Capsule Hotel -- now in London

Yotels—small hotel “capsules”—have come to London. A Yotel room is a place for travelers and commuters in need of a place to rest and shower, but without the space and expense of a full-sized hotel room. The concept was pioneered in Japan. The latest Yotel just opened at London’s Gatwick Airport, with another opening soon at Heathrow. It’s a great example of practicality and convenience.

Here are the specs:

“Yotel offers two types of cabins, premium and standard (75 square feet, shown at right), each of which Yotel asserts can sleep two. Both have bathrooms, room to store small bags and suitcases and hang a suit, Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs with 60 stations, radios and even 24-hour room service for light meals and drinks, including beer and wine. The biggest amenity in the eight premium cabins is space (an extra 30 square feet), as well as a couch that, with the flick of a switch, becomes a double bed.

“A standard cabin costs £25 for four hours ($50 at $2 to the pound) and £55 overnight. A premium cabin costs £40 for four hours and £80 overnight. An economy class is also planned at future Yotels; those cabins will not have private bathrooms. The next Yotel is scheduled to open within the year at Heathrow airport.”