Good things come in small packages they say. This can be aptly applied to small hotel rooms which have recently caught the fancy of hoteliers worldwide. Once the preserve of Japanese entrepreneurs, these tiny capsule hotels are rapidly going global. It may not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but these minute rooms sure are cozy and economical.

From capsule hotels in Japan to pipe hotels in Germany, Let’s Go takes a sneak peak at the 7 smallest hotel rooms in the world. If you are a thrill-seeker , these unusual hotels are definitely a must try.

Capsule Hotel Fukuoka, Japan

Capsule hotels of Japan have captured the imagination of hoteliers. Guests get to stay in a capsule shaped space measuring just 7 feet by 4 feet. With shoes and bags checked into the locker, you can climb into these stacked square holes and enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. Despite their unbelievably small size, capsule hotel rooms feature quite a few amenities like television and wireless internet access, lighting console and air-conditioning. Vending machines, restaurants, pools and other communal spaces are also available in the hotel premises. These rooms can be an efficient and cheap alternative in big cities that are cramped for space.

Sleepbox at Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow

Sleepbox is a small mobile compartment (box) approximately 6.5 feet x 4.5 feet x 7.5 feet in size.  One of its main advantages is its ability to be installed in airports where travelers have to spend hours waiting for their delayed flights. In mid-August 2011, the first Sleepbox was installed at the Aeroexpress terminal of Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow. Made of medium density fiberboard (MDF), these Sleepboxes are equipped with a bunk bed, LED reading lamps and sockets for charging laptops and mobile phones. Sleepboxes can be rented for 30 minutes to hours and provides a secure and hygienic space for moments of quiet sleep and rest. Imagine you are in an alien modern city and have not booked a hotel and want to sleep while waiting for your plane or train – Sleepbox is the answer!

Rest&Fly at Arlanda Airport in Stockholm

A somewhat interesting concept, Rest&Fly is the ultimate in no-frills accommodation. Located in SkyCity at Arlanda airport in Stockholm, it offers travelers a cheaper alternative to the nearby airport hotels. The rooms amount to nothing more than 2 bunk beds with just about enough room to place your luggage. In most rooms the lower bunk is 4.5 feet and the upper bunk 4 feet wide. No TV, no toilet, no sink, no cupboards, no radio and no telephone. The rooms are clean, the price is not bad at all and most importantly the location is great – just 5 minutes walk from the check-in desks. Surprisingly quiet, despite the people coming/going all the time, you really get to rest before you fly!

First Cabin Capsule Hotel, Osaka and Kyoto

First Cabin is a compact hotel located just outside Namba Station in Osaka. The concept of the hotel is to provide a modern, stylish and relaxing atmosphere at low rates.  Something in between a super hotel and a capsule hotel, it doesn’t offer a proper room, but a clean bed with curtains. The design is based upon an aeroplane cabin. Guests choosing “business class” get a fairly traditional capsule while visitors in a “first class” cabin get a little more space to move around.  Basically you get a semi double bed with about 2.5 feet of space down one side and a little table in the back corner of the room with a 32 inch TV at the foot of the bed. There’s a lockable drawer underneath to keep your valuables. The front “wall” of the room is just a curtain that is kept closed by a magnetic handle. Bathroom and toilet facilities have to be shared.

easyHotel, Europe and the Middle East

Measuring from 50 to 100 square feet, easyHotel rooms provide slightly more space than most capsule rooms. These small rooms manage to squeeze everything in. The windowless spaces contain a bed, which dominates the room, along with a 14 square foot bathroom containing a shower, toilet and sink. Sterile, safe and cozy, easyHotel is a few steps up from a student hostel. This chain of tiny hotel rooms in their traditional bright orange colour scheme is quickly opening up all over the world. easyHotel offers guests the very best prices and in return asks you to sacrifice a bit of luxury space. Found in urban and city centre locations, close to all the services, amenities and attractions this is definitely value for money.

Nitenite, Birmingham

Birmingham’s Nitenite capsule hotel is based on the design of a luxury yacht cabin. These 75 square-feet rooms with a built-in wet room and a small desk are beautifully styled and compact. Fully air-conditioned with a full-size double bed, it has a 42″ plasma TV, free wireless internet access and tea and coffee making facilities. There’s no space for a wardrobe but hangers are available on the back of the door, and there’s space under the bed for suitcases and hand baggage. The lighting system by the side of the bed is great as you can contact reception at the flick of a switch or alter the lighting and temperature of the room. Each clever little creation in these beautifully styled windowless hotel rooms offer guests luxury for less in an inventively compact and efficient space. Safe and snug, it’s easy to lose track of time in these capsules.

Pipes of Das Park Hotel, Germany

A few feet from the flowing Danube River in Bottrop-Ebel, Germany, is the Das Park Hotel. The accommodations in this hotel have been fabricated in ‘pipes’!! Sections of large drain pipes have been converted into modern chic rooms. Measuring no more than 7 feet in diameter, these blank round pipes have been transformed into cozy quarters. Simplicity being the keyword these dwelling units are minimally furnished and made as comfortable as possible. Guests not only pay a paltry amount for these rooms but also get to enjoy the lovely park setting surrounding the hotel.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of contenders for the title of the smallest hotel on the planet. Some claim it by number of rooms while others by size. Tiny hotel rooms are becoming quite popular these days because of their convenient location and low budget. So the next time your flight is delayed or you have just a few hours to spend, check out these small hotels and save some moolah!