Yotel, a Hotel at the forefront on innovation
We booked online to stay in Yotel at Gatwick airport a week after it opened. As we were arriving from Turkey at 1am and had to wait until 6am for a flight to Scotland it seemed like a great idea…….other fellow travelers opted for the more conventional solution of a Travel lodge and left us to start to queue for a taxi to take them there…..we didn’t envy they them! A short 3 minute walk through the South terminal and we arrived at a meticulously clean reception lobby next to the VIP suites underneath the main check in hall.
With a very tired 8year old in tow all we wanted was a soft bed and sleep. Rooms come in Standard or Premium and can be booked on a minimum 4 hour slot for £25 (Standard) and £40 (Premium). After this, the time can be increased in hour slots with different discounts for other blocks of time for instance 8 hours, 12 hours, one day, two days etc.
We asked if we could stay in our Standard rooms for 4.2 hours until 5.30 am and there was no problem and no extras. The whole check-in was efficient, friendly flexible and above all fast – just what we wanted. We were shown to our two rooms and yes, they were small, but with the highest quality finishes and everything and more that we would need we were more than delighted.
The bed had crisp cotton sheets set into its leather bunk and surrounded by wood paneling. At the end of the bed was a small TV screen set into the paneling. On an adjacent shelf was a remote control and small wifi keyboard. The TV was also a monitor so that as well as having a choice of 30 TV channels I also could check my emails, search the internet or order food and drinks and other merchandise from the Home button. These would be delivered to the room.
The shower was more spacious than mine at home and there was also a loo and sink with a variety of toiletries laid out, and joy of joys, big white fluffy towels and even a hairdryer! A small desk even found a space in the room with free internet connection.
I was concerned about a feeling of claustrophobia but none arrived, the room was totally soundproofed and with its own control for air conditioning I was in for a good night sleep. In the morning we woke at 5.30am, picked up a lovely fresh coffee from the boys at the check in desk and were in the queue for the flight to Scotland 15 minutes later.
Yotel is unashamedly a bed factory, but unlike many other bed factories it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. With this integrity in its offer, given at the very highest quality and for an excellent price, the customer experience is first class. Although there is not a huge amount of personal interaction with staff, when we did, it was always friendly, personable and helpful. The room was delightful, convenient and well thought out. In terms of providing great customer service this hotel tops the ranks for me by giving me exactly what I wanted in the way that I wanted it without charging me the earth. Go and visit – you will be delighted too!