You know the feeling – you’ve been traveling for an eternity, you’re completely whacked, all you want is to drift off into a blissful snooze before catching your next flight.

But those airport chairs are hard, so very hard and the arm-rest keeps digging into your head.

The latest trend of “pod” or “capsule” hotels might be just the solution to this perennial traveling dilemma.

Take, for example, Yotel’s London and Amsterdam hotels. Situated in airport terminals they offer futuristic pod rooms for stays as short as four hours – perfect for “nappers in transit”.

Capsule living
With cabin-like rooms measuring just seven square meters, it won’t take you long to grasp the space-saving capsule concept.

But Yotel promises that there’s as much in this tiny space as you’ll find in most four star hotels. And with talk of organic cotton sheets, flat screen TVs and 24 hour cabin service, they might just be right.

The micro hotel trend certainly seems to be catching on. Originating in Japan, catering for inebriated businessmen too scared to face their wives, teeny tiny hotels have now spread throughout Europe and the US.

Broom cupboard benefits
Cost and convenience are the main reasons why travelers are opting to risk a bout of claustrophobia to stay in these ultra-modern hotel joints, as well as the draw of something genuinely fresh and different.

And with many of the hotels located in pricey city and airport destinations, their rates are certainly in tune with today’s economic climate.

Where to find your pod
If you’re thinking of joining the capsule revolution, check out Yotel’s airport chain, The Pod or The Jane (New York), citizenM (Amsterdam) or StayOrange.com (Kuala Lumpur). For an authentic Japanese pod experience, check out the deals on flights to Tokyo, and head to the Capsule Inn Akihabara.

Travel fad or fresh innovation, it looks like capsule hotels are here to stay, for the time being at least. So take a break from arm-rest-itis and give them a whirl, just be sure to leave your cat at home.

Photos from Flickr. Photo credits (in order of placement): Yotel by donutshead, Tokyo Caspule Hotel by Matteo Mazzoni.

Whether it’s just after graduation from university or between jobs, taking a gap year to travel is one of the most rewarding and memorable ways to spend your time. But for some people, the biggest concern is not where to go but why to go.

We here at Tripbase are all strong believers in the amazing power of travel so we decided to put together a list of reasons why you should not waste your life working and should take a gap year.

Here are our top 5 reasons to hit the road.

5. You can afford it. People often think that travel is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Buying flexible, round-the-world tickets in advance lowers airfare costs and there are many countries in the world where you can survive comfortably on as little as $10 a day. In fact, traveling the world can often cost less than monthly rent at home. Before you go, plan a budget based on average costs and then make sure you have some extra padding for splurging.

4. You can handle it alone. Traveling with friends has advantages but it also means you’re tied to other people’s itineraries. Consider going solo. Traveling alone gives you more opportunities to meet interesting people along the way. Although there may be times when you’ll feel lonely and you do need to take extra precautions for safety and health care, it’s extremely rewarding to follow your own path. And there’s nothing like overcoming challenges without any help to boost self-confidence and inner strength.

3. Employers will see it as a benefit. Anyone who spends time traveling will see the world through new lenses. Employers often see this as more of an advantage than a disadvantage, even if it’s between career moves. As long as you don’t show up for job interviews wearing your favorite road gear without washing your hair for a few days, potential employers will often see your travels as a positive experience that makes you a more well-rounded person, especially if you have learned some important life lessons and are prepared to discuss them in the interview.

2. A year traveling is an opportunity to expand your horizons. The choices include backpacking, volunteering, working abroad, teaching English, and learning new languages in immersion programs…the list is endless. No matter what you decide to do, it is likely to be one of the best years of your life. Spend some time thinking about what you enjoy doing and try to incorporate that into your travels. Starting in a volunteer setting with an organized structure could be a good way to ease into it, but make sure you get out there and see the world too.

1. It doesn’t get any easier to go. The older you get, the harder it gets to pick up and take off for a year. Later in life there are children and mortgages and other responsibilities. There’s nothing like hitting the open road while you’re unfettered and free. Do it while you can. As some unknown wise man once said, you usually regret the things in life that you didn’t do and not the ones you did.

If you’re been on a gap year or you’re on one now, drop us a comment to tell us what you think of the experience too. We’d love to hear from you.

China
It seems innocent enough—you found a fantastic green hat at the market and want to give it to a Chinese friend or host as way of expressing gratitude for his boundless hospitality. Don’t do it! Giving a green hat to a Chinese man is the equivalent of calling him a cuckold… not only does this insult him, it also insults his wife.

Argentina and Chile
The simple act of pouring a glass of wine is fraught with nuances that are unknown to the uninitiated. No matter how much you want to refill the glass of the gorgeous woman or man next to you, this is a task that is best left to the host… otherwise you could make a major faux pas (and ruin your chances with the subject of admiration for good).

