If you’re traveling for work or moving to a new city, you need to decide where you’ll stay once you get there. No matter where you are, your lodging should be personal — even when it’s short-term or transitional. Whatever you choose can greatly affect how you experience your new destination.
Luckily, you have a few options. Hotels have long been the standard, but others are becoming more popular. In fact, for any stay lasting more than a month, short-term housing is your best bet. Here are the top reasons why renting an apartment or condo is far better than staying at a hotel:
1. Save on overall costs.
When you break down expenses on a nightly basis, short-term housing is often cheaper than a hotel room for longer stays. Remember that hotels often charge hidden fees, like those for an extra person, Wi-Fi, parking, and more. While overall rates do vary with location, seasonality, and demand, short-term housing can be as low as 50% of the price of a nearby hotel room!
2. Stretch out with more space.
A clear advantage of an apartment or condo is the difference in space. For example, a one-bedroom apartment typically has twice the square footage of a single-bed hotel room. If you’re planning to bring along your husband/wife, children, or pets, an apartment or condo will house you and your family more comfortably. Many short-term housing options also include an office and other living spaces you can use to work remotely and privately.
3. Bring your own furniture and housewares.
Most temporary housing options include furniture, housewares, and utilities wrapped in the monthly rate. However, you can opt to take out these amenities if you prefer to bring your own or do without to save money. You get more customization with temporary housing, so make it what you want!
4. Enjoy in-unit conveniences.
While hotels might offer more services, you get much more privacy and flexibility in short-term housing. For example, you can choose to have an in-unit washer and dryer so you don’t have to share machines down the hall or on another floor. You can also avoid expensive meals out by grocery shopping and cooking in your own full-sized kitchen.
5. Gain a better feel for the surrounding community.
Perhaps most important, you can find short-term housing all across different neighborhoods of most cities. These residential areas will give you a more authentic experience than staying in a business-district hotel. Take advantage of the insider’s perspective by taking frequent walks outside, chatting with neighbors, and trying local businesses and restaurants.
These are just a few reasons we at Travelers Haven think short-term housing is a better option than a hotel. Even better, you can save an average of 34% with us over other temporary housing providers. Get started today!
(Still, there may be a situation when a hotel makes more sense for a move or business travel. Visit our sister site, Hotel Engine, to read its reasons why hotels are better than short-term housing.)