Weekly serviced apartments: how week-long stays work

What counts as a weekly serviced apartment stay?

There is no official definition of a weekly stay. In practice it means a booking of around seven nights, in an apartment designed for living rather than just sleeping. Wikipedia's entry on serviced accommodation puts typical stay lengths at anywhere from a few nights to several months, so a week sits near the short end of the range.

Some operators advertise weekly rates or weekly packages; others simply let you book any number of nights above their minimum. Corporate housing, a related category, is described by Wikipedia as typically used for stays averaging a month or more, so a seven-night booking is shorter than most of that market expects. The page on monthly serviced apartments covers the longer end.

Operators describe their range in different terms. Quest, an Australian brand, says on its FAQ page that it accommodates stays of one night, two weeks or many months at a time. A week therefore fits comfortably within what a serviced operator expects, even when it is not a headline product.

How do minimum-night rules work for weekly stays?

Minimum stays are set by the operator. Wikipedia notes that aparthotel guests can leave when they like, subject to the minimum length of stay imposed by the company. That minimum can differ by building, by season and even by arrival day, so a flat that accepts one night in January may ask for several in a busy week.

Length of stay also affects what is on offer. Wikipedia reports that extended-stay hotels often offer discounts for longer stays beginning at 5 or 7 days, which is why a full week can be treated differently from a short break. Whether a discount exists, and how large, depends entirely on the operator.

Rules outside the operator can matter too. Some cities restrict short lets of private homes: Wikipedia says Portland does not allow rentals of less than 30 days in residential zones. Local rules like this mostly affect private rentals rather than professional serviced apartments, and they change, so rely on the listing and the city's official pages instead of assumptions.

How often are weekly serviced apartments cleaned?

It depends on the operator, and it is the most variable part of a weekly stay. Quest's FAQ lists housekeeping as daily or weekly as required, excluding Sundays and public holidays. Other operators clean after a set number of nights, on request, or only between guests.

Hotels show the same range. In an August 2020 survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, 58% of guests said they did not want daily housekeeping. By 2021, The Points Guy reported guests encountering rooms cleaned every four days, towels and rubbish services on alternate days, and one major chain announcing housekeeping on request only. The Associated Press reported in March 2022 that one major chain's rooms were cleaned automatically every sixth night, otherwise on request.

For a weekly stay this means you should not assume that a mid-week clean is included. Treat the schedule as something to confirm, and ask whether extra cleaning can be added if you want it. The guide to how aparthotel housekeeping works goes deeper.

Linen, towels and laundry on a weekly stay

Weekly linen changes have long been the benchmark. An Australian employment agreement quoted by Law Insider defines a serviced apartment as an apartment with cooking facilities for which clean linen is supplied once per week. That is one definition from one document, not a universal rule, but it shows why weekly changes are often associated with the format.

Towels may be handled separately. The Points Guy describes an option some hotels offer, towels and rubbish only, which keeps service minimal. Whether a serviced apartment swaps towels between full cleans varies, so ask rather than assume.

Laundry is the practical answer to a longer stay. Wikipedia says extended-stay properties typically have self-serve laundry facilities, and Quest says most of its apartment types include a washing machine and dryer. With a machine in the flat, a week of clothes is manageable without a clean on demand. See laundry in aparthotels for what to look for, and what is included in a serviced apartment for the wider picture.

What changes compared with booking nightly?

The main change is that the apartment behaves more like a home and less like a hotel room. You cook some meals, use the washing machine and decide how often you want the flat serviced. The operator remains responsible for repairs and support, but day-to-day tidying shifts toward you.

Cost is also framed differently. As practical reasoning rather than a sourced finding, any saving on a weekly stay tends to come from cooking some meals in the flat and from any longer-stay rate the operator offers, rather than from the apartment itself. Hotels, by comparison, often add value through daily service and on-site facilities, which a week-long guest may use less. The comparison in aparthotel vs hotel explains the trade-offs.

Who suits a weekly serviced apartment?

A week is long enough for a kitchen and laundry to matter, and short enough to avoid a lease. That makes it a natural fit for several kinds of trip. Business travellers on a project or training block can work and cook in the same space; business travel in serviced apartments covers that case. People relocating often use a week or two while house-hunting, as described in serviced apartments for relocation.

Families and groups gain separate rooms and a kitchen, and travelling with kids in aparthotels lists what to check. A week can also suit a holiday split between sightseeing and slower days. If you are staying fewer than seven nights, short-stay serviced apartments may be the better fit.

Examples of cities to browse include London, Tokyo, Melbourne and New York, as examples of places to browse.

What to ask before you book a week

A few questions up front prevent most surprises. The Points Guy advises travellers to call the hotel in advance and ask about its housekeeping policies, and the same applies to serviced apartments. For a week, add the following.

• Minimum nights for your arrival and departure days, and any weekly or longer-stay terms.
• How often the apartment is cleaned, on which days, and whether you need to be out.
• Whether linen and towels are changed during the week, and how to request extra.
• What the kitchen contains and whether there is a washing machine and dryer.
• Whether utilities and internet are included in the rate.
• The cancellation and amendment terms if you shorten or extend.
• A long-stay checklist for any longer trip, such as the long-stay accommodation checklist.