It used to be traveling to Uganda through London required an overnight stay on the return trip. Until recently, the only accommodations near Heathrow Airport were the Park Hotel or the Holiday Inn. Those choices cost $300-400 / night plus about $50 in taxis, and though it was a delight to find hot water showers and soft sheets, the price was steep. Connections through Amsterdam were not much better in a recliner chair in the airport – cheaper but not very comfortable.
Two years ago in Amsterdam I discovered an in-airport hotel called Yotel. While I was reading hotel literature, I got to talking to a guy who seemed to know what he was doing. It turned out he was it was Simon Woodroffe, the founder of the enterprise, a former Hyatt Hotels executive, who just had this idea – hotel compartments built inside the airport – and rentable by the hour. I checked in.
The hotel looks like railroad compartments off a hallway. Inside a single, there is not a lot of floor space but there is a hot shower, clean facilities, a deliciously comfortable bed with TV and WIFI. What more could one want? I got eight hours sleep during my layover, showered, shaved and walked to my flight refreshed. The cost? About $60.00.
This year I led a team to Uganda and planned the return trip to include Yotel. At Heathrow there were accommodations for traveling singles, roommates and couples. It took some effort to find the Yotel in Terminal 4 but it was next to a delightful pub-style restaurant that served meals in the evening and the following morning as well. I have to tell you the team raved about Yotel. Just opened in New York as well.
Being in Uganda is great. Now getting there is easier. Go Yotel!
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