Hawaii
Surfing the waves without the skills can get you into more than deep waters… it can get you into deep trouble in this part of the world, where people take surfing pretty seriously. Breach this one and you’re sure to receive some not-so-friendly nicknames… or maybe even a beating.

Italy
Listening attentively while someone is talking is a major insult because it communicates a lack of interest. How do you show that you’re interested and enthusiastic about the conversation? By interrupting it—again and again.

Australia
Thought you were going to impress the locals with the accent and slang you picked up from Steve Irwin on the Crocodile Hunter? Think again. Pepper your language with too many “mate”s and you’ll find that you have none. Krikey!

Thailand
It is important to be aware of your feet and the heads of those around you. We’re not talking about kick-boxing here… we’re talking about etiquette. In Thailand, the feet are considered to be very dirty—they oughtn’t to be pointed at anyone, and certainly not a Buddha. If you are checking out a temple, be sure to remove your shoes and when you sit, tuck your feet under you so as not to direct these filthy offensive appendages at the Buddha, or the worshippers around you. And definitely don’t touch anyone’s head—the highest spot on the body is also the holiest. It is extremely insulting to touch someone’s head without permission and we’ve heard of fist-fights breaking out in response to head touching.

France
Never, ever give chrysanthemums to someone. What harm can there be in giving flowers? In France, these particular blooms are most closely associated with funerals. So, why not buy those yellow roses, instead? That’s a no-no, too—the color hints at the possibility that the husband is engaging in extramarital activities.

The Dominican Republic
Punctuality is not appreciated here. Better said—don’t arrive “on time” and then ask others why they’re late. Being late is being on time. If someone says they’ll meet you at ten, what they really mean is that they’ll meet you sometime close to eleven. Don’t piss them off by showing up at ten and then getting angry and laying into them… make like a local and arrive fashionably late, too.

Syria
Not thirsty? Well, drink up anyways. If you are a visitor in someone’s home and are offered a drink or food and you decline, chances are you have offended your host. This holds true for much of the Middle East. When in doubt, just say yes.

The United States and Canada
Many foreigners find North Americans to be rude and feel they’re lacking in manners. On the contrary, North Americans obey a complex set of social codes that reflect a variety of cultural influences and that vary according to the situation and the people involved. The smallest behaviors can have overtones or politeness or, conversely, rudeness… and you’re sometimes walking a fine line between the two. For example, making not enough eye-contact while talking is considered to be very disrespectful, however, making too much eye contact is considered to be aggressive.

We talk about traveling a lot—with each other, with our friends, with our families. Some of us have had some serious adventures (see my posts on Syria) and face questions when we return home: how could you have done that? How could you have gone there?

It got us thinking about fears that prevent people from traveling. So, we conducted an informal survey and here’s what people told us are the reasons not to travel, as well as our responses:

Plane crashes
The risk of being in a plane crash is actually very, very slim. You’re much more likely to be in a car accident in the city you live in.

Diseases
Are everywhere. As are treatments. Do a little research before you travel: get the appropriate vaccinations, bring along medicines, and look up locations of hospitals and doctors. A little bit of preparation can ensure that you have a fun, healthy trip.

Language barrier
I was in Thailand when I saw the sign: Feeding Area. Sure, it was in English, but I had no idea what it meant. Who or what was to be fed in this area? Could I be fed here? If I sat down, would someone bring me food? Or did the sign imply that this was a picnic area?

Language barrier is one of the most common concerns we heard. But there are certain parts of the United States where people don’t speak English (Head to Miami—you’ll find enclaves that are impossible to navigate without Spanish). Once you start traveling, you’ll be surprised by how little you actually need language and how much smiles and gestures work. We think the language barrier, a common concern, is less of a barrier and more of an illusion.

In the deep south of Thailand, where no Western tourist dares to go, and most of the locals don’t speak a lick of English, I made a friend.  I stopped to admire her store, and this elderly woman patted the seat, asked me to join her, and I did. Without language, we communicated our ages to each other and she made it clear to me that she admired my skin and hair. We sat for a time without words. It was lovely.

Political turmoil
In the rare instances there is an upheaval or unrest, it is unusual for foreigners to be targeted. Political turmoil is a local affair and typically it will not spread so quickly through the population as to prevent you from leaving the area, if need be.

Wild animals
What? Wild animals? Yes, this one surprised us to. Strike this one off the list if you’re headed to a big city. And if you’re headed into nature, well, just remember that wild animals are everywhere in the world. If you’re truly terrified, inform yourself before you go and avoid the areas that are full of the animal you fear.

