What Are Capsule Hotels Like? We Stayed in One in the Kuala Lumpur Airport
Our two hour layover was changed into an 11 hour layover and there was really not much we could do about it. (Thanks, AirAsia!) So, we made the most of it by paying to sleep in a little box.
We were flying from Melbourne, Australia to Medan, Indonesia with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur. I’m really not sure why the airline changed our schedule and left us with such a long layover in KL, but when I tried to argue it I got nowhere so we decided to take the opportunity to try out the capsule hotel at Kuala Lumpur airport.Â
I have been curious about capsule hotels for a while, having seen one in Tokyo featured on a travel program. What are capsule hotels like? They are simply small sleeping pods, little shelves with enough room for a bed and not much else. You can store your items in a locker, then slide yourself into your little drawer (somewhat reminiscent of a morgue slab) and get some sleep.
After an overnight red eye flight from Melbourne, seated close to a loudly wailing child and a vomiting adolescent, we were bleary and ready to lie down on any horizontal surface – even if it was a bed shoved inside a shipping container.
So, what are capsule hotels like? Well, the Capsule by Container Hotel has a very industrial look, consisting of re-used shipping containers and metal staircases and grates.
It looks like if Airbnb did prisons. Or, if an international freight company was unloading a shipment of sleepy travellers.
The website told me to “Expect to be mesmerized by the ambiance of artistic vibe the moment you step into the foyer.” I may have been jetlagged, but I don’t think I was mesmerised by several metal boxes stacked on top of each other. However, it was clean, friendly and welcoming.
The capsule hotel is located right inside the Kuala Lumpur airport, although you will have to go out through security and customs to get it. So, you will technically enter Malaysia and get your passport stamped, even if it is only for a few hours. (However, I don’t think that’s enough to say that you have been to Malaysia.)
At the hotel you can check in for either 6, 9 or 12 hours and you can choose a single sized or queen sized pod. The queen sized pod is the same price as two single ones, so we opted for the larger one. We hadn’t been on a long enough flight to be at the stage of hating each other and needing two separate pods (yet).
Our pod was big enough for us to sit up in and it even had a tiny fold down desk where I could get some writing done.
When you check in, you will need to pay some cash for a key deposit – so try to have some Malaysian ringgits on hand. If you don’t have cash you will need to hand over your passport instead, but it’s not a good idea to let your passport out of your sight if you have a connecting flight to catch.
We immediately fell asleep on the big, comfortable bed for several hours. Although there was a bit of noise from other people talking in the pod next door, we got a pretty good sleep.
The pod hotel also has shower facilities so we were able to freshen up. Bring a change of clothes in your carry on baggage, as you won’t have access to your main bag during your layover.
You will be given a little bag with a towel and a small toothbrush/toothpaste set which is handy, because you won’t have to worry about taking toothpaste on your carry-on.
Here’s a little tip: the pods have a slot in which you can insert your card for power. However, you also need your card to get back into your section of the hotel if you leave to use the bathroom, so you’ll end up leaving your partner in the dark.
Our trick (which we learned from many other similarly operating hotel rooms in Southeast Asia) is to leave another similarly sized card in the slot such as your credit card or even your library card or gym card from back home. That way, you can leave the lights on for the other person when you leave your pod.Â
So, what are capsule hotels like? Are they good value?
In conclusion the capsule hotel experience was pretty cool and we thought it was good value for money. For 9 hours, it cost us 200 Malaysian Ringgit – about $45 USD.
To be able to get some sleep, get some work done and not have to haunt the corridors of the airport for all that time looking for somewhere to sit and plug our laptops in – it felt worth it. We emerged from our shipping container refreshed and ready to board our flight to Medan.
That actually looks pretty cool, and not bad value either. You’d pay about the same if you were to pay for access passes for most airline lounges and you wouldn’t get privacy and sleep.
Great review and tips!
I’ve been in Kuala Lumpur, on a long layover, and next time, I’ll try this instead of the lounge! Sleeping in the lounge just isn’t done, you know?
