The first pod hotel was built in the Umeda district, which is located in Osaka, Japan. The hotel, which was designed by Kisho Kurokawa, was opened on February 1, 1979. It took over 25 years for the concept to start catching on in other parts of the country, but pod hotels can now be found in parts of Europe as well as in the United States. The primary reason for building the newer pod hotels is the same as the reasoning behind the first design: to offer guests an inexpensive lodging option that still meets their basic needs.


Photo: buck82@Flickr

Meeting your personal needs - particularly the need to shower and to use the bathroom - may be different depending upon the hotel as well as the room you rent. In some pod hotels, the shower and toilet facilities are available in a dorm-style set up. In others, some rooms may actually have private facilities within the pod and the rooms that do not have private facilities have a light that indicates when the facilities are free for use.

The Pod Hotel is located in Manhattan, where most hotels charge well over $200 per night. At this economic alternative, however, you can potentially enjoy a stay for less than $100. In addition, while the rooms make the most out of available space, they still feature a number of luxurious features. For example, the multiple shared bathrooms feature granite and marble interiors, designer sinks, and rain-head showers. In addition, some of the pods contain private bathrooms and all rooms include LCD televisions, iPod docking stations, and wireless Internet access.

Outside of the pod, guests can dine at the hotel's world-class restaurant or take in the sites on the rooftop garden bar. When it comes to taking in the sights and sound of Manhattan, you will be happy to know that the hotel is located within walking distance of attractions such as The United Nations, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. In addition, the hotel offers a concierge service and is near to a number of trendy boutiques and eateries.


Photo: subbu4@Flickr

EasyHotels, which are operated by the company easyJet, are located throughout London. Like The Pod Hotel, these hotels offer inexpensive accommodations that cost less than $50 per night. While the EasyHotels are not quite as luxurious as The Pod Hotels, they do offer all of the normal creature comforts that would be found in low budget hotel. In addition, they include private shower and toilet facilities.


Photo: john.d.long@Flickr

Obic Hotels are located in Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Maastricht and each offers rates ranging from $80 to $200 per night, with the best rates available to those that book well in advance. Every room in these hotels measures 8 by 10 feet. Yet, they manage to squeeze in a hand made Hastens bed, an in-room safe, a radio, a television, and wireless Internet access. In addition, you take care of many of your needs on your own. For example, guests are expected to check themselves in at the computer kiosk, though payment for the stay is actually made at the time of the
reservation.


Photo: Tommmie@Flickr

There are many different chains of pod hotels available in Japan, though they are more commonly referred to as capsule hotels in Asia. The pod hotels in Japan contain far less amenities than those located in Europe and in the United States. In fact, the capsule hotels are set up more like a morgue, with simple sleeping spaces stacked one on top of the other.

These hotel rooms, which typically measure around 3 feet high, by 3 feet wide, by 6 feet long, contain nothing more than a bed with a television at the foot and a control station at the front that allows the guest to control the television, to listen to music, and to set an alarm for the morning. Obviously, there are no private bathroom facilities with these hotels. In addition, some of them are only available to male guests.


Photo: steampunkpirate@Flickr