Apartments can be a good alternative to hotels
As the number of travellers taking short city breaks has increased in the last decade a variety of companies are now offering apartments as an alternative to staying in a city centre hotel. Ryanair and Easyjet opened up many of Europe’s lesser known cities, and while it has become cheap to get to an obscure European capital your savings can easily disappear in hotel costs.
So what is the attraction of an apartment over a hotel, and for those who haven’t tried this option, is it worth considering?
We have stayed in a number of apartment rentals and most recently travelled to the Estonian capital Tallinn, where we stayed in a serviced apartment. The first thing you notice is that you are carrying your own bags to your room. It’s not a problem for me as I prefer to carry my own bags, but might matter to others, especially as many properties are in character buildings with no elevator. The young girl who met us from the local management company in Tallinn was helpful but would have been no match for a 23kg suitcase.
You invariably get a lot more space for your money than you would in a hotel. It is an apartment after all, and in a one bedroom property you can expect a living room area and a separate bedroom, along with your bathroom and a kitchen area. We have never used the kitchen area to actually cook, but it’s good to have the sink, a decent fridge and a good kettle at your disposal. In some places you even get a washing machine; handy if you’re there for more than a few days.
The main advantage of a hotel is the service on offer. You can call down for a sandwich at midnight, you can use the services of the concierge, go to the gym or the pool, and have a meal or a drink in the bar without having to put on your coat (particularly good on a cold winter evening).
But that’s where the advantages end for me, and as I rarely use these facilities in a hotel I am much more inclined to choose the apartment option. First and foremost I like the privacy: no maids cleaning the room each day, no need to remember the Do Not Disturb sign when we get up late, and no-one spying on how I use my fridge.
It is also a lot more relaxing to spread out in your own living room to read or play cards or watch TV in the evening after dinner, rather than use the bed in a hotel room as a sofa/armchair/snack table (the tables and sofas in a hotel never seem to be in the right place, or particularly designed with comfort in mind). The apartments I have used offer wi-fi as standard as well; sadly something that the hotel industry is dragging its heels over.
The bathroom and kitchen are usually fitted as a domestic apartment would be fitted, nothing fancy but instantly usable. This is quite unlike those crazy hotel designs where each shower should come with a user guide, and the number of light switches you have on offer is roughly equal to the number of dollars spent on the room.
Last but not least, full service apartments are exactly that: all service is included. No confusions or irritations surrounding who to tip or how much. You’re on your own, and that’s ok with me. Oh, and like for like they’re also much cheaper.
We haven’t tried an apartment for a city break yet, but reading this – they would be perfect if you have kids with you (assuming the owners let kids in!). Hotels are a nightmare at night if you have toddlers – you are stuck in the room trying to be quiet whilst they sleep. An apartment would solve all that.
Hi Ben,
I didn’t appreciate the children angle, but of course if makes a lot of sense. More space, and also a lot more flexibility in terms of preparing impromptu snacks any time of day or night.
Do you know of any good sites that aggregate apartments on offer in cities at all i.e. like hostelworld.com does for hostels?
Am off to Berlin soon and looking for somewhere.
Hi Andy
I love apartments when I travel and choose them any chance I get. Like you, I’m not inclined to use a lot of the services hotels offer so paying extra for them doesn’t make a lot of sense for me.
When I spent time in Sydney, Australia in several successive years I used apartments each trip and appreciated the space, the ambience and the fact that I got to stay in a community rather than right downtown in the commercial centre. I’m a real foodie and like to cook so I do tend to use the kitchens of apartments a fair bit. As much as I love eating out I find it a treat to try out cooking local foods when I travel. And I’m not paying $30 for a hotel breakfast or late night snack!
One of my favourite resorts in Nova Scotia, Canada offers hotel style rooms or cabins by the sea. I always choose a cabin because of the kitchens. The food at this resort is fantastic, but once again, I like to cook at least part of my meals each day. And ending the day with a nice cup of herbal tea while I cosy up next to the fire with a good book definitely adds something special to the experience.
Now that I visit the Algarve, Portugal on a regular basis for the secular retreats and culinary experiences I facilitate, I’ve chosen an apartment for me and my clients. Actually, it is a garden home facility right on the water’s edge. We have oodles of space in each unit and because they are multi-level units, the sight-lines to the ocean are fabulous and it is easy to find a quiet nook for reading or contemplation if you are sharing with someone. Plus, once again, the well equipped kitchens mean that I can mix dining out with cooking for myself. And keeping a bottle of cool, crisp Vinho Verde in the fridge for when the urge strikes is a very pleasant bonus!
I hadn’t realized just how many people eat specialized diets before but for them apartments are great because they can cater to their own specific dietary needs.
I’m pleased to learn that apartments are becoming much more commonly available throughout Europe. Thanks for thinking to talk about this important aspect of travel that is seldom highlighted!
Gwen McCauley
http://twitter/gwenmccauley
Wow, thanks Gwen for such a comprehensive comment! It’s a great point you make about the hotel breakfasts. We usually go out and get a hot drink and snack from nearby bakeries. Much better and a fraction of the price.
The place in Nova Scotia sounds wonderful. You’ll have to spill the beans on the location
Malph, there are a few apartment rental companies who will have listings of available properties in Berlin. You can google them (and if any are reading this, hopefully they’ll get in touch with you?
So because of all that reason we have a lot of clients