First stay in a capsule hotel
I recently had a long connection in Mexico City after a early morning flight and the opportunity to lie down in a quiet, dark room was too tempting to pass up.
I'd read about capsule hotels before – initially in Japan, which is a few years ahead of the US and Europe in the dystopian trend to smaller living spaces, and where it's not uncommon to live in something resembling a capsule. Then, more recently, on travel websites, pitched as a way for weary travelers to get some much needed shut-eye while airside.
The closest thing I'd encountered before this was YotelAir which, while very small, are technically rooms, with walls, a ceiling and a tiny bathroom. I found them to be a little overpriced but ideal for a one night stay when you don’t want to leave the airport.
The capsule hotel at Mexico City airport is called izZzleep. It’s landside, on the upper floor of the bus terminal, adjacent to the main terminal – about 5 minutes walk after clearing arrivals security. The hourly price is $10 USD, with a minimum of 2 hours. There is also a nightly rate of $80-100 USD.
Inside
After hauling my luggage up the stairs, I arrived in a very small reception area with one staff member. I asked for 2 hours, showed my ID and paid $20. He explained that I should leave in about 2 hours!
He gave me a card that opens the locker room, a locker and my capsule, and explained that my luggage, including my carry-on (because it has wheels) and my shoes, need to stay in my locker, so I should go there first.
There are separate locker rooms for men and women although, at 2pm, I’m fairly sure I was their only guest.
The lockers are about the size of a large carry-on and also have a hanger and towel:
There is a second bench and a sink area. This area reminds me of a gym (though my memory of gyms is a bit fuzzy) or public swimming pool.
A bit further, there is an area with toilets on the left and showers on the right:
The showers are clean, modern and private:
This area was really nice while there were no other guests. Sharing it with five to ten other guests would have been a very different experience.
After leaving most of my stuff in my locker, I proceeded to one of the two capsule rooms:
I was given the first capsule on the bottom, I assume because I was the only guest. This room is kept dark with the slight illumination coming from the Cyberpunk-style capsules’ LEDs.
The capsule was just over 6” long, meaning that my 5’9” self could lay flat comfortably, but if I were taller, I would struggle. Inside, I found controls for the lights, the small TV mounted on the ceiling and the ventilation. There was also a small lockbox, a fold-out table, a mirror and a power outlet. It actually didn’t feel that claustrophobic.
The mattress was thin and firm but not uncomfortably so, a bit like a hospital bed. Definitely good enough for one night.
Overall, I was impressed at how claustrophobic it didn’t feel. If I had a longer connection, I would have been able to get a good 8 hours sleep in my cube. With my short connection, I was able to feel a bit more alive and refreshed, and see this new (to me) concept. I would definitely do it again.