I arrived in Mumbai on a hot March afternoon. The taxi driver told me that the summers have just started. I hired an Uber from Lokmanya Tilak Railway Station and left for Andheri East. In the first 15 minutes after I stepped out of the railway station, booked my cab and the driver arrived, I was already drenched in sweat.
Honestly I was not disappointed.
I needed a bath, probably a comforting sleep and some privacy so that I could work in peace. Considering this, I had made my bookings at one of the most unique places where I was sure that no one will disturb me.
Urbanpod is an attempt to bring the pod hotel culture in India. These hotels are a big hit in Japan and Korea. A version of it is now operating in Mumbai and is already getting rave reviews.
Urbanpod speaks of luxury and comfort from the moment you step in. The staff writes down your credentials, provides you a key card which in return provides you access to your locker, shoe rack and the pod.
The pod itself has a number of inbult features and makes you feel as if you are inside a rocket ship (I have never been inside a rocket so I assume that it looks something like this.)
You can make avail of two types of pods, the private and the shared ones. The shared one is like a hostel and there are 6 -8 pods inside one room. Each pod has its own locking feature and is specious enough to have multiple charging points, flatscreen TV, headphones, telephone for room service, and switches to dim/increase the light.
The bed was so comforting and spacious that I will not lie if I say that I had the best sleep of my life.
I didn’t see the private pod but I assume that it was bigger than the shared pod room.
Talking about the washrooms, the management has made sure that there is no need to make lines the way backpacker hostels do. About 10 toilets and the same number of washrooms provide the best personalized experience to the visitors.
Your booking at Urbanpod comes with the inclusion of a breakfast. Hotels in Mumbai charge INR 800 for a night stay and there is no breakfast included. Urbanpod charges INR 1000 for a night + taxes and provides you a selection of a huge breakfast buffet.
As a traveller, I didn’t only find staying at a pod hotel a unique experience but it was also comforting and private. Apart from the amenities, the service and professionalism is also on the level of luxury boutique hotels. Urbanpod is perfect for backpackers with a slightly higher budget, corporate employees on a day visit to the city or visitors who wish to explore Mumbai. With Urbanpod, luxury and privacy come easy without burning a huge hole in your pocket.
Note: The bookings for Urbanpod can be made through its website. Platforms like Booking.com charge their own taxes that make you pay INR 200 extra. You can also walk in and get your booking done. There are enough pods and enough rooms to handle walk-in guests.
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