In the world of hotels, micro hotels are a category on their own. They’re developed to be pragmatic solutions for those who don’t want to spend a fortune on their hotel room. After all, they’re just there to get some rest and that’s all, meaning you don’t need a lot of space – just a clean, comfortable bed. And that’s exactly what micro hotels are meant to be. Often not more than a pod with a mattress and eventually some high-tech stuff, they’re ideal if you don’t want too much from your hotel stay.
If you’re looking for an affordable stay, hostels are usually the way to go. But in that case, you have to share your space with other people, meaning your privacy isn’t guaranteed and if you’re not in luck, the people you’re sharing the dorm with aren’t that considerate of their roommates’ much-needed sleep. Micro hotels are essentially the same as a dorm, only in this case, every guest has their own little cocon, almost like a butterfly impatiently waiting for its transformation.
Even though the surface of many of them is actually very similar, not all micro hotels are founded for the same reason nor designed in the same way. Sometimes, you can find little pods close to an airport, as a handy and not too expensive way for travellers to pass their time while waiting for their next flight. Other times, tiny rooms offer an affordable accommodation option in destinations renowned for their expensive stay-overs. And sometimes, micro hotels are set up as a creative space, a philosophical accommodation option that pushes guests to their creative limits, while wondering why they would ever need a bigger space if they could forever stay in such an outer-worldly looking environment.
Let’s take a sneak peek at 5 of the coolest micro hotel locations. Perfect for travellers looking for an alternative kind of accommodation, whatever the reason.
1. Tubohotel, Mexico
From a distance, the concrete tunnels stacked on each other, all looking out on the circular pool in the middle, look quite strange. But inside, you’ll be stunned by the comfort levels of these tiny rooms.
Rooms starting from approximately 40€ a night.
2. Koyasan Guest House Kokuu, Japan
Koyasan is one of the most sacred mountains in Japan but until recently, travellers had a hard time finding accommodation options on site. Thanks to the minimalistic, all-white capsule bedrooms at Koyasan Guest House Kokuu, there’s now an affordable option to be found.
Rooms starting from 25€ a night.
3. Das Parkhotel, Germany and Austria
The idea of Das Parkhotel is pretty similar than the one behind Tubohotel: guests sleep in concrete tubes. Here, however, they are located within public parks and have an even more minimalistic look. They have locations throughout Germany and Austria so don’t hesitate to have a look when heading in that direction.
Rooms starting from 20€ a night.
4. CityHub, Netherlands
Shaped like an L and with just enough space for a double bed and some storage: that’s CityHub, located in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam. They look somewhat like a spaceship and are perfect if you want to get a taste from what the future might or might not look like.
Rooms from approximately 75€ a night.
5. Stay Open, United States
There’s one communal space and several pods, which are all located within that very same room. Not an ideal option for introverts but perfect if you’d like to experience an adult-proof sleepover party.
Pods from 99$ a night.
