you can do a bit of exploring in the evening when the park is shut too – pretty cool for an after dinner stroll!

What are the Safari / Azteca hotel room options at Chessington World of Adventures?

The Chessington World of Adventures Resort has a variety of family-friendly rooms, to suit different budgets, in both the Safari hotel and the next-door Azteca. Standard rooms come with fun safari-themed decor but a smaller price tag than the premium rooms. We stayed in a standard room, with a separate children’s sleeping area, on the Azteca side of the Chessington Hotel resort and were really impressed with our room. The theming was brilliant and we had plenty of space – it was amazing for the kids to have their own area so that we could all relax in peace after a busy day in the theme park – it even came with its own TV.

Our room actually slept 5, which is handy if you’ve got three kids, as there was a pull-out bed below the bunk bed. This area also had a safe so you can leave your valuables at the hotel rather than taking them into the park. With a 12 and 13 year old we were worried the beds might be a bit small but even my giant son (5ft 7!) had plenty of space – so it’s good to know that the family rooms suit toddlers through to teens! After the kids’ room was the bathroom – also themed – it had a bath with a shower over it, towels and shampoo / shower gel / soap dispensers so you don’t need to bring much with you for your stay if you’d prefer to pack lightly.

In the corridor area which led to the main bedroom, there was space for bags, shelves and a clothes rail, as well as tea and coffee making facilities. (Kettle, mugs, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, sugar and UHT milk packets.) Our bedroom area – also styled in the Chessington Safari Hotel theme (even the carpets!) – had a desk area with a large TV, a mini-fridge and two hairdryers. If you’re taking a packed lunch into the theme park, having a fridge is so handy and it’s a great way to keep costs down a bit. And, all of the hotel rooms in the Chessington Resort come with WIFI and air-conditioning. Our room had blackout curtains and the beds were really comfortable – after a busy day in the theme park we slept well – I thought the hotel was really quiet too, we didn’t get disturbed at all.

You can also book rooms specifically with a view over the Wanyama Reserve – our standard room didn’t come with a view but fortunately we were put on that side of the hotel so we did have views across the safari area. We could see the animals grazing from our room, which was really lovely. But, as I mentioned above, all guests can get a close-up view of the animals from the area by the restaurant too, regardless of which part of the hotel you’re staying in or whether you’ve booked a standard or premium accommodation type. The photo above was our view over the animals. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also book the premium themed rooms, though these are obviously a pricier option.

Here are some pictures of the themed rooms, that I’ve pinched off the Chessington website – they do look rather cool! Themes include things like Jumanji, Oreo, Capri-Sun (I think the kids’ room even has a slide on this one!) and the Gruffalo. If you’re booking one of these premium rooms you’ll get early check in from 2pm (standard check in is 3pm), and some of the themed rooms also come with a reserved parking space, a gift and access to the Rangers Reserve and Ride. This is where you essentially join a virtual queue for the rides – it’s not something we’ve used personally so click here to read more about it if it’s something you’re considering. Some of the Premium Rooms also come with views over the Wanyama Animal Reserve – click here to find out more about the different hotel room options.

Is breakfast included with a Chessington Hotel stay?

Breakfast is included with all Chessington Hotel stays – and you can book either of the restaurants on site as they both offer the same food. We had our breakfast at the Azteca restaurant, which was close to our room, and we were really impressed with the variety and quality of the food. The food is served in a buffet help-yourself style, and you can get a full English, fruit, yoghurt, cereal, pastries and all sorts! There was plenty there, as well as fruit juices and tea and coffee too.

How close are the Chessington Hotels to the theme park?

This was the best bit! From the hotel entrance and car park, it’s literally a two minute walk to the Chessington World of Adventures entrance. And, because hotel guests enter from the opposite side of the theme park, there were no queues to get into the park either when we visited. We arrived bang on 10am on a Sunday morning, parked up and strolled straight in through the hotel guests entrance. That side of the park was also, understandably, really quiet so it’s a great place to start your Chessington adventure whilst there aren’t any queues! If you need to to-and-fro from the park for picnic food, babies’ nap times or to have a rest, you can come and go as you please without any fuss – they’ll just stamp you on the way out. Being right on the doorstep of the park is a game-changer!

