Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Spanish Siesta Culture Lets Entrepreneur Turn Naps Into Gold (bloomberg.com)

Posted by msmash on from the when-in-spain dept.

An anonymous reader shares a Bloomberg report: There's little that's more Spanish than the afternoon siesta. As the mid-day sun goes up, businesses in small-town Spain pull down their shutters for a traditional nap. In big urban centers, modern business trends have ended that habit, leaving many Spaniards who work long hours exhausted. Now, Maria Estrella Jorro de Inza has found a way to bring back the siesta, making money while her countrymen nap. Bankers, lawyers and consultants catch up on their sleep at Siesta and Go -- Madrid's first nap-bar located in Azca, in the heart of the city's financial district that's home to firms like HSBC, Google and Deloitte. The concept is simple: for just 14 euros ($16) an hour, you get to unwind and take a power nap in a private bedroom before heading back to work. "It's funny that we're known for the siesta, but we haven't been professional about it," said De Inza, the nap-bar's 32-year-old founder. "We get a lot of men in suits who just want to relax and women wanting to take their heels off. Lunch break is the busiest time."

45 comments

  1. Frosty psot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Got a firstZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

  2. What about happy endings? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are those included in the price or are there extra costs involved?

    1. Re:What about happy endings? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are those included in the price or are there extra costs involved?

      No, you can get those in the office.

  3. This is news worthy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    American Christmas Culture Lets Entrepreneur Turn Merriment Into Gold

  4. Flexiblity during the workday by TWX · · Score: 1

    I wish that more employers whose workers didn't do shift-work or didn't have to work closely with other people were more flexible about downtime during the day. There have been days when a quick 30 minute nap would've really benefited me, but I've seen coworkers get in trouble when discovered asleep at their desks.

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    1. Re:Flexiblity during the workday by antdude · · Score: 1

      I liked the flexible hours I had in my previous jobs as long as I was working during the core hours and let people know the times I would be unavailable.

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    2. Re:Flexiblity during the workday by tlhIngan · · Score: 3, Informative

      I wish that more employers whose workers didn't do shift-work or didn't have to work closely with other people were more flexible about downtime during the day. There have been days when a quick 30 minute nap would've really benefited me, but I've seen coworkers get in trouble when discovered asleep at their desks.

      I believe there's been scientific study into showing that the siesta isn't just something cultural, but actually human. And afternoon performance does significantly improve after the siesta. It's also not strictly Spanish, for Italy also has it.

      There's a natural low in energy around 2pm or so.

    3. Re:Flexiblity during the workday by RabidReindeer · · Score: 2

      Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the Mid-day sun.

      In the warmer latitudes, especially before air-conditioning, the post-noon hours are the hottest, most uncomfortable time of day. Between post-prandial torpor and natural biorhythm, it's only natural to want to sleep until the heat has weakend. And then there's the UV exposure factor for outdoor workers. Despite the opinions of people from chillier climates, however, this doesn't have to mean working less - more evening time is employed (also note that winter days don't get as short nearer the Equator).

      Unfortunately, while a siesta is no real problem for most agricultural work or small businesses, it's harder to do when you're commuting half an hour or more to work every day and work has no napping place. And factory owners don't like it, because machines don't need to hide from the heat, and their ideal is that the worker should adapt to the machine and not vice versa.

  5. Finally... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...a hotel that's pay by the hour. I don't know why nobody has ever thought of this before!

    1. Re:Finally... by lucm · · Score: 1

      I don't see how they make money, unless they have slaves to change bedsheets (or don't change bedsheets at all).

      And honestly I find it a bit unappealing. When they have their rush hour, it means that you get in a bed warmed by someone else, like a warm toilet seat during a busy event at the stadium. No thanks.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    2. Re:Finally... by EkriirkE · · Score: 1

      The...room service gives the hotel a cut of the tips left on the dresser.

      --
      from 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
      to 45 2F 6E 40 3C DF 10 71 4E 41 DF AA 25 7D 31 3F
    3. Re:Finally... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't know if you are joking, but hourly hotels are very common in Japan.
      Because it's so crowded in general, and kids don't move out as early, it's the only way for some to get some "privacy".

