Have you ever checked into a hotel room that feels like it’s the size of a box? Now that’s a thing. And the people behind them argue that sometimes that’s all you need. Capsule hotels have gaining popularity in Japan over the past few years and there are a few at major airports in Europe (Gatwick, Heathrow and Schipol) but soon you may be able to find these pod-like crashpads at airports and train stations all over the world.
Sleepbox, a Russian company, has developed one-off capsule accommodation quarters that sleep one or two people. They’re hoping to sell them to airports and train stations where there are a lot of in-transit travellers who need a bit of shut-eye but don’t want to shell out for a full night in a hotel. You’d be able to rent out a Sleepbox for even just a few hours as you wait for a connection.
The tiny personal pods are about 10 square metres and have enough room for a single bed (sometimes bunks), a small table and a TV. It may sound a bit cramped and uncomfortable, but if you’ve ever tried to fight with the arm rests at your departure gate on an overnight layover, this sounds a-ma-zing.
