Extended Stay Hotel or Short Term Rental: Which Is Best for You?

Short Term Rental in Virginia
Publish Date: March 19, 2023 / Categories: Short Term Rental

If you’re going to be away from your home for an extended period and unsure what to do, you’ve come to the right place!

It’s not easy being away from the comforts and conveniences of your house. It’s even more challenging to decide where to set up camp during this time.

The most popular accommodation choice is a long-term hotel since experts predict the market will reach USD 132.40 billion by 2032.

The other most reliable accommodation choice is a short-term rental. Both have plenty of similar features. However, the many distinguishable ones may or may not be suited for you.

So, read on if you are still wondering if a short-term rental is right for you!

Facilities and Amenities

If you take a weekend break, the facilities and amenities won’t make or break your trip. But if you need an establishment for several weeks, it must be as close to home as possible. 

It is no surprise if you think a serviced apartment has more useful facilities than a long-term hotel. That’s because standard hotels generally won’t give you access to a kitchen or laundry facilities. 

However, extended-stay hotels aren’t built the same. The owners know that people need specific amenities for everyday living.

Nowadays, both options have everything you would find at home, such as wifi and a workspace. Yet an extended-stay hotel goes that one step further.

You’ll find a gym, spa, swimming pool, and a co-working space here to make your life easier. Something serviced apartments cannot compete with since they don’t own the entire building.

The Cost of Staying

The price of a service is always one of the most defining factors. The last thing you want is to throw away your hard-earned cash while forced away from your home.

Of course, the price of every hotel room and apartment varies throughout the nation. But the chances are you’ll save more money by staying in a long-term hotel over a few weeks or months.

Extended-stay hotels offer significant discounts to their customers. They noticed that rental platforms offer guests deals when they stay for over a month. Yet, due to service fees, utilities, and other expenses, a short rental cannot give a cheaper rate than a hotel.

Additionally, if you have a loyalty program with a hotel chain, you could save a fortune in the long run.

Locations

When you moved into your home, you probably researched the neighborhood. Chances are you’ve searched to see if it’s safe, with nearby amenities and transport to and from work.

Since this will be your temporary home, you should do the same. 

Extended stay hotels know that guests stay in the region for a reason, whether for business travel or to be closer to family. So most are in business parks or close to public transport or freeways with easy access to a city.

Developers build short-term rental units for residents. Therefore many are in residential neighborhoods. That can be practical for tourists but not business travelers.

Safety and Security

Short-term rentals and extended hotel stays differ in safety and security.

Short-term rentals are more like a home. Therefore it’s possible there won’t be any safe deposit boxes or security cameras. 

Unfortunately, there have been a few disputes between tenants and landlords. Bad stories have emerged in the past, from rental agreements to flats not matching the photos. 

But in recent years, rental platforms have cracked down on their security measures. Sites like Airbnb do their best to verify hosts and research them for criminal records.

The cameras and onsite staff at the hotel might make you feel more relaxed in the unlikely event of an incident. 

Business Travel

If your sole purpose for being away from home is for business, look no further than an extended-stay hotel.

The core target market audience for long-term hotels is business travelers. Therefore the rooms, communal space, and extra facilities always have them in mind.

A hotel isn’t the only fantastic place to get extra work done in the evening. It’s ideal for business during the day.

Your bedroom isn’t an appropriate spot to hold a business meeting. Therefore if you stay in a short-term rental, you’ll have to search for a suitable cafe within the vicinity. 

You can coordinate a professional meeting in one of the conference rooms in a hotel. And if you want it to feel more relaxed, you can use the hotel bar/lobby.

Comfort and Convenience

Believe it or not, an extended-stay hotel can be more comfortable and convenient than a home.

Arguably one of the best conveniences of hotel living is the house service. You don’t have to waste your precious time changing sheets and emptying your bins. Staff at the hotel will take care of all this. That gives you more time to relax or complete more of your business. 

Onsite staff is another plus for long-term hotels. You can resolve any complaints or queries at the front desk immediately. With a short-term rental, you may have to wait for a message or an email, and you usually won’t be able to chat in person.

Short-term rentals also come with a few benefits. 

One of the most significant conveniences is checking in and checking out. They are often much more flexible than a hotel. You don’t have to wait around for the day for your dreaded 11 PM flight home.

These comfort elements are crucial for the success of an establishment. Around 36% of business travelers rank it as one of the most important factors to the group.

Is Short-Term Rental the Right Choice for You?

Spending a period away from home can be stressful. So we wrote this guide to explain the differences between the two options and make your life easier.

Since you made it this far, you should know whether a short-term rental or an extended hotel is right for you. They’re both a similar concept. However, the differences hidden beneath the surface may suit your needs.

If you’re convinced that staying in a hotel is the right choice for you, check out our locations today. You’ll have such a wonderful experience time will fly by, and you’ll barely notice you left your home!