Who says bigger is better? When it comes to hotel rooms, sometimes smaller is the way to stay. Hotel chains in the U.S. are following Asian and European trends by offering budget-friendly accommodations, which pack many amenities into small, cost-saving spaces.
These aren’t true Japanese-style “pod” or “capsule” hotels, where each room is a crawl-in space that isn’t much bigger than the length and width of the bed. The American versions of pod hotels have approximately 100 square feet, with enough space to stand and take a few steps. Some have private in-room bathrooms, but some have shared showers and toilets. So, if you don’t want to walk down the hall to do your business, read those room descriptions carefully.
These rooms can be close quarters, but they also have luxe beds and free wifi, perfect for a good, no-frills night’s sleep. Looking to save money and not spend much time in your hotel room? Here are some of our favorite brands where style isn’t sacrificed to save space:
The Pod Hotels
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The Pod Hotels chain has several locations around NYC, including Manhattan locations in Midtown and Times Square and a Brooklyn hotel in trendy Williamsburg. Room sizes range from standard hotel rooms to smaller “pod” rooms, which may have private in-room or shared communal bathrooms. The pod-style rooms at the Brooklyn location have either one queen or two bunkbeds (above), and they have a cool rooftop deck with nice views of the city.
YOTEL
YOTEL is a popular brand in Europe, but the chain of stylish little hotels has locations popping up around the US in major cities. The San Francisco YOTEL is located on busy Market St., close to Folsom St. and the South of Market (SoMA) neighborhood.
Their pod rooms are called Sky Cabins because the beds are on lofts above the room door and vanity sink. Beds at YOTEL are particularly comfortable once you climb the stairs up there. Fortunately, the beds have enough space for two people, should you make friends on Folsom St.
The Moxy NYC
Moxy is a stylish brand in the Marriott family that features a wide array of standard hotel rooms and large rooms with multiple bunk beds for groups. But one location, the Moxy NYC Times Square, has some cute pod rooms with just 110 square feet of space, enough for a double bed, a bathroom, and a little window. There are no closets, and the furniture folds up to get out of the way, but there is that fantastic Marriott-brand bedding.
The Hoxton
At only 115 square feet, the Shoebox rooms at the Hoxton in Portland, OR, are big enough for just a twin bed, but they do feature private bathrooms that are surprisingly spacious. The Hoxton brand also has locations in Brooklyn, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with rooms starting at 170-200 square feet, which is positively palatial in comparison. Of course, all four locations have beautiful standard hotel rooms, and the restaurants and bars draw very fun crowds of locals. Speaking of fun, The Hoxton Portland is literally around the corner from the legendary CC Slaughters gay nightclub.
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