This article is not an advertisement. I received no payment or discount for writing this article. I paid for our stay at CityHub with my own salary, and CityHub is not aware that I am writing this article.

Pod hotels, also known as capsule hotels, have seen a rise in popularity over the past few years as they allow for the flexibility and privacy that a hotel provides with the lower prices which hostels give. In their most basic form, these hotels consist of minimalistic pods instead of rooms and are usually stacked vertically, with a lower and upper pod, providing privacy. However, pod hotels have shared bathrooms and shared kitchens and work spaces and therefore exist somewhere in between hotels and hostels.

Traditional hotels can be expensive, and unreliable, negatively affect local residents and can have a significant impact on the urban environment. CityHub, where I recently stayed in Copenhagen and Amsterdam with my girlfriend, aims to solve these issues. We stayed at the two CityHub locations for a total of six days in a row during our train travels and whilst there were some small differences at each location, the overall experience was very similar.

The rooms were clean and modern, equipped with electrical outlets, USB-A ports, a bin, storage space for bags, clothes hangers, towels, bathrobes, LED lighting and Bluetooth speakers which can be controlled through in CityHub app, and a small window with blinds. The Copenhagen location also had wireless chargers by the side of the beds. The pods were well ventilated so it didn’t get humid or warm and the pods were well sound insulated so we rarely heard people in pods next to ours. Although much smaller than a traditional hotel room, the space was more than enough for two people, and there was plenty of room to sit up in the bed.

After the booking was made, we received a QR code and booking number. We used these at the self-service check-in stations where we picked up RFID-equipped wristbands that are connected and used as the key to your pod. The wristband ‘keys’ are also needed to enter the building after 2300, although the reception is always staffed by a ‘CityHost’. As each pod is private, guests can be out late without worrying about a curfew or waking other guests as with traditional hostels. This also means that you can sleep well without worrying about other guests waking you up in the middle of the night.

Not only were the rooms nice, but so too were the shared areas. The reception areas at both locations were clean, had areas for working and eating, had fridges for guests and had a self-serve bar. Scanning the wristband allows you to use the bar where you can take what you want - you’ll be billed when you check out. The Amsterdam location also had the added bonus of having one of the neighbourhood cats, Herman, as a de facto resident since the location opened up in 2015. The bathrooms are arguably the most important shared spaces to get right, and CityHub did not disappoint. The bathrooms were incredibly fresh and well stocked. The toilets and showers were clean daily and stocked with toiletries from Rituals. The Copenhagen location even had a sauna! You are expected to bring your own flip-flops but there are vending machines in case you need forgot flip-flops or other common toiletries.

Public transportation is the best way to get to the Amsterdam location from the Central Station whereas the Copenhagen location is within walking distance from the Central Station. All three CityHub cities (there is also a CityHub in Rotterdam) are very bike-friendly and CityHub offers its own bicycle hire scheme. We took advantage of this for €13/per person/per day in Amsterdam where it was very easy to get to all landmarks, shops, restaurants and museums that we wanted to visit. Our bike hire was organised by the CityHost, who can also be contacted via live chat in the CityHub app. The CityHosts we talked to were very friendly and are able to give recommendations for things to do in the city depending on your asks. As they can be contacted via the app, you don’t even need to leave your pod to get help and you can even contact the CityHost for help or questions when you are out in town.

Each pod can accommodate two people, but the Copenhagen location additionally offers rooms which are suited for larger groups. If travelling with young children or if you are planning on partying and drinking a lot, a hotel would be better suited for your needs. Although there is a small shared kitchen space, if you would prefer to have a fully equipped kitchen space during your travels, CityHub probably isn’t the right place for you. Unfortunately, neither location we visited seemed particularly wheelchair friendly, so it is advisable to call CityHub before booking if you have accessibility-related queries. Although we never felt claustrophobic during our week-long stay, CityHub is best suited to those who are planning on exploring the city during the day, using the hotel to sleep, shower and perhaps get some light work done in the shared areas. We wouldn’t recommend spending the whole day in the pod. On top of this, the Copenhagen and Rotterdam locations offer long-term stays at a discounted rate.

Despite these limitations which some might face, CityHub was the perfect option for our holiday. The low cost compared to hotels in nearby areas, the reliability and cleanliness of all areas, the ease of checking in and out, the ability to hire bicycles, staying in prime locations, the helpful CityHosts and using the hotel as a base for our daytime activities were all reasons that CityHub was suited to our needs. Yet, perhaps the most important reason that we chose to stay at CityHub is due to ethical motivations. Hotels, particularly those in central locations, drive up the cost of renting for locals, take up large amounts of space, and might not even have a high occupancy rate.

CityHub requires significantly less space per occupant due to the small size of pods compared to traditional hotel rooms and as pods can be stacked. Furthermore, the use of shared spaces means that utilisation of facilities can be much higher than if each pod had their own bathroom, workspace, kitchen and sauna. These factors allow for a much higher density of guests, therefore allowing for cheaper booking prices but also for CityHub’s impact on the urban surroundings to decrease. By embracing this aspect of the sharing economy and communal living, the environmental impact of travelling and urban sprawl can be reduced. CityHub’s central locations close to public transport options and access to bicycles also allow low-impact urban exploration.

Additionally, CityHub has a recycling programme for most of its waste (although there is a lack of food waste/compost bins in the hotels). The Rituals toiletries are refillable which means that CityHub does not provide single-use toiletries. CityHub linens are Fair Trade and GOTS organic certified and CityHub claims to pay housekeepers a living wage - although more information about how this is defined and guaranteed is needed. CityHub has also implemented strong policies to reduce energy usage, although CityHub should commit to ensuring that all electricity is purchased from only renewable tariffs.

Overall, living in a pod for a week was a great option for our needs. It was a comfortable, clean and convenient living arrangement for our travels and complemented our low-impact travel travels well. Whilst we might not always stay in a pod, we will be returning to CityHub or other pod hotels for many of our shorter stay journeys where we want to save money whilst enjoying the beautiful cities where CityHub exists.