Sounds like a good idea, actually! I was just reading about something similar in the US today. I love the concept but the industrial metal look of the place would turn me off…but I guess if I just wanted to sleep I wouldn’t care!
There were capsule pods at Helsinki airport when I flew from there in March but I was too cheap to pay for them & slept inside the terminal instead! I did try them for an hour at 6am when they were free, it was divine. These ones in KL look a lot bigger & nicer as yeah, the Helsinki ones were just pod – I transit often in KL so I will keep this in mind, thanks
Veyr cool review, first capsule hotel review I see. I see the practicality but not sure I could handle the tiny space for my claustrophobia lol.
I haven’t stayed in a capsule hotel or sleeping pod yet, but I would definitely take advantage of this during a long layover like you guys experienced. It actually sounds more spacious than I’d have imagined, and the little fold-down desk seems quite convenient for working on a laptop.
If you really think about it, it doesn’t look so bad, but of course it have some dawn’s as well. I really appreciate more spacious rooms, but for short trip it will be good experience.
Your experience at the capsule hotel sounds like a great solution to a challenging layover situation. The fact that you were able to get some work done and catch up on sleep is impressive.
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Thanks for sharing your experience with capsule hotels! For travelers facing unexpected layovers, it’s great to have options like the Capsule by Container Hotel. If you’re ever in need of translating your travel experiences for a broader audience, consider Pangea Global. Click here to explore their services and make your stories accessible worldwide!
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I am quite impressed with this capsule hotel model. very new and unique to experience.
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I can imagine how unexpected and tiring an 11-hour layover can be, especially after a long flight with noisy neighbors. The description of the capsule hotel experience at Kuala Lumpur airport is intriguing. The comparison to Airbnb doing prisons paints a vivid picture of the industrial aesthetic. It must have been quite an adventure staying in those small sleeping pods made from reused shipping containers. I wonder, did the unique environment of the capsule hotel add to or take away from your overall travel experience? It’s interesting how these 67 Clicker innovative accommodation options are transforming layovers into memorable stays.
I loved reading about your experience in a capsule hotel! It sounds like such a unique way to travel. Did drive mad 3 find it comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep?
I loved reading about your experience in a capsule hotel! eggy car
This comment shares practical, experience-based tips about capsule hotels, highlighting both comfort and minor inconveniences, while offering clever solutions that make the stay smoother and more convenient for travelers on layovers.
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Wow, that sounds like a unique experience! I’ve always been curious about capsule hotels. $45 for 9 hours in a shipping container seems pretty reasonable for an airport stay. The photos must be cool too!
Stayed at a capsule hotel in Osaka last year and had the same ‘am I really doing this’ moment stepping in. The soundproofing is surprisingly better than expected, but the shared bathroom logistics take some getting used to. Great honest write-up.
Really enjoyed reading this honest review of capsule hotels. It answered questions I always had about comfort, privacy, and convenience during long layovers. I actually discovered this article while browsing diccionario de sueños, and I’m glad I did. The practical tips and real experience made it genuinely useful for future travel planning.
An 11-hour layover is rough, but turning it into a capsule hotel experience was a great idea! I love how practical these pods are for getting some real rest between flights. It also made me think of the abandoned Hotel Belvedere, Switzerland a completely different kind of stay, but such an iconic travel spot.
The “Airbnb did prisons” line made me laugh out loud—it captures that industrial, stacked-container feeling perfectly. I appreciate your honest, unglamorous take on the capsule experience; it’s refreshingly real
We stayed at the KLIA2 capsule hotel last month and this description is spot on. The airport ones really are more functional than charming, but for a long layover they beat sleeping on a bench. Earplugs are a must, and booking a pod with a solid door instead of just a curtain made a big difference for us.
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Capsule hotels make good use of limited space while still giving travelers a simple place to sleep and recharge. That emphasis on a quick, straightforward experience also fits Krogerfeedback, where customer experiences can be shared after a store visit.