Pros and Cons of Capsule Hotels & Pod Hotels | What to Expect
I’m loving the trend of capsule hotels, as someone who travels solo and loves to have my own space. Capsule hotels, otherwise known as pod hotels in the Western world, make long term travel easier and cheaper, and I’m all in!! They originated in Japan, where there are tons all over the country, and they have now made it to cities all over the world is some of the most desirable travel destinations. There are even sleeping pods in airports these days, which usually qualify as capsule hotels, so you can nap in peace during your long layover. Here are some of the pros and cons of capsule hotels as compared to hostels and traditional hotels!
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Pros and Cons of Capsule Hotels : Quick Summary
The main advantages of capsule hotels are that they are convenient, budget-friendly, healthier than other budget accommodation options and they’re ideal for introverted and/or solo travelers. They also usually offer flexibility in terms of when you can check in and check out compared to your average hotel, and they CAN be fun and cool.
On the other hand, capsule hotels can cause some people to feel claustrophobic or feel they don’t have enough space, and they generally aren’t good for people who are mobility impaired. Some other downsides are that they can be noisy, there’s usually shared bathrooms and a lack of temperature control, and they aren’t great for families or couples.
What is a Capsule Hotel or Pod Hotel?
A capsule hotel, otherwise known as a pod hotel, is a hotel that has individual pods or a very small small bed-sized room which a single person can rent for a number of hours or overnight. Similar to a hostel, you are essentially renting a bed for the night as opposed to an entire room at a traditional hotel, which has more privacy than your typical hostel bed.
Every capsule hotel is different, but they are usually located in busy transportation hubs whether they’re either stand alone or in airports and train stations. Typically you’ll have access to shared bathrooms, locker rooms for storing luggage and little to no common spaces. The idea is in and out!
Note I’ll be using the term capsule hotel and pod hotel interchangeably and I’m referring to the same thing throughout this blog!
Pros of Capsule Hotels (I.e. Pod Hotels)
The main differentiating factor when looking at the pros and cons of capsule hotels: Convenience
The biggest advantage of a capsule hotel is the convenience they provide, especially for solo travelers, those with a long layover, etc. Usually capsule hotels are placed is great locations where you have easy access to the here you need to go like transportation hubs and large cities. Staying in a pod hotel is an easy and fast way to get some rest and rejuvenation while traveling.
Budget-Friendly
When it comes to the pros and cons of capsule hotels, an obvious perk is how they are budget-friendly. Capsule hotels are typically a little more than your average hostel since you have your own space and more amenities in your individual pod as compared to a hostel bed, but significantly less expensive than a traditional hotel. Being budget-friendly means you can travel longer and spend your money on the things you’ll be experiencing in that city!
Great for Solo Travelers
While a lot of the time couples are the ones that get the perks, this time it’s solo travelers. Capsule hotels are amazing for solo travelers who need to rest with enough room to stretch but without needing an entire room. After my first experience staying in a capsule hotel as a solo traveler, I will be doing so much more often when traveling for work.
Flexibility
Capsule hotels will often, but not always, have hourly rates and options along with nightly rates. Unlike traditional hotels, if you only need eight hours you can just pay for those eight hours. This allows for even more money-saving!
Ideal for Introverted Travelers
Introverted travelers will love the privacy that capsules provide you, as opposed to hostels, since you have your own space which is covered on all sides. Although sometimes hostel beds have privacy curtains, it’s still very known that you are in the same room as others. With a capsule room, you feel much more alone and have more privacy so won’t have to worry about having to interact with others at the hotel if you don’t want to.
Healthier than Hostels
Capsule rooms are more closed in than your typical hostel bed, meaning you are more shielded from your fellow travelers who may be coming down with a cold or have a contagious cough. I’m not 100% sure this leads to less illness, as of course there hasn’t been any sort of research on this really, but I can imagine having more of a barrier between you and others would mean less germ spreading.
Cool Pod Amenities
While hostel beds tend to be pretty bare bones outside of maybe a plug for charging your things and a small light, each individual capsule at a pod hotel usually is equipped with cool tech-forward amenities like a small TV, different lighting options and air conditioning. You’ll also usually have WIFI in these pods, where as when you stay in a lower budget hostel, you will not have WIFI in your bed a lot of the time.
In the IzZzleep Pod Hotel I stayed at in at the MEX airport they even had a little safe for you to put valuables in!
