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Ash Jurberg
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- On an overnight layover in Bangkok, I booked a $50 stay at the airport's Avagard Capsule Hotel.
- I slept surprisingly well in my 7-by-3 pod, although walking to the bathroom felt awkward.
- I wouldn't sleep there again if I were traveling with others, but I'll book it on future solo trips.
I was flying from Phuket, Thailand, to Bhutan with an awkward, eight-hour, overnight layover in Bangkok.
My flight landed at 9:30 p.m., and my connection left at 5:30 a.m. It was too long to suffer in uncomfortable airport chairs, but too short to splurge on even a basic hotel, which would've cost me around $100.
Then, I discovered Avagard Capsule Hotel, a collection of $50 sleeping pods in the Bangkok airport's international terminal.
I booked one a couple of weeks before my trip, curious if I'd get any sleep.
The capsule was nicer than I expected
Capsule hotels are sleeping accommodations made up of small pods ("capsules"). The concept originated in Japan, but has since spread to airports around the world. I'd seen them when flying through Dubai and Frankfurt, but this would be my first time staying in one.
After landing, I found my "hotel" in a corner of a busy walkway. There were eight capsules stacked two high, somewhat like bunk beds.
Expecting limited service, I was surprised to find an employee present to check me in. They quickly showed me how to set codes for my capsule door and luggage locker, then gestured for me to climb inside.
The space was roughly 7 feet long and 3 feet wide. At 5'9", I was immediately comfortable, but a taller person might have felt cramped.
Closing the door felt like shutting out the world. In an instant, I went from the chaos of a busy airport to a dark, cozy cocoon.
Inside, I found amenities including bottled water, tissues, earplugs, and multiple USB ports to charge my devices. Even slippers were provided, since I wasn't allowed to wear shoes inside.
Falling asleep with hundreds of people walking past my head was weird
With the lights off, the capsule was dark, and the bed surprisingly comfortable.
As a light sleeper, though, I struggled at first to block out the noise. There was a constant procession of people walking past, and I could hear their conversations.
One couple walked past, commenting, "Oh, look, that's a hotel! I wonder who stays there?" I briefly considered popping the door open and announcing "Me!" but decided sleep was more important than comedy.
The airport announcements continued, too, but they started to sound more distant as I got settled. Eventually, jetlag set in, and I drifted off.
Around midnight, nature called. With no guest toilets, I had to walk five minutes to the nearest public ones. In my haze, I went barefoot, which wasn't the best idea — I needed to go back and get my slippers.
I almost felt like I was doing the walk of shame with messy bed hair, an old T-shirt and track pants, and cheap disposable slippers.
At least at that hour, there were few people around to witness my disheveled state, but it's something to consider when staying in an airport capsule hotel.
The convenience was worth every cent
My alarm went off at 4 a.m., just in time to check in for my next flight and head to the gate, which was conveniently located just down the hall. Despite getting only a few hours of sleep, I felt recharged and unstressed.
Because I was traveling with carry-ons, there was no need to recheck bags or go through security again. After retrieving my bag from the locker, I headed back to the public toilets to brush my teeth and freshen up — this time remembering footwear.
Without a shower, I wasn't completely refreshed, but I felt good enough. The fact that I was at my gate within 10 minutes of waking up, though, made this a worthwhile investment.
This option probably wouldn't work if I were traveling with my family, but I'd definitely do it again if I were by myself and had another awkward layover.
I've stayed in hundreds of hotels throughout my travels, many of them five-star, luxury accommodations.
Staying in a 7-by-3 pod in an airport terminal, however, was one of the coolest experiences I've had. Even my midnight bathroom adventure provided a story.
