Staying in a Capsule Hostel

Over the past three or four years of travelling I have stayed in over one hundred hostels alone. The overwhelming experience has been positive, with the occasion exception. With friendly, open atmospheres, I have written elsewhere about the many advantages of staying in hostels and I implore people to look past inaccurate stereotypes.

Most hostels take a similar basic form. The common area is the focal point in which travellers socialise and share stories, often over a beer. The kitchen acts as another social space as well as providing the opportunity to save money on food. Bedrooms are lined by lockers and bunk-beds, sometimes stacked three high.

It was in Estonia that I decided to try something I had read about and always wanted to experience myself. Capsule hostels have always been something I have associated with Asia, and more specifically with Japan and South Korea. Seeing one such hostel existed in Tallinn came as a surprise and the perfect opportunity to test one out.

Having spent some time in Helsinki, a quick and efficient boat trip across the Baltic Sea took me to Tallinn. The cruise-ship style boat was an experience in itself, the ten floors containing sleeping cabins, large entertainment halls with live music, a wide range of bars and food establishments, and - perhaps most important for those suffering the extremely high cost of living in Finland - a duty-free shop.

Tallinn - I agreed with a friend who recently visited too - was somewhat disappointing. The old town is unquestionably beautiful, particularly from the various panoramic points scattered around. A handful of museums are worth visiting; the Seaplane Harbour museum is remarkable, housed in an old Soviet hangar, both the exhibits and the structure that houses them are impressive. However, overall there is little that makes the city stand out from many other European cities and it can be seen in a day. (Incidentally, of the Baltic capitals the most interesting city for me was Vilnius and is well worth a visit.)

The hostel itself had been as appealing to me as anything in the city even before arriving, no matter how it turned out to be it was certain to be a unique, first-time experience.

Being a modern, technology dominated hostel meant that there was little need for human staff beyond the one cleaner who seemingly worked continuously throughout the day and into the evening. Check-in was done by a machine with a code sent by email, which directed you to your personal capsule.

The capsules were spread across various rooms and stacked two high. A key card allowed for personal and secure access and inside the white plastic container was everything needed for a comfortable night. USB ports and plug sockets were a fulfilled necessity and a TV with access to Netflix and other programmes a nice surprise. Hangers and mirrors were amongst other basic features, as well as adjustable lighting and temperature control. A locker in a separate room, accessed using the same key card, provided plenty of storage space for belongings not needed when in the capsule.

Sleeping in the capsule was comfortable and the privacy it offered was certainly an advantage over normal shared hostel dormitories. However, beyond sleeping, and for short periods of time spent alone, the advantage of privacy and personal space becomes tedious.

Yet, when one leaves in search of some company - something so important to a solo traveller - is where the failings of such a hostel becomes apparent. Despite having both a large and well-equipped kitchen and common area, there was rarely anyone around. Guests use the facilities rarely, if ever, and seemingly spend their time in the hostel in their own capsules.

Perhaps it is unfair to go to a place that's very unique selling point is the privacy it offers and then complain about a lack of sociability. Indeed, I understand the appeal of this and why many guests exploit it to the maximum. However, for a solo-traveller who seeks periods of company as much as privacy, balance is lacking. In this sense, the accommodation is far more of a hotel than a hostel.

If one is simply seeking a private space to sleep and be alone then the capsule offers a cheap and unique way of doing that. If one requires an accommodation that contributes to the travel experiences as much as the city in which it is located, then a more typical hostel is perhaps better suited.

Posted: 03/06/2022

Written by: Tom Taylor (@tomtayloor)