When on vacation or traveling for business, there are a few options for the accommodation that can be used. While staying in a standard hotel or motel will be suitable for most, others may want additional amenities. This can be especially the case for those that expect to be away from home for personal or business reasons over a longer period of time. Staying in a standard hotel room in these circumstances can begin to feel cramped after a while, and extended stay hotels are an alternative option to consider.
What are Extended Stay Hotels?
A standard hotel room is typically set up much like the bedroom in a home, with the bed taking up much of the space, and furniture typically including wardrobes and dressing cabinets. In contrast to this, extended stay hotels are typically larger in size and have different areas or rooms within them. This can include a separate bedroom, living room and kitchen area. While they are more commonly set up for the use of business travelers, they can also be used by those on vacation and staying in one can provide a few advantages.
More Room to Move
One of the major benefits of choosing to stay in extended stay lodgings is that there is greater room to move around. The separate areas can make it feel a little more like a home than a hotel room. This can make it a more comfortable place in which to stay over a longer period of time. Rather than just having a bed to sit on, the rooms can typically be furnished with desks, tables and chairs, armchairs and couches. This can make it more comfortable to just sit and relax, watch TV, and in the case of a business traveler can provide a more convenient setting to sit and work when required.
Benefits of a Kitchen
Most extended stay hotel rooms will be fitted out with a kitchen area. This can include facilities such as cooker or stove top, refrigerator, microwave oven and coffee makers. Utensils such as cutlery, plates and bowls are also usually supplied. Having this available makes it easier to cook your own meals, which many people like to do. While eating out is enjoyable on occasions, having to do it for every meal can become tedious and having a kitchen available means that the choice is there to cook for yourself or go out for a meal.
Business Benefits
As many extended stay hotels are set up with businessmen and women in mind, they will typically offer a range of business benefits in the room. This can include amenities such as Wi-Fi and internet access, computer printing, personalized voicemails and unlimited local phone use. This can make life easier for the business traveler and make it simpler for them to work in the hotel and keep in touch with family and work colleagues.
Pet Friendly
A benefit of an extended stay facility which can be useful for vacationers is that many are pet friendly. This is in contrast to most standard hotel rooms which typically are not suitable for pets. For those that want to take a family pet on a vacation, rather than leaving it behind, this therefore becomes a possibility by choosing extended stay lodgings. However, many have a minimum period for which they can be booked, and for those planning a vacation this is something that needs to be checked prior to booking.
Cost
Cost can be a major benefit of choosing extended stay hotels. Many good deals can be found, especially for those that plan to book for a lengthy period of time, and this can provide a cost saving over staying in a standard hotel room. The fact that extended stay lodgings have a kitchen can also help in saving costs, as it enables meals to be prepared which is generally more affordable than eating out in a restaurant.
Having to travel and stay away from home for extended periods of time is something that many people can find themselves having to do. Using extended stay hotels can be a smart move when doing this, both for the amenities and comfort it provides, as well as the cost savings that are possible in comparison to a standard hotel room. It is therefore an option to be considered for any business or leisure traveler.