      I found it amusing that they have prices listed for "1 hour rest" "2 hour rest" "overnight". If used as intended, there won't be much resting.

  6. There is no siesta in Spain by jjohn_h · · Score: 0

    The word 'afternoon' does not exist in Spanish nor does the concept exist in Spanish minds. They eat between 3-5 p.m.

    1. Re:There is no siesta in Spain by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      I worked in Spain for a while, but it was a German company so we kept "normal" office hours. To be fair, our building had decent aircon so the heat wasn't so bad.

      What was funny (to us) was turning up at restaurants around 9 p.m. and finding them setting up.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    2. Re:There is no siesta in Spain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Spanish here -- there is no siesta either. Some people take a nap, sometimes, when at home (i.e. not working). So "siesta" is just a nap. The concept that Spanish people take "siestas" regularly is just a myth.

      As for restaurants setting up at 21:00, yeah, that is common. They tend to run up to 11 PM or even more.

    3. Re:There is no siesta in Spain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Mmmmmm the word afternoon does exist in spanish, is "tarde".

    4. Re:There is no siesta in Spain by mjwx · · Score: 1

      The word 'afternoon' does not exist in Spanish nor does the concept exist in Spanish minds. They eat between 3-5 p.m.

      La palabra es "tarde"... that's pronounced tar-day not tard, which would be you.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    5. Re:There is no siesta in Spain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That's the hour where the people here begin to have dinner, so it's sensible. Schedules in Spain are offsetted by 2-3 hours, due to our peculiar timetables and the relative daylight hours.

      Restaurants and meals in Spain generally are a different thing than in anglo-centered countries. They have very heavy social component to it, as if it were a party of sorts. And we enjoy good food. Very hobbit-like, so to speak.

    6. Re:There is no siesta in Spain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, and nobody likes split work hours. During the Franco years it was a necessity, because people needed multiple jobs. Today it's just employer abuse and/or inertia.

      Fortunately more and more offices have sane timetables. Anyways, nobody actually takes a nap, save a very few places of the country.

    7. Re:There is no siesta in Spain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It depends a lot. The hotter is the area, the later we eat. The range is from 1-2 PM (north of the country) to 4-5PM (south and center).
      And the word exists: tarde.

    8. Re:There is no siesta in Spain by RabidReindeer · · Score: 1

      The word 'afternoon' does not exist in Spanish nor does the concept exist in Spanish minds. They eat between 3-5 p.m.

      Which planet is your Spain in? On this one, "tarde" means afternoon and evening - and in tropical and sub-tropical realms, the day fades slowly compared to an English December.

      Hispanic countries often don't have actual dinner until about 10:00pm.

    9. Re:There is no siesta in Spain by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      Restaurants and meals in Spain generally are a different thing than in anglo-centered countries. They have very heavy social component to it, as if it were a party of sorts. And we enjoy good food. Very hobbit-like, so to speak.

      I think it's a general thing in Romantic countries - France and Italy are similar. My dad was convinced there's something about Italian beer and wine because while on a trip in Italy, he'd have a drink with dinner and not feel the effects as much as back here in Canada. I simply pointed out that our dinners in Italy typically lasted 2-3 hours with his drink lasting the entire time. While back home, the dinner is over in half an hour or so.

      A slow dinner is a very nice thing to do on a vacation, and I know France/Italy/Spain have it as a social event.

      And we're not talking about "fine dining" experiences either - I don't think the meals were particularly expensive (or the food particularly upscale), so it's really more an experience where eating happens to be a component of it. And no, you don't leave hungry or wish for the food to come out faster - it comes out "fast enough" while you enjoy the entertainment and time passes quickly. You might start dinner at 7pm and before you realize, it's 9pm when you finish dessert.

  7. Just $16 an hour? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wasn't too long ago that you could get a hooker to go with the bed for that price.

