Pod Hotel Concept Gains Popularity in India as Vlogger Shares Experience in Noida
The capsule hotel trend, first introduced in Japan in 1979, has found its way to India, with Noida becoming one of the locations to embrace this innovative hospitality model. Architect Kisho Kurokawa initially designed the concept to provide affordable and efficient lodging for busy travellers and professionals. Recently, travel vlogger Somya (@Somya_Crazy) shared her experience staying at NapTapGo, a pod-style hotel located in Noida Sector 62, through a detailed thread on X.
Somya shared several pictures showcasing her stay at the hotel, which offers pod-style accommodations with private suites. She described her stay in a capsule equipped with a single bed, mirror, control panel, charging ports, locks, and an entertainment screen. Additional amenities included a dedicated women's washroom, a common washroom she noted as "quite clean", and a shared common area for guests.
"Stayed in a pod-style hotel in Noida!", Somya captioned the photos. While her 8-hour stay was largely positive, she highlighted some drawbacks, such as the lack of soundproofing, which allowed disturbances from neighboring pods, creating a dormitory-like atmosphere. Somya also noted that private room options, available at a similar price point, might offer better soundproofing.
The vlogger's stay cost ₹1,000 for an 8-hour booking on a Saturday, from 4 am to 12 pm. She mentioned that prices are lower during the weekdays. NapTapGo operates on an hourly basis, with 12-hour bookings costing around ₹1,000. The hotel offers two options: Private Pods for single occupants and Private POD Room Suites, which accommodate one adult and one child.
Somya’s post even caught the attention of industrialist Anand Mahindra, who praised the concept on social media. "That looks pretty cool. I've always thought that the capsule hotel concept (first seen in Japan) would be ideal for the expansion of functional & clean hotel rooms in India, giving a Flip to budget travel. But how many of you agree? Would you find this claustrophobic?" Mahindra tweeted.