Advertised as ergonomically designed, Hotel SO fails to mention that its modern rooms might also give you claustrophobia.
During our weeklong stint in Christchurch, I’m staying at the newly-opened Hotel SO in central Christchurch. The techno music blaring in the lobby welcomes international visitors of all ages, avoiding language discrimination with its wordless beat.
My room exudes all that is hip: a flat-screen TV, mood lighting, and sleek built-in cabinets. Other hip features aren’t exactly to my liking. Take the raised, built-in bed for example. It feels like a ship’s bed with walls on three sides and an annoying blue nightlight underneath (although I know some people would like the light). I can’t imagine sleeping with another person in the bed. Whoever was against the wall would literally have to climb over the other person to reach the bathroom during the night.
Speaking of the bathroom, I refer to it as “the bubble.” Three steps away from my bed, the bubble contains a compact bathroom surrounded by rounded, frosted glass doors—not private from the room in the least. The sink, toilet, and shower are mere inches apart. You can utilize everything in the bathroom within an arm’s length.
I guess that I should consider myself lucky though. Why? I have a window! Many rooms have the same layout as mine but have a mirror instead of a window to deceptively enlarge the space.
Hotel SO’s location certainly counterbalances the squished rooms though. Two parks, delicious restaurants (highly recommend the chicken masala at Little India where I ate last night), trendy shops and bars, and numerous museums surround the hotel within a 10-minute walk. With all that awaits my exploration in Christchurch, I don’t plan on spending much time in the hotel anyway.
Pictured: My Hotel SO room. Notice how I had to pile all my bags against the door to take clean pictures.
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