"When was the last time you made proper use of a hotel concierge? Or ordered a meal from room service? Or needed a porter to help you wheel your luggage across the lobby" writes Mark Hudson in The Sunday Times.
It is true for travelers on extended stays in a single locale that hotel cuisine, daily laundry, and spending a fortune on the mini bar can get tiresome. Of course, there are the benefits of the maid service, but after awhile, it’s only normal to miss the comforts of home, even if that includes picking up after yourself and preparing meals. Missing a fridge full of your favorite snacks and a comfortable place to work is expected when staying abroad in a hotel.
However, it does not have to be that way. Across the globe Apartment Hotels, Short-Term Rental Apartments, Corporate Apartments are popping up everywhere; from Oakwood Worldwide based in Los Angeles to Welcome-to-Russia renting apartments all across Eastern Europe. These companies make staying at home like living at home.
What should you expect accommodation companies like Welcome-to-Russia to offer? Firstly, it is similar to renting an apartment, but with no fixed contracts and occupants may ‘check-out’ whenever they wish. Secondly, you can expect the basics: satellite or cable TV, washer, dryer, standard kitchen, stovetop, full-size fridge, freezer, and a bathtub. Some kitchens may have dishwashers and conventional ovens. Thirdly, and most importantly you can expect much more space than in a standard hotel room. These apartments come in a variety of square footage and bedrooms. The smallest is typically: one bedroom, one living room, a kitchen, and bathroom.
Apartment Hotels, Short-Term Rental Apartments, Rental Residences, and Corporate Apartments are particularly popular with business travelers, extended stay travelers or travelers that simply want more living space.
Lastly, price and availability. “The U.S. Coast Guard began housing reservist in corporate apartments following 9/11. In the first year alone, the Coast Guard saved $3 million over hotel costs according to Kelli Neuharth, a chief warrant officer in the human resource department, located in Alameda, California,” writes David Grossman of USA TODAY. Not only is it a practical alternative for the cost conscious traveler, but availability makes it an alternative option especially in peak tourist season when hotel rooms are in short supply.
Cheaper prices, larger accommodation, home like amenities, and availability are making Apartments the new alternative to staying in a hotel. Why stay in a hotel, when you can live in an apartment?