I stayed in a 140-square-foot hotel room inside an airport during a 15-hour layover — I didn't love it, but it was totally worth the $230

Brittany ChangJun 23, 2023, 16:03 IST

My tiny hotel room was worth the $230, not because it was nice but because it was convenient.Brittany Chang/Insider

I spent my 15-hour overnight layover in a Yotelair inside the Istanbul Airport.
I would've preferred exploring the city but staying in the airport was the best option for my tight schedule.

I paid over $200 for a 140-square-foot hotel room with no windows. And to my surprise, it was worth every dollar despite being a mediocre room.

In mid-May, I found myself stuck on a 15-hour overnight layover in Istanbul. And because of the timing, I couldn't leave. This would have been a personal disaster in any other airport. But lucky for me, the Istanbul Airport is home to one of five Yotelair locations.

Before this, I had never stayed at a Yotel property, although I was familiar with its signature purple lights and iconic retro logo. But I quickly realized this airside Yotelair was unlike any traditional Yotel property.

The hospitality company has three brands: Yotel, Yotelpad (its long-term stay option), and Yotelair (its transit hotels).

Noam Galai/Getty Images

If you've flown into Amsterdam, Istanbul, London, Paris, or Singapore, you might've seen one of these Yotelairs.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But prior to this trip, I had never stepped foot inside a Yotelair or transit hotel.

Brittany Chang/Insider

So when I got off my flight from New York and spotted the entrance nestled among Istanbul Airport's shopping center, I waltzed in expecting a typical hotel.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But if there was one word to describe my time at the airside Yotelair, it wouldn't be "typical" — it would be "efficiency."

Brittany Chang/Insider

When I walked in, I was met with a small lobby helmed by a handful of check-in counters, benches, and vending machines.

Brittany Chang/Insider

There was notably a flight information display system, a first for any hotel I've been in.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And for those willing to shell out around $50, there was also a separate lounge that looked more like a typical hotel lobby.

Brittany Chang/Insider

At first, I didn't see the need for it. But after seeing my room, I understood why it was a premium add-on.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Up the elevator, a dim and lifeless hallway escorted me to the door of my hotel room.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And inside, the dingy 140-square-foot windowless hotel room was laughable for the steep $230 I paid for my room.

Brittany Chang/Insider

I'll give Yotel credit for designing one of the most efficiently laid-out hotel rooms I've ever been in.

Brittany Chang/Insider

When I entered, I was greeted with a small side table — presumably for luggage — to my right, a bed across from the television …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… and a bathroom with a closet at the other end of the room, separated from the bedroom with a curtain.

Brittany Chang/Insider

At least the shower and toilet were behind actual doors.

Brittany Chang/Insider

This (ironically named) "premium queen" room was the smallest option available. And it definitely felt like it.

Brittany Chang/Insider

There was no desk, bathtub, or window.

Brittany Chang/Insider

So for the next hour, I sat on the small side table and kicked my feet onto the bed, creating a makeshift desk as I tried to catch up on work and emails.

Brittany Chang/Insider

No wonder the table-lined lounge was an upgrade.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Besides this minor inconvenience, the rest of the room was fine.

Brittany Chang/Insider

The clean white and modern aesthetic was about as sterile as an operating room.

Brittany Chang/Insider

The only pops of color were from the fake window that loosely resembled a fluffy cloud-lined sunset …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… and the mood lighting that could be set by a color wheel and switch.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Back towards the bathroom, the toilet and shower were behind separate doors.

Brittany Chang/Insider

However, the shower door didn't close all the way. My room's floor looked like I had shattered a fish bowl by the time I was done showering.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And because I was only staying for 15 hours, I didn't get to take advantage of the closet or small storage cubbies built into the wall-mounted television console.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Complaints aside, the best feature in my room was the Sleep Number-like adjustable bed. After dinner in the airport terminal, I fell asleep instantly.

Brittany Chang/Insider

So despite some inconveniences, the room was fine.

Brittany Chang/Insider

After all, I just wanted a place to sleep and work in peace. While I didn't get a desk, at least I got a bed.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But as far as hotel rooms go, I've seen better, bigger, and more exciting.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And yet, despite my criticism, I'd say it was worth the price.

Brittany Chang/Insider

In a perfect schedule, my 15-hour layover in Istanbul would've been during the day, giving me plenty of time to explore the historic city.

Istanbul, Turkey.Getty Images

Unfortunately, I landed in the evening and knew I needed sleep ahead of my early flight out.

Brittany Chang/Insider

So instead, staying inside the airport terminal was the best chance I had of catching up on some work and sleep.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And that's what Yotelairs are for.

Brittany Chang/Insider

I wasn't paying for excitement. I was paying for convenience and privacy.

Brittany Chang/Insider

While there wasn't much to do inside my room or the hotel, it was located inside one of the largest airport terminal shopping sections I had ever seen.

Brittany Chang/Insider

It was just steps away from these luxury stores and dining options.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And the morning after, my departing gate was just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

Brittany Chang/Insider

No more spending hours waiting in the airport security line and at the gate.

Brittany Chang/Insider

That morning, I rolled out of bed, walked to my gate, and boarded my flight all within the hour.

