Benefits of serviced apartments: what you gain and what to weigh

What are the benefits of serviced apartments?

Five benefits of serviced apartments come up repeatedly in industry sources. The table summarises them with a note on the evidence. Details follow in the sections below, along with the trade-offs.

Wikipedia describes serviced accommodation as fully furnished property for short- to medium-term rental that provides residential-like amenities and services such as utilities, housekeeping and internet access. That bundle is the starting point: you get a home that someone else maintains.

Do serviced apartments give you more space?

Generally yes. A 2015 white paper from design firm WATG describes serviced apartments as an alternative form of lodging for people away from home for an extended period, with units typically some 15 to 30 percent larger than a standard hotel room. FCM, a business-travel management company, says serviced apartments are more spacious and functional and that the level of service is usually high.

Layout matters as much as floor area. Studios and one-bedroom units are common, and some apartments have separate living areas and work spaces, which helps if you are working during the stay or travelling with others. The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers' chief executive described the advantage in a 2017 article as a bit more space to live, work, sleep and eat.

Space varies a great deal between buildings, so check the stated floor area and layout rather than assuming. Aparthotel vs hotel compares the formats in more detail.

Why do the kitchen and laundry matter?

A kitchen changes how a stay works. In a 2016 poll of 178 corporate travel buyers by the Business Travel Show with the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers, the convenience of a self-catering option ranked first among reasons for choosing serviced apartments over alternatives. Cooking gives you control over meals, timing and, often, the cost of food on longer stays.

FCM lists fully equipped kitchens, laundries, work and study areas and storage for clothes among the features of serviced apartments. Wikipedia notes that extended-stay formats usually include self-serve laundry. Whether the washing machine is in the unit or shared varies, so confirm before you book. The guide to what is included in a serviced apartment lists items to check.

A practical point: a kitchenette and a full kitchen are different tools. A kitchenette may mean a hob, a small fridge and a microwave, which suits simple meals; a full kitchen with an oven and larger fridge suits regular cooking for several people. Think about how you would actually eat during the stay, then check the listing for the appliances and cookware supplied. Cooking in an aparthotel kitchen covers what to look for.

Are serviced apartments good value and flexible?

Value depends on length of stay and group size. FCM says business travellers can find more competitive rates than hotels, fewer surcharges and more flexible cancellation policies, with no leases to sign and utility bills paid. A 2017 poll of 243 corporate buyers ranked value for money as the top reason, with 57 percent of respondents citing it.

Wikipedia adds that discounts for longer stays often begin at 5 or 7 days in extended-stay formats. Those survey results come from corporate buyers, who may negotiate rates, so they do not prove a saving for every guest. Compare the total cost for your own dates, including cleaning and any extra charges, before deciding.

Flexibility also means ease of extending or leaving. Apartment hotels have no fixed contracts, and guests can leave when they wish subject to the operator's minimum stay. For longer bookings, see the long-stay accommodation checklist.

Who uses serviced apartments?

Corporate travellers are the largest group in the sources, and they explain why many benefits of serviced apartments are framed around work trips. The WATG paper says corporate travellers made up an average of 70 percent of guests across its sample of leading operators in 2015, including people on short and medium assignments and those relocating who need interim accommodation. Wikipedia describes corporate housing as serving individuals, military personnel, intern groups and corporations.

Leisure guests use them too. WATG reports that couples and families fill units at weekends when corporate demand dips, and quotes an industry commentator saying serviced apartments offer leisure travellers a comfortable base without paying for food and beverage, leisure and meeting facilities they will not use. FCM says families in long-stay accommodation can enjoy a more normal lifestyle in the evenings and at weekends.

For specific cases, read business travel in serviced apartments, serviced apartments for relocation and travelling with kids in aparthotels.

Which services are included, and how much does that help?

Included services are a quiet benefit of serviced apartments: you do not set up utilities, internet or cleaning yourself. Wikipedia lists utilities, housekeeping and internet access as typical services, and FCM says there are no leases to sign and all utility bills are paid, with maintenance handled by the provider. For a stay of weeks, that removes a set of tasks that would otherwise fall to you.

What counts as included depends on the operator. Cleaning might be daily, weekly or on request, and linen changes may follow the cleaning schedule. Utilities may be capped, or internet may be a paid upgrade. Treat these points as questions for the listing, not assumptions. How aparthotel housekeeping works explains the common cleaning models.

• Ask what the rate includes: cleaning, linen, towels, utilities and internet.
• Ask how often the apartment is cleaned and whether extra cleans can be added.
• Ask who to contact for maintenance and what hours are covered.
• Ask whether any deposit, cleaning fee or city tax is charged on top of the rate.

What are the trade-offs?

The benefits of serviced apartments come with limits. Sweco's UK building-standards guidance says serviced apartments typically offer no or limited hotel-style facilities, so there may be no restaurant, gym or staffed lounge. FCM notes that executive apartments or corporate housing usually have weekly cleaning, which is less frequent than a hotel's daily service.

Standards also vary. There is no single definition of a serviced apartment and no common service level, so an operator's cleaning, linen and reception arrangements can differ widely. Self-catering also means shopping and washing up. If you want everything handled, a full-service hotel may suit a short trip better; see serviced apartments vs Airbnb for the comparison with private rentals.

Browse examples in London, Tokyo, Singapore and Berlin to compare how operators describe space, kitchens and cleaning.