Serviced apartments are essentially furnished apartments that you can rent for short-term or long-term stays. They are extremely convenient options for a wide range of travelers.
A serviced apartment combines all the benefits of a hotel with a regular apartment. You can stay there for however long you want, even up to a year.
However, service apartments are an umbrella term since various features come under it.
This is why this comprehensive guide will give a detailed answer to what exactly a service apartment is.
What Exactly is a Serviced Apartment?
This is a form of accommodation available for rent on a night-by-night basis.
It provides various amenities, including air conditioning, a kitchen, a washing machine, and housekeeping.
Most of the taxes are already included in the total rental cost of a service apartment. Additionally, the rent and tax of the apartment tend to decrease as the duration of stay increases.
Serviced apartments are mostly owned by private companies with their own maintenance and guest services teams.
Individual landlords do not own them. Hence, such spaces are better maintained and have higher standards.
The best way to describe service apartments is that it sits perfectly between a furnished apartment and a hotel.
They function as a hotel but have the convenience, atmosphere, and privacy of a home.
You can shorten or extend your stay with minimum notice as you would in a hotel. However, you don’t need to pay hefty deposits like you would for a furnished apartment.
Also read: 10 Things You Must Look For in a Serviced Apartment
Why We Love Service Apartments
Serviced apartments give you the benefits and convenience of hotels and furnished apartments.
Yet, there is so much more to them.
Here are some of the top reasons why we love staying in service apartments:
They Give You the Best of Both Worlds
Staying in a serviced apartment feels like you live in a hotel but as a local. It combines all the benefits of a hotel, such as minimum notice periods.
At the same time, they also feel like apartments since you have all the facilities you would find in a house.
It truly gives you a wholesome experience by combining the best of both worlds.
Provides More Space
When compared to a typical hotel room, a service apartment provides you with more space. It is not just much larger but gives you the ability to do several things.
You can cook, clean, relax, and lounge in a service apartment. You can even host other people or hold meetings easily.
Value for Money
Serviced apartments offer great opportunities for saving up and give you value for money. On average, they tend to be much cheaper than hotels.
Serviced apartments also don’t contain hidden charges like hotels normally do. Moreover, the tax and rental prices tend to decline for longer stays.
Hence, you can save a ton of money when staying in a service apartment.
Enhanced Flexibility
You are free to come and go to a service apartment as you wish. Hence, you get unparalleled flexibility when staying in this type of accommodation.
You can entertain guests or hold business meetings whenever you want. Moreover, you can cook, clean, or explore whenever you want without any restrictions.
You can also order food and get it delivered in a serviced apartment, while some hotels may not allow this.
Wide Variety of Facilities
Depending on the type of service apartment you choose, you can be offered numerous facilities.
Most of them contain communal laundry rooms or separate dryers and washers.
They also give you the convenience of having a kitchen in your apartment so that you can cook on your own.
This is excellent for people with specific dietary requirements.
Moreover, they may even give you the ability to choose and stock snacks of your preference. All in all, they make living convenient and affordable.
Privacy and Security
Since service apartments are self-contained accommodations, they are bound to be more private and secure. You can come and go as you please without any eyes on you.
Moreover, since there is no around-the-clock housekeeping like hotels, you will get more privacy.
The occasional maids will keep your apartment clean while retaining your privacy and not disturbing you.
Besides this, service apartments also tend to have 24-hour CCTV cameras in hallways and other common areas. The main entrances and exits also have security staff.
Central Location
Much like hotels, service apartments are typically located in central areas as well. They are situated closer to the major attractions of the city.
Located in the heart of cities, these allow you to go exploring and sightseeing without going too far from your apartment.
Feels Like a Home
Serviced apartments give you the experience of a home away from home. You can live in a new city or country without feeling like an outsider or tourist.
They give you the privacy and comfort of a home that you don’t get in hotels. This is why they are an excellent option for various types of travelers.
Possible Drawbacks of Service Apartments
It is equally important to consider the possible drawbacks of service apartments.
This will help you decide whether or not they are for you.
No Daily Housekeeping
If you are someone who prefers to get their spaces cleaned consistently, service apartments might not be ideal for you. They don’t have daily housekeeping services.
Moreover, their cleaning might not be as thorough as the housekeeping services at hotels.
No 24-Hour Concierge or Reception
The biggest advantage of concierge and reception services is guiding you.
They can recommend the best places to visit, restaurants to go to, and even get you reservations for them.
However, this facility is seldom available in service apartments.
Concierge services normally don’t exist there, and they likely don’t have an around-the-clock reception.
Unreliable Owners and Unclean Conditions
When you compare service apartments with hotels, the apartments might not be as clean.
Hotels need to follow specific standards and requirements to avoid harming their reputation.
However, the same does not apply to service apartments that don’t have such strict standards to follow.
They keep them clean for the most part, but it could always be a risk.
Who Are Service Apartments Suitable For?
Depending on the type of travelers, service apartments might be suitable for some people and not for others.
For the most part, they are ideal for people who plan to stay for a longer-term, such as those on a business trip. This is because it will give you more flexibility at a lower cost.
Additionally, service apartments are also perfect for large families with little children.
You can make your own food, have a larger space, and have someone clean up for you.
In a nutshell, here are the types of people who should get service apartments:
- Fussy eaters or those with specific dietary requirements
- People looking for greater privacy and flexibility
- Those on a budget
- Those who want to live like a local
- Those who want to live in central locations, so that all facilities are accessible to them
The Bottom Line
Serviced apartments have quickly become a popular option for people looking for short-term and long-term stays in a different country or city.
They have several features that make them ideal for any kind of stay.
However, it might not be suitable for everyone. This is why you must consider the pros and cons to decide whether they are the right choice for you.
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