Hotel accommodation has always been a traveler’s major concern. Room rates tend to be less than affordable and budget travelers don’t exactly want to stay in backwater, creepy motels either! Fortunately, we now have the opportunity to save money and still stay in hotels in style. Introducing pod hotels: the latest trend that is slowly making its mark in cities all over the world.

One Sweet Suite
Pod hotels are basically tiny hotels designed to be practical, chic and cheap for anyone who is willing to try something new. One of the most popular pod hotels is The Pod Hotel in New York City. While the average room space is only 100 square meteres, don’t be in too much of a hurry to judge the former Pickwick Arms! Each room is equipped with iPod docking stations, LCD televisions and WiFi Internet connection.

Moreover, guests have a choice of queen, single, twin and bunk beds which makes staying all the more fun. The rooftop provides a wonderful view of the city and the lounge allows everyone to interact with fellow travelers. Meanwhile, just a block or two away are famous landmarks and plenty of restaurants, clubs and bars to keep travelers satisfied. Unfortunately, most of the rooms have shared baths (rooms with private baths cost more) and silence is not always guaranteed. Still, The Pod Hotel is certainly worth staying a night or two at.

While this concept sounds new, it has reportedly been around in Asia for quite some time now. More specifically, in Japan. There, they call them capsule hotels and most of these accommodations are simpler than their Western counterparts. Function before fashion, so they say. These capsule hotels actually resemble coffins and may look a little freaky for someone who just came from America’s pod hotel. However, it is more spacious than one would think!

Parts of a Capsule Unit!
In the Capsule Inn Akihabara, each unit has WiFi Internet connection, television screens, air conditioning, light adjustment and even a small table. Everything is properly illustrated in the picture above:

Necessity is the mother of invention. While these pod and capsule hotels are few and far in between, who knows what will happen in the future? After all, innovation requires no fixed conditions.

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