Yo, Snatch 40 Winks Before Take-Off

One of these hotels will be a 40 'cabin' hotel at Heathrow's Terminal 4 and the other a 50 'cabin' hotel at Gatwick's South Terminal.

The hotels will be located just before passport control and means that those with 4 or more hours to spare can check-in to the hotel before checking-in for a much needed nap.

Simon Woodruffe, the founder of the Yo! brand (everyone knows Yo Sushi!) took his inspiration from British Airways first class and Japanese capsule hotels. He explained that he hit upon the idea after being upgraded to business class on a flight "I lay in my flat bed and thought it would be grate to make small capsule rooms for hotels too".

A team of designers harvested from previous projects on business class cabins for planes have managed to come up with aesthetically pleasing, very comfortable rooms and even found room for Flat screen TVs, large headed monsoon showers, leather fittings and fluffy towers and classy sheets. Luxury in a capsule.

Cabins will be bookable in blocks of four hours enabling delayed and transfer passengers to relax privately in a hotel environment. In addition, passengers leaving on those early morning flights can stay the night before to catch some extras hours sleep in the morning and check in online from the comfort of their rooms safe in the knowledge that they are just a casual stroll for their next morning’s departure. Early arriving passengers may also check-in for a few hours before going to a meeting.

Standard room rates are £80 a night or £40 for four hours. Economy cost £40 a night or £25 for four hours.

www.yotel.com

30 December 2005