The hotel: Yotel properties at Gatwick and Heathrow Airports offer Premium and Standard 'cabins' that fall somewhere between a regular hotel room and a Japanese capsule hotel.
The location: Yotel's Heathrow property is located within Terminal 4, tucked away upstairs above the arrivals hall.
The check-in: As my booking confirmation and reference number had been sent to me by text message the previous day I opted for DIY computer check-in, despite there being no queue at the manned 'galley'.
The room: My 10m2 feature-packed Premium cabin had a sofa that converted to a supremely comfortable double bed at the touch of a button, and a small bathroom with shower, toilet, heated mirror and toileteries. Space is used thoughtfully, so there's also a flip-down desk and chair, full-length mirror, bedside table, space for hanging clothes, blackout blind for the corridor window, ample storage space and a panel with controls for the various lighting options – which proved to be a little temperamental. The 23-inch TV (wall-mounted, flatscreen, of course) offered a range of channels, plus pay-per-view films from £5. There were two powerpoints and free internet access too.
The facilities: The Heathrow Yotel is comprised simply of cabins and a manned 'galley' that operates 24 hours a day for check-in/out, food orders and general enquiries. Food (snacks from £2, meals from £6), drinks (from £1.50) and various amenities can also be ordered via menus on the in-room TVs. There's a 15-minute delivery promise.
The CHECKOUT: Having registered my credit card when I checked in, I had only to drop my room card off at the galley when checking out.
The verdict: A fantastic facility for those arriving late at night or with an early flight from any of Heathrow's five terminals – a free transit service operates between them. Its location within Terminal 4 really is a strong point. The use of space is impressive and, as long as you're not susceptible to claustro-phobia, the Yotel offers a quirky alternative to the norm, with no shortage of features. My only quibbles were the lack of mobile phone reception within my cabin and the odd burst of noise from the adjacent corridor.
The details: Standard cabins are available from £25 for four hours and from £6 per hour thereafter. Premium cabins start from £40 per four hour period. Tel: 020 7100 1100; or see www.yotel.com for more information. Andy Hoskins
