Why You Should Choose a Capsule Hotel for Your Next Singapore Vacation
Singapore is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is an absolute delight to visit, with no shortage of cultural experiences, delicious food, and exhilarating attractions to enjoy. However, it is also one of the most expensive cities in the world, and even a short holiday can be a significant hit to your finances.
However, if you want to indulge in everything this bustling metropolis has to offer, and are willing to make a few compromises, it is absolutely possible to vacation in Singapore on a shoestring budget: capsule hotels are the city’s answer to economical travelers looking for a convenient and inexpensive place to rest their heads after a long day of adventures in the Lion City. What began in 1979 in Japan as a simple solution for exhausted Japanese salarymen in need of a place to sleep for a night has turned into quirky Singapore destinations in their own right. Read on for why they might be your best choice, too.
The Best of Both Worlds
Capsule hotels exist in that comfortable middle space between an expensive hotel room in Singapore, and reasonably priced dormitory-style backpacker hostels. You get the privacy of having your own room —or capsule, in this case—for a fraction of the price. Just like a regular hotel, most capsule hotels provide free wireless internet, power sockets for your electronics located right inside the pods, and a secure space for your belongings. Some capsule hotels have a café or restaurant connected with the establishment that also provides complimentary breakfast or quick meals, and offer other services to sweeten the pot, such as laundry facilities and bicycle rentals.
Location, Location, Location
There are capsule hotels all over the metro, even in some of the trendiest neighborhoods in the city like Kampong Glam and Clarke Quay. You can even have capsule hotel as your
>Little India Singapore address—one that you can call your very own for the duration of your stay. These establishments are usually within the vicinity of a bus or MRT station, a convenience store, or some of the best tourist attractions that the area has to offer. Checking into a capsule hotel in the right location gives you more time in the day to experience Singapore’s best, and less time in transit getting to them. As such truly savvy vacationers choose capsule hotels that are walking distance from the tourist spots they’d like to visit, hawker centers with excellent food, or areas famous for their nightlife.
MEETING PEOPLE AND MAKING FRIENDS Meeting People and Making Friends
Capsule hotels tend to attract a diverse clientele, and many of them encourage socializing between guests with common areas of interest. Meeting a person from a country you’ve never been to before and exchanging stories, swapping travel tips, and learning about each other’s culture is an excellent way to broaden your horizons while on vacation. Who knows, you might even gain a friend you can look up when you pop in for a visit at their home country.
Safety and Security
There’s nothing more intimidating than being a female solo traveler, and the concept of having to share accommodations can be anxiety-inducing. Singapore is one of the safest cities on the planet, but for your added peace of mind, certain capsule hotels offer female-only floors or rooms and are more than happy to accommodate you should you request to be put in them instead of a mixed floor. You may also feel anxious about any belongings you leave in the hotel while sightseeing. For that, capsule hotels provide secure personal lockers you can use throughout your stay.
Something for Everyone
An establishment may advertise itself as a capsule hotel, but not all of them are prone to trigger claustrophobia. The accommodations can range from a plastic tube the size of a single bed that’s just enough for one person to slip into, to something the size of a comfortable double that comes equipped with a flat-screen TV. Capsule hotels know that they have to offer perks to draw in more customers to compensate for the modest lodgings, so you may find some that offer console games in the common lounge, a fully-stocked open kitchen, or a even rooftop jacuzzi.
More and more people are choosing capsule hotels for their holiday in Singapore, and with all these advantages, why wouldn’t you? Save money, save time, do more of the things that you want to do. At the end of the day, a roof over your head is all anyone needs—even if the ceiling is within arm’s reach.