  8. Beats the hell out of sleeping in my vehicle by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 2

    Man, there are days I'd actually pay $16 to crash out on a real bed at lunchtime instead of snoozing in the front seats of my vehicle in the parking lot. I may fold up rather well but it doesn't mean I wouldn't like to stretch out.

  9. Nudge nudge by TeknoHog · · Score: 1

    "We get a lot of men in suits who just want to relax and women wanting to take their heels off. Lunch break is the busiest time."

    Know what I mean?

    --
    Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    1. Re: Nudge nudge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Say no more!

    2. Re:Nudge nudge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's great for that high value sleep. At least for men. Speaking about high value and gold, first I though the submission was about Spanish finding cold in the form of mining with their office machines during siesta. Gotta give those Spanish their Spanish gold back. And maybe some Armada compensation, just be a good sport.

  10. Bad business model by freeze128 · · Score: 1

    One guy with a jackhammer out front can drive away all your business.

  11. This isn't original by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Many hotels can already give you a private bedroom with an hourly rate. Unless you're closely watching your tenants while they sleep, I suspect this will get used in about the same way.

  12. Pack 'em in by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They should get some of those Japanese sleeping pod, things

  13. Nap in Car by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just go out to the parking lot and take a nap in my car. But, back when I had to use public transportation, it was definitely tricky to find a place for a nap.

  14. Good Idea ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't know if this is a good idea. I'll have to sleep on it.

  15. Common in Japan by cdehaan · · Score: 1

    There are places like this in Japan, one a few minutes walk from my work place in Downtown Tokyo. It's basically sound proof, clean, even offers some tea etc. They are great.

    1. Re:Common in Japan by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      There are places like this in Japan, one a few minutes walk from my work place in Downtown Tokyo. It's basically sound proof, clean, even offers some tea etc. They are great.

      I have stayed in the Capsule Inn in Roppongi several times. It is the best deal in Tokyo. There is a TV built into the ceiling of each capsule, so you watch it laying flat on your back. The best part is the hot tub in the basement. The water in the tub is nearly hot enough to make tea, which lowers the sperm count of Japanese men so much that they have one of the lowest birthrates in the world.

      List of countries by birthrate

  16. There's a cat joke here somewhere by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just find a nice wooden chair.

  17. Afternoon delight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's nice that Spain finally has the equivalent of Japan's love hotels. Suuure, you're just gonna close your eyes and "rest"...

    wink, wink, nudge, nudge

  18. .COM IDEAS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Dot Com Era ideas are back !! Nasdaq 40,000

  19. Not true by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I am spanish, and the nap thing is a thing of the past. We work 10-12 hour shifts, we are basically the slaves of Europe.

    We'd love to nap, though.

  20. All people really need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is a chair that can be converted to a bed at their desk. Especially when cubicles are large enough.

  21. siesta does not exist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    im going to explain what is happening:
    theres not a lot of air conditioned places in spain and gets very hot on most of it (except the atlantic areas)
    people avoid hottest hours of the day by neccesity, you will only see tourists in the middle of the day
    you might be wondering, so what does people do during that time?
    well, our luchtime news broadcasts look like this
    10 minutes of cnn like news (lies) without the "africa is awesome" adds every 5 minutes
    1 hour of soccer news that itself is divided on 20 minutes of cristiano ronaldo news and 20 minutes of messi news
    10 minutes of other sport news
    then weather, thats never accurate
    and i dont even know whats after that because by that time im already sleeping

    ok so there might be naps after all, but they depend on how much you do personally like soccer

  22. Siesta made sense in the past by jgfenix · · Score: 1

    In the center-south of Spain with temperatures that can reach 40C in the summer it would be tough for farmers to work in the field during the hotest hours.

    1. Re:Siesta made sense in the past by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually most people in Spain (i.e. in the cities) don't take naps and never did, specially during work, except a few places where temperatures are stupidly high, in the country. The "spanish siesta" is just a myth that anglo-saxon media continue to spread for whatever reason.

      Source: I'm a spaniard.

  23. Are NAPS for Luddites? by limaCAT76 · · Score: 1

    That's the burning question.

    1. Re:Are NAPS for Luddites? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NAPPS!!