I can't believe it took me over two million miles to finally do it.
I finally stayed in a capsule hotel. I have stayed in countless Airbnbs, hotels, and hostels throughout the years, but I had never made my way to an actual capsule hotel.
If anything, staying in a capsule hotel is like staying in an upgraded hostel. Though if I'm being completely honest, the experience was a bit anticlimactic, but sometimes there are itches you have to scratch.
Turns out FOMO is real! 😅
My rationale for staying in a capsule hotel
First, I'd be lying if there wasn't curiosity involved.
Not to mention a 17-hour layover was involved. What's a girl to do when her next flight is out at 10 am the next day?
I should probably add that this particular capsule hotel, the CHO capsule hotel, had the added advantage of being just outside of Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport airport terminal (like, literally right outside the immigration desk, around the corner, and up the escalators).
The main city of Taipei is located about an hour outside the airport, and though it was very doable to venture in and stay in the main city, I didn't want to be rushed the next morning either.
The fact I had never stayed in a capsule hotel, it'd only 1,710.00 TWD ($53.74 USD) was also an added bonus.
My whole entire journey had basically started en route from Da Nang, Vietnam, where I had a 30+ hour journey back to the United States. Taipei was my overnight and pit stop, followed by an actual 12-hour flight to LA, followed by another 5-hour flight to New York.
Basically, as much as Din Tai Fung was a priority, so was getting some rest!
Checking in was like any other experience
Apparently this is a thing to document à la influencer, but checking into the capsule hostel was just like checking in to any other hotel or hostel, to be honest.
The main difference was that the capsule hotel presented me with a welcome tea, which may have just been more of an individual "we like to be nice" thing (which to be honest, I found refreshing just having stepped out of a flight and going through immigration).
The woman was also nice enough to chat through the local food markets, and what I could see, in a relatively short period of time.
The only noticeable difference the capsule hotel asked me to take off my shoes and put them in a locker before stepping into the main hallway, where the actual rooms and bathrooms were. Beyond this point, everything required key card access.
Each room was secured by a key card. (Courtesy of CHO Capsule Hotel)
This includes the capsule pod room, which was honestly seemed more like stacked bunk beds with their own blackout curtain. There was no door, or more enclosed barrier, to each pod, which definitely meant I was able to hear more what was going on around in other pods.
(This might have been an "Asian" thing, and yes, I can say this because I'm Asian, but there were signs posted in front of each room to be mindful of noise and to close the doors gently.)
Staying inside the actual capsule pod
Honestly, there wasn't much difference between staying in my tiny New York apartment versus staying in a capsule, besides the fact that I get a lot more privacy, lots of window, and higher ceilings in my Manhattan apartment.
It felt like a little mini-room, and there was one pod stacked on top of each other in a 2x5 manner. My pod was the pod at the furthest end of the room, away from the door (you want this! The close. The top pods, the capsule receptionist told me, received the least noise.
Each pod had its own main light, a less intrusive ambient night, two hangers, a mirror, a mini stand desk(!), a USB plug, an outlet, and a safe box. There was a blackout curtain that helped partition, though quite frankly, I would have preferred a more solid barrier like a door.
I was able to sit completely up without bumping my head, which was a nice feature.
Like most hostels, the CHO capsule hotel also separated guests by gender, though mixed rooms and a few different type of rooms were also available to book. I picked the cheapest room.
Most guests stored their suitcases and belongings in the room, just outside their pod.
In terms of noise level, the hotel asked that travelers pack and repack their suitcase outside in the hallway to limit noise, which it did for a bit (though you know, you get people that don't know how to do the hostel life).
The most surprising thing about the experience
Staying in a capsule hotel was not like this. (Max Zaharenkov / Pexels)
It could be because I was in Asia, but the amenities crushed it.
Basically, your mileage may vary here: The capsule hotel provided ear plugs, a heated eye mask-oh my god, did anyone else know about these-little chocolates, and a complimentary welcoming tea service whenever you wanted it.
(The capsule hotel did not provide a bath towel by default, though they did provide one if you signed up for their "free" VIP program).
The capsule hotels also had Dyson hairdryers and Cha Tzu Tang products, a delightful little Taiwanese haircare brand I had never had before (but fell absolutely in love with).
Either way, it was a great itch to scratch, but I am not sure I would seek out a capsule hotel again given there were more lodging options that would provide more value.
If I was stuck between a capsule hotel or hostel, though? Maybe.
