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| My daughter and I spent an hour inside a nap room at one of the busiest airports in the world, and it surpassed my expectations. Jenny Powers |
I’ve never been the kind of traveler who enjoys layovers. The thought of killing hours in a busy airport, shuffling from gate to gate, and fighting for a charging outlet while half-listening to muffled boarding announcements is not my idea of a good time. If I can avoid connecting flights, I do. But when a close friend invited me to his wedding in Fairhope, Alabama, practicality took a backseat to sentiment.
The journey from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Mobile, Alabama, involved a connection at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — the busiest airport in the world, spanning 6.8 million square feet and hosting nearly 300,000 passengers a day. With a three-hour layover ahead of us, I began to dread the inevitable crowds, background noise, and lack of personal space. I was traveling with my 16-year-old daughter, and I knew we’d both be desperate for a comfortable place to decompress before the second leg of our journey.
Discovering a Better Way to Spend a Layover
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| While in Atlanta, I wanted more than just lounge access. Jenny Powers |
While still on our first flight, I started searching for options beyond the typical airport lounge. My husband suggested we take advantage of our American Express Platinum benefits, which grant free access to the Delta Sky Club for cardholders (with a $50 guest fee for our daughter). Normally, I would have jumped at this — we’ve relied on lounges countless times for their comfortable seating, free snacks, and quieter atmosphere.
But this time, I wanted something different — a space that wasn’t just about waiting but about truly recharging. I’d read about airports offering everything from yoga rooms to robot nail salons, and I was curious to see if Atlanta had any hidden gems. A quick browse through the airport’s directory revealed several enticing options: massage parlors, nail bars, even a chiropractor. But one listing stopped me in my tracks — Minute Suites: The Traveler’s Retreat. Their promise was simple yet irresistible: “Nap. Relax. Work. Sleep and rest in your own private suite.”
The idea of having a personal, enclosed space in the middle of such a massive, bustling airport felt almost luxurious. I was instantly sold.
Booking Our Own Airport Hideaway
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| My Priority Pass got me a free hour in the suites. Jenny Powers |
We discovered there were four Minute Suites locations scattered throughout the airport. The concept, launched in Atlanta back in 2009, has since expanded to some of the busiest travel hubs in the US, including Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth. Each location offers compact but private rooms, rented by the hour, where travelers can escape the chaos outside.
Standard rates are $65 per hour, but as a Priority Pass member, I was entitled to my first hour free and subsequent hours at a discounted rate of $40 each. Given our three-hour layover, I decided to start small — just one hour — to see if it was worth the hype. My husband still preferred the Delta Lounge, so my daughter and I set off to find our little retreat.
First Impressions — More Than Meets the Eye
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| The pillows had disposable covers. Jenny Powers |
At first glance, the Minute Suites storefront could have been mistaken for a standard airport convenience store. The front area displayed drinks, snacks, and travel essentials like neck pillows and headphones. But just beyond the register was a hallway of small, private rooms — the real draw.
We checked in, and the friendly attendant offered us freshly laundered blankets and pillows with disposable covers. While I might have preferred sealed, airline-style blankets for that extra reassurance, these felt clean and soft to the touch. The attendant also showed us the spotless communal restroom and promised to knock on our door 15 minutes before our time was up.
Inside the Suite — Compact but Thoughtfully Designed
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| We could've watched television if we wanted. Jenny Powers |
Our private room was small but smartly arranged. A comfortable daybed with a pull-out trundle dominated one wall, while a desk and chair offered space to work or eat. A flat-screen Samsung Smart TV hung opposite the bed, ready for guests to log into their own streaming accounts. The décor was minimal, but the lighting and thermostat controls allowed us to create a cozy atmosphere.
We dimmed the lights, adjusted the temperature to our liking, and asked the in-room Amazon Alexa to play white noise. The sound-masking system worked surprisingly well, dulling the constant airport hum. The occasional muffled knock on a neighboring door was the only reminder we weren’t in a hotel.
A Perfectly Timed Power Nap
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| The suite was big enough for the two of us to sleep comfortably. Jenny Powers |
The plan was just to rest — maybe watch something on Netflix, scroll through our phones, and recharge. But the combination of comfortable bedding, controlled lighting, and soothing background noise worked its magic. Within minutes, both of us drifted into a deep sleep.
The next thing I knew, my phone alarm was buzzing. We’d slept straight through the hour, completely missing the promised knock from the attendant. Whether they forgot or their knock was too quiet, I can’t say. But given how refreshed I felt, I wasn’t complaining.
Almost Perfect — With a Few Tweaks
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| In some ways, the suite felt like a hidden oasis within the busy airport. Jenny Powers |
All things considered, our experience at Minute Suites was a game changer. It transformed what could have been a stressful, noisy layover into a relaxing and restorative break. That said, I did have two small suggestions for improvement:
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A mini fridge in the room would have been a nice touch for keeping our water cold.
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A more reliable wake-up call system — perhaps via intercom — would ensure guests don’t oversleep.
Even so, these were minor drawbacks in an otherwise excellent experience.
Would I Do It Again? Absolutely — Under the Right Price
At the Priority Pass rate, booking a Minute Suite feels like a smart investment in your travel comfort. The standard $65-per-hour price tag is a bit harder for me to justify, but the $40 discounted rate after the first free hour hits a sweet spot. Realistically, I wouldn’t stay for more than two hours during a layover, but I am intrigued by their overnight stay option for situations like long delays or canceled flights.
Layovers may never be my favorite part of traveling, but now I know there’s a way to make them infinitely more bearable. The next time I find myself in a busy airport with hours to kill, I’ll be checking to see if there’s a Minute Suites nearby. And if there is, I’ll be booking one without hesitation.
