Would You Stay in a Pod Hotel?

You may have seen photos of pod-style hotels online — with tiny bunkbed-like situations for a hostel environment on steroids — but what is staying in a pod hotel really like?

The aptly-named brand Pod Hotels attempts to offer budget-friendly stays in top neighborhoods, but without sacrificing the guest experience. The brand includes four properties in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Currently, if you book directly with Pod Hotels, you’ll save 15 percent.

When you stay at a Pod Hotel, you have several options, including bunk pods, queen pods, queen-plus pods, ADA pods and mini suites. All pods are fully private — so not really like a hostel at all, despite what you might’ve read — and feature private bathrooms, so you’re not reliving your college dorm years. The smallest option, the bunk pods, feature two twin beds, making these setups ideal for traveling friends or two family members. The largest option, the mini suites, offer both a queen bed and a set of bunk beds, plus a larger bathroom. All pods come with your typical basic hotel room amenities, such as an entertainment center and storage space.

In other words, even with “pod” in the name, Pod Hotels isn’t really going to stick you in a pod, though you will enjoy pod-worthy prices. If you still need a little extra space, though, the brand also offers Pod Pads, fully furnished apartments available on an extended-stay basis.