I rented a ‘nap room’ in the world’s busiest airport; it was a game changer

My husband suggested taking advantage of our American Express Platinum cardholder benefits, which include complimentary access to the Delta Lounge (our daughter could also get access for $50).

Though this has long been our go-to move, I wanted more than just a lounge.

After all, I’d heard about airports offering leisurely activities ranging from novelty experiences such as robot manicures to zen ones like yoga classes or massages.

A quick search of Hartfield’s online directory revealed a series of massage parlors, nail salons, and even a chiropractor — but it was Minute Suites: The Traveler’s Retreat that caught my attention with its motto: “Nap. Relax. Work. Sleep and rest in your own private suite.”

My own private space in a massive airport? I was sold.

While my husband headed to the Delta Lounge, our 16-year-old daughter and I made our way to one of the four Minute Suites outposts in the airport.

Minute Suites actually launched at Hartsfield-Jackson in 2009, and the company has expanded to several of the country’s busiest airports, including Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth.

At first glance, the Minute Suites I visited looked like a traditional airport convenience store. Out front, it had a variety of beverages and snacks for sale alongside travel basics, such as neck pillows and headphones.

But just a few feet behind the unsuspecting check-out counter was a series of private rooms available for $65 an hour. Since I’m a Priority Pass member, I was able to get my first hour in the suite for free, followed by a discounted rate of $40 an hour.

Considering we weren’t sure what to expect and our layover was brief, we booked only one hour.

The attendant gave us a quick tour of the communal restroom, which looked spotless, and then led us to our suite. She reassured us she’d knock on our door 15 minutes before our allotted time was up.

She also offered us pillows with disposable covers and a set of blankets, which we gratefully accepted.

Though I would’ve preferred the pre-packaged airline-style blankets, I reminded myself of how many laundered hotel blankets I’ve used over my lifetime — and used it anyway.

Fortunately, the blankets felt clean and soft.

The suite was minimally outfitted with a desk, chair, and a daybed with a trundle.

It also had a Samsung Smart TV, which allowed guests to log into their Netflix and Amazon Prime accounts.

We dimmed the lights, adjusted the thermostat, and told the in-room Amazon Alexa to play white noise.

Thanks to a sound-masking system, it was remarkably quiet in the suite — we could still faintly hear attendants knocking on neighboring doors, but we eventually tuned it out.

It seems we tuned the noise out a little too well because the next thing I knew, my phone alarm was going off. We’d both fallen into a deep sleep.

Though the attendant said they’d knock on our door 15 minutes before our time was up, neither of us heard them do so. They may have forgotten or not knocked loud enough — either way, I was glad I set an alarm.

Feeling surprisingly refreshed, we collected our belongings and headed to our gate.

I’m still not a fan of layovers, but finding a resource like this is a game changer. My stay in the Minute Suites exceeded my expectations.

In terms of improvements, I wish our suite had come with a mini fridge for our water bottles. It also would’ve been nice if our wake-up call had been done via an intercom or loudly and clearly enough that we could hear it. Even so, those are small potatoes.

I would definitely book a suite again as long as I was able to use my Priority Pass member rate, $40 an hour after the first free one. The original price, $65 an hour, feels a little tougher for me to justify.

I’d also probably only spend about two hours in here, max — though I’d be curious to try one of Minute Suites’ overnight stays.