What's up with the pods?
 

I will be flying from Capetown to Heathrow in mid-July. My flight arrives around 6 a.m. and I am meeting a friend who will be arriving from San Francisco at 2:00p.m. Since I have an 8 hour wait I've considered booking one of those sleeping pods (in Terminal 1 or 4?) I don't know if I'll feel like sleeping, but after 11 hours on a plane I know I'd like a shower.

Does anyone have info on the pods? I don't know if they'll feel claustrophobic. Is there anyway to see outside when you're in a pod? Are they built underground? The purple lighting on the advert. looks kind of spooky.

Is this what you are talking about?
http://www.moodiereport.com/document...8&doc_id=14390

I don't think it's a shower, but a twenty min. nap?

Where do they keep luggage while asleep?

This is it:

http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/t...tml?id=2469464

http://www.yotel.com/

Bob

those sound kind of neat and do say a shower

I've heard of these, but don't know anyone whose actually rented them. If you end up doing this, specs, please report back to us about your experience.

You're probably thinking of Yotel: http://www.yotel.com

And here's a link for all the details: http://www.yotel.com/Faq.aspx?section=2

I used one last February when I had a long layover on the way to India. It was great - enjoyed a shower, a nap, watched the flat-screen TV, used free WiFi. I paid the extra £15 for a premium cabin with a larger bed, reserved it for 6 hours, paid about £50 total. They also have food and drinks and movies available for extra charge. And you can book a TV wake-up call.

Forgot to mention, it's land-side in Terminal 4.

The Yotels are awesome! We took a tour of them, but haven't stayed there. They did some really great decorating with blue lights and mirrors, so it really doesn't feel like tiny room. The beds were gorgeous and fluffy, and the showers were very clean and impressive.
I would totally recommend checking it out!

You mean Yotel rooms I think. We stayed in the Yotel at Gatwick airport and it was fine. Comfy double bed, big TV screen, small room but we've had smaller in central London, shower, toilet etc. The bed converts to a sofa, like the first class beds on planes (not that I've ever been that lucky..sigh). There was purple lighting when we arrived but I didn't like it and you can easily change it to normal lighting. There were no windows in any of the rooms because it's built inside the airport but we loved the convenience of it for a very early flight.

Kay

Thanks for the info. I think Yotel is the right name for the pods. Sorry about the confusion. I wonder if it is essential to book a reservation? All reviews have been favorable and if I can adjust the lighting it might be ok. That purple lighting has to go. If I stay there I'll definitely post a review.

"<i> I wonder if it is essential to book a reservation?</i>"

Definitely. Walk up rates (if any rooms are available) are higher. Yotel's are great for a 6 - 8 hour layover where you only want the room for maybe 4 to 6 hours. But they charge by the hour so a full 10-12 hour overnight costs more than a full service 3 or 4 star airport hotel.