# Is this service available in any city? (opportunity to lie down for a few hours' nap) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105 "2008-04-05T18:48:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/1 "2008-04-05T18:48:16Z")
When traveling I have found myself occasionally with a few hours to kill, the most useful use of which (due to lack of other things to do and level of fatigue) would have been to take a nap. Only, the only way to do this in almost all places is to sit on a bench or chair somewhere e.g. in a waiting area. Only, I can only fitfully doze in such a position, and have to worry about protecting my wallet etc. What I have often wished in such a situation would be the opportunity to rent the use of a simple cubicle, with a couch (covered e.g. by a one-time paper covering), an alarm clock and a door to lock after myself and my possessions. Window not neccessary, soundproofing desirable, use of shower and toilet optional. Like a hotel room rented by the hour, but for use alone… Is this sort of business operating in any city? ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/2 "2008-04-05T19:01:09Z")
[QUOTE=tschild] When traveling I have found myself occasionally with a few hours to kill, the most useful use of which (due to lack of other things to do and level of fatigue) would have been to take a nap. Only, the only way to do this in almost all places is to sit on a bench or chair somewhere e.g. in a waiting area. Only, I can only fitfully doze in such a position, and have to worry about protecting my wallet etc. What I have often wished in such a situation would be the opportunity to rent the use of a simple cubicle, with a couch (covered e.g. by a one-time paper covering), an alarm clock and a door to lock after myself and my possessions. Window not neccessary, soundproofing desirable, use of shower and toilet optional. Like a hotel room rented by the hour, but for use alone… Is this sort of business operating in any city? [/QUOTE] Not mcuh of an answer, but I think I remember watching a travel program indicating that such a thing was available in Tokyo, catering to the busy business man. I have often wished for such a setup, but the problem I see is that unless you can rent the same cube 4 or 5 times a day, you may as well just open a hotel (or charge pretty high rates per hour) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/3 "2008-04-05T19:02:56Z")
Lots of small, cheap motels have hourly rates which are used for a rather obvious purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/4 "2008-04-05T19:13:56Z")
New York City > **[Napping in the Empire State Building - Nymag](https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/9549/)** > > Rudy Monteagut was feeling drowsy. It was a damp, cloudy afternoon last week, and he’d been traipsing around midtown with his wife, Marcela. They were in town from Miami, sightseeing with the sort of vengeance that can take its toll, when they \[...\] Singapore [http://www.shermanstravel.com/destinations/top\_ten/Airports\_Worth\_The\_Layover](http://www.shermanstravel.com/destinations/top_ten/Airports_Worth_The_Layover) London > **[Mini-hotel rooms on tap for Gatwick, Heathrow](https://myabode.wordpress.com/2007/04/23/mini-hotel-rooms-on-tap-for-gatwick-heathrow/)** > > “Soon you’ll be able to rent a chic, mini-hotel room at Gatwick and Heathrow airports. The new concept, called Yotel, is a mix between the tiny cubicles popular in high-rent Japanese ci… ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/5 "2008-04-06T01:17:54Z")
I think the problem with the idea is that they would be turned into places for “quickies” like the hourly-rate motels, so you will need maid service between visits, and the place will either be a complete dump where you won’t go, or be so expensive you won’t go… ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/6 "2008-04-06T02:10:27Z")
In Tokyo they have this in the form of cubbies instead of rooms. It’s more like a private bunk on a naval ship the way they are stacked and in terms of size. I do not know if these are widely available in other cities. Ah, here’s a good link to [capsule hotels.](http://gojapan.about.com/cs/accommodation/a/tokyocapsule1.htm) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/7 "2008-04-06T05:09:09Z")
Many decent hotels / motels have a “day rate” for arriving in late morning & leaving before evening. It’s usually 50-60% of the rate for the overnight stay. No, it’s not $5/hour, but when you need 4-6 hours of sleep & a shower at a non-traditonal time of day, it can be a real nice option. The problem comes in if you need transportation from, say, the airport to/from the hotel; paying a cab will really jack your costs. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/8 "2008-04-06T16:51:14Z")
I would think that such a system, if widespread, would quickly be overwhelmed by horny folks, drug addicts, and the homeless. Nobody would want to use them after a week or so. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/9 "2008-04-06T18:22:15Z")
Then only let in one person at a time and have constant video surveillance. Only accept credit cards and require a deposit. I think it would be feasible in large airports and/or major metropolitan downtown areas. Maybe as part of a convention center? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/10 "2008-04-06T20:49:07Z")
I have used American Airlines Admirals Clubs for this purpose, but since 9/11/01 no non-ticketed people can access the concourses, so now it only helps to relieve a long layover. Some Admirals Clubs are really nice-you can eat, drink, shower and nap. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/11 "2008-04-07T03:03:46Z")
I’d think it would be a very good business idea, if somebody could make it work. I’ve often wanted something similar. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/12 "2008-04-07T04:04:49Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] I think the problem with the idea is that they would be turned into places for “quickies” like the hourly-rate motels, so you will need maid service between visits, and the place will either be a complete dump where you won’t go, or be so expensive you won’t go.. [/QUOTE] Yeah, they have 'em in Seoul, but mostly for use by young horny couples still living with their parents. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/13 "2008-04-07T06:45:18Z")
I thought of this idea when I was a kid and my parents would go on marathon all day shopping trips at the mall in a nearby big city (there is only so much time you could spend at Waldenbooks without going insane). I thought of having the mall run it like a low cost to customer perk in one of their empty store spaces using soundproof mostly clear cubicles that had a recliner and a tv that had video and an Atari 2600. To play Yar’s Revenge all day would have been heaven. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-service-available-in-any-city-opportunity-to-lie-down-for-a-few-hours-nap/444105/14 "2008-04-07T06:51:42Z")
[QUOTE=Maastricht] I’d think it would be a very good business idea, if somebody could make it work. I’ve often wanted something similar. [/QUOTE] Yeah. The only way I can see this working without the drugs/hookers/sleaze appearing as if by magic within a week, is to run these things as part of a frequent flyer lounge. This doesn’t necessarily restrict them to airports either - BA, Lufthansa, Qantas or whomever could start downtown ones.