Does Chessington theme park open early for hotel guests?

If you book a Chessington World of Adventures short break – with a stay at either the Safari or Azteca hotel alongside your theme park tickets – you can get into the theme park an hour early from 9am. So if you’re able to arrive early, or you’re staying at the hotel the night before your park day, then this is especially handy at weekends or during peak school holiday dates when the park is likely to be at its busiest. Hotel guests can also park for free – I think the main car park is typically £12 for day guests so that’s a bit of a saving and, as I mentioned above, it’s so convenient to be parked directly outside of the hotel and the quieter entrance into the theme park.

What evening dining options are there at the Chessington Resort restaurants?

If you want to have dinner on-site, I’d recommend pre-booking as the restaurants did get very busy in the evenings during our stay. You can opt to eat at either the Zafari Bar and Grill Restaurant or the Azteca Temple Restaurant and Bar, as it’s not dependent on which side of the hotel you’re staying at. The Zafari Bar and Grill has an A ‘La Carte menu with things like burgers, chicken skewers and pizzas – the menu above was left in our hotel room and reflects what was offer and the prices during our stay in April 2025. (There was also a takeaway menu, so if the kids are tired you could always eat in your room.) The Temple Restaurant offers carvery alongside some South American treats – so that one appears to be buffet-style dining.

In all honesty, we had booked a table for an evening meal at the Zafari Restaurant but found the prices were higher than we’d expected – I must have found an old menu online before our stay. I’m not sure if the prices were any cheaper at the Temple Restaurant (in the Azteca side of the Chessington Resort) but we decided to eat off-site instead. I had some Tesco Clubcard vouchers so, in typical Frugal Mum style 😂, we hopped in the car and headed to Prezzo in Leatherhead (about an 11 minute drive – short stay car park opposite) because of course we’re always looking to enjoy ourselves on a budget! And, there was a McDonalds next door to it if you’d prefer fast food. Don’t forget that you can also eat inside the theme park too during the day – there are loads of fast-food and restaurant options there as well.

Are theme park tickets included with a stay at a Chessington World of Adventures Hotel?

When you book a Short Break Package at Chessington World of Adventures the theme park tickets aren’t included as standard – instead you’ll select your hotel room type, and then click through to book your theme park tickets at the same time. It’s best to include your theme park tickets when you book your stay at a Chessington World of Adventures Hotel because they’re typically cheaper than booking them individually – and if you want access to the park for two days then you’ll save a lot. They constantly run offers on the Chessington website, so have a good look around and keep your eyes peeled for deals – click here to have a look at availability and prices for your dates.

On their website at the moment, they’re advertising offers from £32 per person – with the mid-week breaks providing the best bang for your buck. May-half term and October half-term are advertised from £54pp, and those with a Merlin Annual Pass can save up to 20% on hotel stays. For the dates that we visited, the standard rooms in the hotel were around £135 (Sunday night, end of April). At that sort of price, it’s good value for money given that breakfast, early park access and parking are included too – often a night in a ‘normal’ hotel can be £100 or more for a family stay. So, if you can find a good deal, I’d definitely recommend a stay at the Chessington Resort – we loved it.

Another option, to save a bit of money on your tickets, is to book the hotel and park separately if you’ve managed to find some offers such as 2 for 1 tickets (they pop up on cereal boxes every so often!) or by using reward points like Tesco Clubcard vouchers. You can just book a hotel stay on it’s own – so if you find some cheaper tickets that’s an option too. Having said that, if you want to have two days at Chessington World of Adventures you’ll need to book your hotel stay and entrance tickets at the same time (as a short break package) to get the cheaper second-day rate.

