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See inside a bus with luxury lie-flat suites inspired by business class that travels overnight from Washington, DC to Nashvillehttps://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/see-inside-a-bus-with-luxury-lie-flat-suites-inspired-by-business-class-that-travels-overnight-from-washington-dc-to-nashville/slidelist/93393976.cms2022-08-06T18:33:10+05:30

See inside a bus with luxury lie-flat suites inspired by business class that travels overnight from Washington, DC to Nashville

Brittany ChangAug 6, 2022, 18:33 IST

New startup Napaway has entered the growing luxury motorcoach industry.

But Napaway doesn't have the same mid-drive snack services, beverages, or motion-canceling seats that have defined other luxury bus companies.

Instead, the startup's crème de la crème is its comfortable beds, an amenity you'll be hard-pressed to find in any other US bus.

Unlike traditional luxury motorcoaches, Napaway only operates red-eye services between Washington, DC and Nashville, Tennessee (for now).

This overnight 9.5-hour route may seem long and undesirable compared to the next best option: flying. But to help peacefully pass the time, the motorcoach has beds so comfortable it could rival yours at home.

Let's take a closer look at the bus, which will run travelers $125 one-way.

The large bus — a used Prevost that was converted into its current state as bedrooms on wheels — is hard to miss.

On the exterior, the motorcoach has a galaxy wrap to remind travelers of its peaceful nighttime route.

And inside, instead of cramped rows of seats reminiscent of budget bus rides …

… Napaway has 18 blue and yellow wood-toned "suites" that each come with two seats, creating a hostel-like sleeping space.

Suites can be reserved in advance on Napaway's website.

Two seats per suite and person may seem excessive, but who doesn't enjoy the luxury of switching between aisle and window seat at their leisure.

Plus, the dual seats are necessary for the bed function. When pushed flat, they become a combined 6.5-foot-long bed.

These small suites are sectioned off with tall plastic barriers to block views of other passengers, giving travelers some more privacy at night.

Turning the two seats into a bedroom is a simple process that can be done in less than a minute.

Every seat has a small but easily identifiable black lever.

All you have to do is move these black notches up and push the seat backs down …

… and within seconds, you'll have a lie-flat bed.

The back corner of the bed — where your head will eventually rest — has a rolled up white mattress.

Untie its knot and roll the 2.5-inch thick memory foam mattress out to create the base of your bed.

All that's left is to prop your pillow up, set up your sheet, and grab your grey blanket from the overhead bin ….

… and you'll have your own bed on wheels.

For extra privacy, you can also pull the black opaque screen attached to the ceiling past your suite's entrance.

Like any bus, there are rows of windows and shades lining the sides of the motorcoach.

But it's probably best to keep these shades down to stop the morning light from waking up you before Napaway pulls into its destination at around 8 a.m.

When everything is set up, the thick mattress pad, soft blanket, and plush pillow transforms the moving suite into a surprisingly comfortable bedroom.

Napaway departs from Washington, DC every Friday night at 10 p.m. …

… but if can't fall asleep right away, you can kill some time with the onboard entertainment — WiFi and a collection of television shows and movies — accessible on your personal devices using a QR code.

For a hands-free movie viewing experience, the suite also has two tray tables with beverage and phone holders, although I noted in my previous Napaway review that my iPhone didn't stay upright in the holder.

In true business class fashion, each suite also has a toiletries bag with an eye mask, a toothbrush, toothpaste, ear plugs, and a face wipe.

You can use the toothbrush and toothpaste in the onboard bathroom tucked away at the back of the bus.

The beige and plain aesthetic has all the bare essentials: a toilet, sink, and mirror. It may not be much, but it gets the job done.

While Napaway's interior isn't contemporary, glamorous, or all-black like other luxury bus companies, it still provides everything a traveler may need to sleep comfortably on the road.

A clean bathroom, onboard entertainment, and private sleeping space make the long red-eye drive significantly more bearable and luxurious.

And while flights are obviously faster, traveling overnight in a bus with beds allows travelers to wake up refreshed and ready to explore either Washington, DC or Nashville, Tennessee without wasting any daylight.

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