Expensive
Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be as expensive or cheap as you want it to be. On a tight budget? Try hostels and street food. Actually, we think being on a tight budget is an advantage… when you’re spending a lot of money you tend to be in a bubble of luxury or tourists. When you’re spending money like a local, you tend to be, well, around more locals. And that’s where the truly rewarding and memorable experiences come from—interacting with people, sometimes without language, and seeing that you are welcomed in the world.

Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, if you’re a patriot, any presidential inauguration is an exciting event. The inauguration of Barak Obama is a momentous occasion. The 2008 presidential campaign was one of the most polarizing and gripping campaigns that the country has witnessed. Obama is taking the reins during a very difficult—and very critical—time in both American and world history. Obama’s entrance into the oval office represents the ending of an era… and the beginning of a new one.

The inauguration itself will be unique—according to the Presidential Inauguration Committee website, “For the first time ever, the length of the National Mall will be open to those wishing to attend the swearing-in ceremony.” Gone is the exclusivity of past inaugurations. You don’t have to be a politician, you don’t have to be rich. You can go to Obama’s inauguration for free.

There will be other free and open-to-the-public events, as well, including a performance by Aretha Franklin and a parade that will run from Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

(Now for the part that, unfortunately, isn’t free– travel and accommodations. But we’ll do our best to give you some money-saving tips):

If you’ve not yet made plans to attend the festivities, it’s not too late—you don’t have to miss out on this once in a lifetime event. If you don’t live within driving distance of Washington DC, check out Kayak.com for last-minute flight deals.

Yes, hotels in Washington DC will be full to bursting or, if you can find a room, it will be shockingly expensive in the days around the inauguration. However, Tripbase did some research and found that there are rooms left in nearby cities—some for as low as 69 dollars a night. Assuming a check-in date of January 19 and a check-out date of January 21, you should be able to find hotel rooms in the following cities (listed in order of proximity to Washington DC):

Annapolis, Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland
Richmond, Virginia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

OK, so there are rooms available in nearby cities. That’s just one part. What about the expense– to both your wallet and your time?

We researched exactly how far these cities are from Washington DC and approximated how much time it will take you to drive to the capitol from them. (Remember, these are approximate times—give yourself plenty of wiggle room for traffic or delays. Inauguration events kick of at 10 AM on January 19). We also figured out how much gas money it would cost you. Assuming that your car gets 25 miles per gallon:

From Annapolis: 33 miles, 45 minutes, $2.31
From Baltimore: 41 miles, 1 hour, $2.88
From Richmond: 106 miles, just under 2 hours, $7.34
From Philadelphia: 141 miles, almost 3 hours, $10.23

Setting aside the price of plane tickets– which don’t apply to everyone– what will attending this extraordinary event cost you? Let’s say that you go it alone– you spend 40 dollars round-trip to drive to and from Philadelphia. There you stay at a mid-range hotel, paying about 100 dollars a night (x two nights=200 dollars). You’ll pay another $20.46 round-trip in gas from Philadelphia to DC (and back again). Let’s say that you end up paying $20 for parking once you’re in Washington DC. For food, we’ll budget $50 a day, for a total of $100– which is on the high end (realistically, you could spend half that amount and still eat very well. See this guide on delicious but dirt cheap eats in DC).

The grand total? $390, and that’s probably an overestimation.

OK, so it’s not exactly chump change, and you definitely won’t find it beneath your couch cushions, but it’s a small price to pay to participate in something that will never happen again– Obama’s inauguration.

Are you planning on throwing an inauguration party? Reconsider. You’d probably spend at least $100 dollars on refreshments and food. Why don’t you ask three of four friends if they want to go to the inauguration with you rather than watching it at home?

Using the example above again: a group of four suddenly brings that 40 dollars on gas for the trip to and from Philadelphia to 10 bucks each. A 100 dollar hotel room plummets down to 25 bucks a night per person (so $50 a person for two nights). That 20 dollars of gas to make the trip from Philadelphia to DC, and back again, becomes 5 bucks each– and yes, that’s something you might be able to find underneath your couch cushions. That 20 dollars in parking becomes, again, 5 dollars each.

But let’s keep that high estimation of $50 a person for food (hey, there are great restaurants in Washington DC).

The new total? 170 dollars. Not bad.

Take that inauguration party to Washington DC. Sure it’s last minute, sure the hotels in DC are full, but if you want it, you can make it happen… like Obama did.

All photos from Flickr. Photo credits (in order of placement): Hope- Obama (Shepard Fairey poster) by Steve Rhodes; Washington Monument, National Mall, Washington DC by yeowatzup; Barack Obama by transplanted mountaineer; The White House by Scott Ableman.