How do I book a Chessington Hotel with a Merlin Annual Pass?

A Merlin Annual Pass can be an amazing way to save money on UK attractions, and some pass types also come with discounts for the resort hotels. (Check what’s included before purchasing.) It gives you access to absolutely loads of attractions including: Alton Towers, Chessington, LEGOLAND Windsor and Thorpe Park; indoor fun like SEA LIFE centres, Shrek’s Adventure!, The London Eye and Madame Tussauds; and historical and immersive experiences like Warwick Castle, The Dungeons and even Cadbury World. Kids under 90cm go free so it can be incredible value for money if you have young children. Check out all of the pass options here: Are Merlin Annual Passes worth it and which pass is best?

Look out for offers as Merlin recently had a sale offering their cheapest pass for £79 per person. If you are a Merlin Annual Pass holder, and you’d like to book a hotel stay at either the Safari or Azteca hotels at the Chessington World of Adventures Resort, you’ll need to visit the Merlin Holiday Club area of the website. From there, enter your Merlin Annual Pass number in order to book a discounted hotel stay – click here to head straight to the Chessington Hotels Merlin Holiday Club page. You’ll still get all of the room options, so you can book whichever suits your family, and breakfast and parking is included for free as usual too.

How many days do you need at Chessington?

You can definitely do Chessington in a day if you’re up bright and early to make the most of it, particularly with a hotel stay offering you early access before the park opens to the general public. For busier times of year, such as the school holidays, the queues will obviously be longer so it might be worth adding an extra day. At the time of writing this, adding in an extra day at the theme park is just £10 per person, so if you’re opting for a short break stay at the Chessington Resort I think I’d be tempted to add in a second day. That way, you’d definitely have plenty of time to get on everything (and your favourite rides more than once) – and if you’ve got young children it’ll make it less of a rush if you need to work around nap times etc. Check out this article for more info: The Ultimate Family Guide for Chessington World of Adventures.

What is there to do at the Chessington World of Adventures hotel and is there a pool?

Staying on resort at Chessington World of Adventures, in either the Safari Hotel or the Azteca Hotel, comes with extra things to see and do too. Firstly, there’s the Savannah Splash Pool – an indoor pool complete with splash zones. Access is free for guests staying in premium and animal-themed rooms, but for standard rooms there is a small fee. We did look at booking a swim (though admittedly not until the day before our visit!) and there were only day-time slots available so we decided against it as we only had one park day. But you could certainly make time for a swim if you’re having two days at the park, or arriving the day before your park day. The hotel also offers evening entertainment like character meet-and-greets, film screenings and arcades, alongside exclusive access to the Wanyama Reserve paths.

Final verdict – is it worth booking a hotel stay at Chessington World of Adventures?

If you can find an affordable stay (Sunday – Thursday is typically the cheapest) then I’d definitely recommend staying on resort at Chessington at either the Safari or Azteca hotel. Even the cheapest standard rooms are anything but standard – the theming really does add to the magic and we loved the room layout too – not many hotels offer a separate area for the kids and two TVs! We were impressed with the quality of the breakfast too, and being able to wander the safari area (and look out over the animals from our hotel room window) did make the trip extra special.

When it comes to deciding whether the Safari Hotel or the Azteca Hotel is the better option, I think it really depends on whether you’re desperate for a great view of the animals, or if you’d prefer a particular themed-room, because they both share the same Chessington Resort facilities. You can access both restaurants, you can use the swimming pool and they even share a main lobby area so personally I’d be thinking about budget and what room type you’re after when making your booking. Click here to check out prices, room options and availability for your dates on the Chessington World of Adventures website.

The Chessington Resort is pretty awesome so it’s definitely worth a look if you’d like an overnight stay – especially if you want two park days – we really enjoyed it. If you want more information about what the theme park itself has to offer, make sure you also read about our day out in my article: The Ultimate Family Guide for Chessington World of Adventures. Have an incredible time! 😊