Brittany Chang/Insider

In terms of location, this might have been the most convenient hotel I've ever stayed in.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Transit hotels, in this case, Yotelairs, shouldn't be booked with the expectation of a luxurious overnight stay.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Instead, they exist purely for convenience. It's a place to rest during those weirdly timed layovers.

Brittany Chang/Insider

So was the hotel room itself worth over $200? Definitely not. But was its prime location worth this cost? Arguably yes.

Brittany Chang/Insider

I hate playing the waiting game at airports. And with Yotelair, there was no need to do that.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Yes, I would have rather explored the city.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But for overnight layovers during less ideal hours, Yotelair was the perfect solution.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And despite my lackluster room, I never thought I could sleep so well inside an airport.

Brittany Chang/Insider

See inside the secret, miniscule aircraft compartment where flight attendants sleep on long-haul flights

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I stayed in a 140-square-foot hotel room inside an airport during a 15-hour layover &mdash; I didn't love it, but it was totally worth the $230

The hospitality company has three brands: Yotel, Yotelpad (its long-term stay option), and Yotelair (its transit hotels).

If you've flown into Amsterdam, Istanbul, London, Paris, or Singapore, you might've seen one of these Yotelairs.

But prior to this trip, I had never stepped foot inside a Yotelair or transit hotel.

So when I got off my flight from New York and spotted the entrance nestled among Istanbul Airport's shopping center, I waltzed in expecting a typical hotel.

But if there was one word to describe my time at the airside Yotelair, it wouldn't be "typical" — it would be "efficiency."

When I walked in, I was met with a small lobby helmed by a handful of check-in counters, benches, and vending machines.

There was notably a flight information display system, a first for any hotel I've been in.

And for those willing to shell out around $50, there was also a separate lounge that looked more like a typical hotel lobby.

At first, I didn't see the need for it. But after seeing my room, I understood why it was a premium add-on.

Up the elevator, a dim and lifeless hallway escorted me to the door of my hotel room.

And inside, the dingy 140-square-foot windowless hotel room was laughable for the steep $230 I paid for my room.

I'll give Yotel credit for designing one of the most efficiently laid-out hotel rooms I've ever been in.

When I entered, I was greeted with a small side table — presumably for luggage — to my right, a bed across from the television …

… and a bathroom with a closet at the other end of the room, separated from the bedroom with a curtain.

At least the shower and toilet were behind actual doors.

This (ironically named) "premium queen" room was the smallest option available. And it definitely felt like it.

There was no desk, bathtub, or window.

So for the next hour, I sat on the small side table and kicked my feet onto the bed, creating a makeshift desk as I tried to catch up on work and emails.

No wonder the table-lined lounge was an upgrade.

Besides this minor inconvenience, the rest of the room was fine.

The clean white and modern aesthetic was about as sterile as an operating room.

The only pops of color were from the fake window that loosely resembled a fluffy cloud-lined sunset …

… and the mood lighting that could be set by a color wheel and switch.

Back towards the bathroom, the toilet and shower were behind separate doors.

However, the shower door didn't close all the way. My room's floor looked like I had shattered a fish bowl by the time I was done showering.

And because I was only staying for 15 hours, I didn't get to take advantage of the closet or small storage cubbies built into the wall-mounted television console.

Complaints aside, the best feature in my room was the Sleep Number-like adjustable bed. After dinner in the airport terminal, I fell asleep instantly.

So despite some inconveniences, the room was fine.

After all, I just wanted a place to sleep and work in peace. While I didn't get a desk, at least I got a bed.

But as far as hotel rooms go, I've seen better, bigger, and more exciting.

And yet, despite my criticism, I'd say it was worth the price.

In a perfect schedule, my 15-hour layover in Istanbul would've been during the day, giving me plenty of time to explore the historic city.

Unfortunately, I landed in the evening and knew I needed sleep ahead of my early flight out.

So instead, staying inside the airport terminal was the best chance I had of catching up on some work and sleep.

And that's what Yotelairs are for.

I wasn't paying for excitement. I was paying for convenience and privacy.

While there wasn't much to do inside my room or the hotel, it was located inside one of the largest airport terminal shopping sections I had ever seen.

It was just steps away from these luxury stores and dining options.

And the morning after, my departing gate was just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

No more spending hours waiting in the airport security line and at the gate.

That morning, I rolled out of bed, walked to my gate, and boarded my flight all within the hour.

In terms of location, this might have been the most convenient hotel I've ever stayed in.

Transit hotels, in this case, Yotelairs, shouldn't be booked with the expectation of a luxurious overnight stay.

Instead, they exist purely for convenience. It's a place to rest during those weirdly timed layovers.

So was the hotel room itself worth over $200? Definitely not. But was its prime location worth this cost? Arguably yes.

I hate playing the waiting game at airports. And with Yotelair, there was no need to do that.

Yes, I would have rather explored the city.

But for overnight layovers during less ideal hours, Yotelair was the perfect solution.

And despite my lackluster room, I never thought I could sleep so well inside an airport.

I stayed in a 140-square-foot hotel room inside an airport during a 15-hour layover — I didn't love it, but it was totally worth the $230