I tried the $115 service that lets you fall asleep in LA and wake up in San Francisco, and it blew me away
Cabin exceeded my expectations in nearly every regard.
I declined a cup of coffee and stepped off the bus to take in the view of the Bay Bridge.
The tell-tale signs of a good night's sleep: smeared makeup, tousled hair, and wide eyes.
Suddenly, I awoke to a voice. "Ma'am? Ma'am." I was sleeping so heavily when we arrived in San Francisco, an attendant finally had to wake me at 7. The bus had already emptied.
(I'm not sure what time we arrived in San Francisco, but Cabin lets you stay aboard until 7.)
A few minutes after the bus pulled away, the lights turned off and I drifted into sleep. I was fortunate that the other passengers were quiet and respected that we were there to rest.
I noticed that some of the finishings showed wear and tear — only a few months after the service's launch. It didn't bother me much, because I was there to sleep.
And I shut the vent. It was a little chilly on the bus.
I drew the privacy shade closed.
Once I settled in, the pod was surprisingly comfortable. I could stretch my legs without touching the other end. There was enough vertical room that it wasn't claustrophobic.
The pods may be more luxurious than your average bus seat, but they're not that big. I stand five-foot-four and could not sit up in the sleeping nook. Here's my head against the ceiling.
Then came the tricky part: getting into my pod. I hoisted my leg over the side and kind of shimmied into place. It required some core strength.
I also packed away my shoes in a cloth bag that was provided to keep my area clean.
I guzzled the Dream Water right away so it would kick in shortly after our departure.
My reservation included some first-class amenities, including an eye mask, a face wipe, ear plugs, bottled water, and a shot-sized bottle of a melatonin-infused sleep aid called "Dream Water."
It looked cleaner than some hotel rooms I've stayed in. The bed linens were pressed and neatly tucked under the mattress. A pillow laid at one end, a comforter at the other.
I was reminded of something Gaetano Crupi, cofounder and COO of Cabin, told me around the time of the shuttle's launch: "This is not a bus. This is just square footage that moves."
Source: Business Insider
I moved to the front of a bus and claimed a "sleep pod" on top and away from the stairs.
A downstairs lounge, fitted with hardwood laminate floors and caramel leather benches, provides a place for night owls to socialize or get some work done. I headed upstairs.
A chipper attendant wearing Cabin-branded athleisure checked us in. Time for boarding!
Cabin recommended passengers arrive 20 to 30 minutes before departure; I came an hour early with the hopes of claiming the best bunk and starting on my beauty sleep early.
Those hope were dashed when I arrived at Palisades Park in Santa Monica and found a small group of people waiting — and no bus. It arrived almost exactly 30 minutes before departure.
A few days before my reservation, I received an email with the exact pick-up and drop-off locations and a packing list (comfy pajamas: yes; outside food or alcohol: no).
I booked passage on Cabin for a return trip from LA that was less than a week away.
I cruised through the registration process and completed my reservation in 10 minutes . The total came to $115, which was less than the $150 I paid for my flight down to LA.
The cost of Cabin varies depending on when you go. Weeknights cost as little as $85 one-way.
Unlike an airline, Cabin does not let you reserve a specific bunk, or "sleep pod."
The Cabin bus departs from Santa Monica, a beachfront city west of downtown LA, at 11 p.m. seven days a week. It leaves late enough that you can have a full day in the city.
Then I discovered Cabin. Entrepreneurs Tom Currier and Gaetano Crupi started the company in 2016 when they saw a need for better budget travel between cities.
Of course, I could fly. But it's not cheap and often takes just as long. A round trip flight booked about a month in advance will set you back at least $100, after tax and fees.
Los Angeles is my own personal "Carmageddon." I don't make it down there as much as I would like, because the six-hour drive is inconvenient and traffic can be very stressful.
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