Cons of Capsule Hotels (I.e. Pod Hotels)
Small Size Can Be Claustrophobic
The most obvious con to capsule hotels are that they can cause some people to feel claustrophobic. Keep in mind the size of each individual capsule at pod hotels can vary significantly. For example, some sleeping pods will be essentially a small bed-sized room, while others are more like the size of a closet.
I’m usually claustrophobic but usually these types of hotels do a great job making the pods feel as airy as possible with fans, doors you can crack and making them as roomy as possible. That being said I’m small, so I have less trouble in small spaces than others lol. If you’re worried about feeling claustrophobic, see if you can try out a pod before reserving!
Not Great for Mobility Impaired : A major factor when looking at the pros and cons of capsule hotels
One of the biggest things to remember when looking at the pros and cons of capsule hotels is that they can be tricky for the mobility impaired or injured. The hotels that provide larger capsules that don’t require climbing to access are better for anyone with mobility limitations, but it can still be tricky for example to get inside the pod and to do what you need to once you’re inside of it.
A lot of pod hotels will require you to climb into your pod via a ladder-like contraption, which I even found hard to do in good health. If you’re mobility impaired or have any sort of injuries or chronic illness that could affect your ability to climb a ladder, make sure to request a room on the ground floor or one that is easy to access.
Noise Level
Capsule hotels can be really noisy, just as hostels can be. You’re staying in the same room as others and any time sometimes opens or closes their capsule, knocks against a wall, talks, etc. inside their pod you may be able to hear it from yours.
I personally noticed that there wasn’t much sound insulation between pods during my stay, which meant when it was storming outside it sounded like it was storming inside my pod lol. Of course the capsule hotel I was at was indoors, but somehow the rain and thunder was super loud, which I actually found soothing. Also, a lot of the time the capsule hotels will provide you with ear plugs once you check in.
That being said, if you’re a light sleeper make sure to bring sound cancelling headphones and to practice good sleep hygiene before you stay!
Pricy For Couples or Families
Capsule hotels can actually be as expense if not more expensive than a traditional hotel for couples and families because at least most of the time, capsules are only built to hold one person. Usually for each individual person you’ll need to pay for a pod, so that can add up quickly for a family of four.
Also, if you like to sleep together as a couple you’re usually out of luck. For that reason capsule hotels aren’t the best when you aren’t a solo traveler a lot of the time, unless you’re traveling with a group of guys who would typically get their own rooms anyways.
Lack of Common Areas & Open Spaces
A big difference between pod hotels and hostels is the lack of common spaces and areas to hangout. Hostels usually have at least one if not multiple common areas for fellow travelers to hangout in, mingle, get some work done, work out or just relax around other people. A lot of the time capsules hotels are more focused on a convenient place for travelers to get some rest, and won’t have as many common areas where you can hangout and get some air.
Although this is not always true. For example the U Street Capsule Hostel in Washington D.C. has a common area for work and play, along with a mix of the more traditional hostel beds and capsule pods you can reserve.
Shared Bathrooms
Almost always you’ll be sharing bathrooms with fellow travelers when staying at a capsule hotel, including a sink for you to brush your teeth at, etc. This is the same for hostels, although sometimes capsule hotels won’t have showers especially if they’re in big transportation hubs where people are in and out.
If this makes you uncomfortable pod hotels probably aren’t for you! Make sure to check with the capsule hotel you reserve to confirm they do have showers if that’s something you will need during your stay.
Temperature Control
Similarly to hostels, your access to temperature control at a pod hotel is limited. While a lot of the time they will have fans within each individual pod, they can still be pretty stuffy and you won’t be able to have much control over the temperature overall.
In a traditional hotel room or a private room at a hostel, you’ll often have significant control over the air conditioning and heat, so this is a major con for me when it comes to pod hotels. I like to sleep cold, around 65 degrees, and I was pretty hot when I was hanging out in my capsule.
Age Limit
Not always but a lot of the time pod hotels will not allow children under a certain age. For this reason and since you have to pay for each individual capsule you reserve, capsule hotels aren’t the best for families with children.
I stayed in a capsule hotel in Mexico City which you can read all about at my izZzleep Aeropuerto Terminal 1 review. I’m definitely the target demographic for these pod hotels, so it didn’t surprise me that I loved the experience. Hopefully this guide was helpful for you to see if capsule hotels are right for you.
Leave a comment to share your experience with fellow travelers. Cheers!
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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