The Rise of Capsule Hotels Worldwide
The capsule hotel is typically associated with travel in Japan, where population density and premium real estate costs made these small bed chambers a viable service in the tourism marketplace. Moreover, hotel owners and travelers around the globe have discovered the efficiency and comfort of capsule hotels. In fact, even airport planners are finding a market for sleeping spaces between long security lines and the gate. Some travelers want to take a short nap, while others settle in for a full night’s sleep.
Outside of airport terminals, cities with expensive real estate such as New York and Tokyo are prime grounds for placing a lot of beds into a compact hotel space, and the capsule hotel makes that possible.
What Is a Capsule Hotel?
The term originated as a description for a space that offers little more than a bed and perhaps a small workspace. In some instances, they are literally sleep boxes. In others (sometimes called pod hotels), they are tiny rooms where you can walk a few steps on the floor.
Japan has offered these options for decades. Initially, most of the capsule hotel choices catered to men, often appealing to businessmen too inebriated to navigate the path back home at night. However, others became a solid budget travel option for those seeking economical stays. For as little as $12 USD/night in some locations, travelers could access basic amenities: privacy, safety, a mattress, and a pull-down shade for sleeping. Most also feature electrical outlets for recharging while you snooze.
The Capsule Hotel Concept and Airports
The capsule hotel concept has found its way from the crowded streets of Japan to the busy terminals of Western Europe. The Yotel Group is already operating hotels at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Heathrow and Gatwick airports in London, Paris CDG, Istanbul Airport, and Singapore Changi Airport, as well as in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Edinburgh.
Yotel’s aim is to offer style and quiet in these settings, alongside some room to move around. Prices reflect a more comfortable approach and are higher than what you’d typically pay for a night in a capsule hotel in Japan.
Yotel in New York
Yotel opened a Times Square location featuring 669 rooms in June 2011. This establishment was promoted as the “iPOD of the hotel industry.”
Unlike most Japanese models that only provide sleeping and work space without restrooms, Yotel in New York offers 171 square feet of space in each room with private facilities. For an additional fee, breakfast is available in the morning.
Discounts are possible at the Manhattan Yotel when booking at least three consecutive nights. Furthermore, there’s a concierge service available to assist with booking Broadway shows or arranging airport transfers.
Whether termed capsule hotels, pods, or cabins, the general concept is for you to pay somewhat less for a safe, restful overnight experience while sacrificing space and certain amenities. It will be intriguing to observe how many budget travelers are willing to make this trade-off.
