One of the dilemmas people face when moving to a place temporarily for work, school, or a vacation is whether to go for short-term housing or book an extended stay at a hotel. Knowing what to expect when choosing between temporary housing and hotels can help you decide between the two. Below are the differences between temporary housing and hotels:
Costs
Some people assume hotels are cheaper than temporary housing. While this may be true when you stay at a hotel for a few days, expenses can rack up when you book a hotel for an extended period. When you book a hotel, you have to pay for the room, food, drinks, and extra services like laundry.
Many temporary housing establishments have a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare meals according to your budget. You can rent a temporary apartment with friends to cut rental costs, and the apartment owner may not charge you for the extra bed. In a hotel, you would have to pay for the extra bed if you had several people sleep over.
Privacy
When you stay at a hotel, you have your hotel room to yourself but may share the dining area and entertainment spaces with other people. Hotels might have a shared internet connection for all guests and a common telephone line with an operator who connects callers to guests in their hotel rooms.
Temporary housing can give you more privacy. When renting a temporary place, you have the entire house to yourself. You do not have to share your living area and dining room with anyone. This can give you a more at-home feeling. Many temporary rentals also offer individual internet access and a direct dial telephone.
Amenities
Extended-stay hotels often do not have a kitchen or have only a kitchenette, so you might be unable to cook in your hotel room. You may have a small microwave and a mini fridge as the only kitchen appliances in a hotel room. Most temporary apartments have a fully equipped kitchen that you can use to prepare meals. You can shop for groceries and store them in the fridge or pantry for later use.
Many hotels do not offer facilities where you can wash and dry your clothes yourself. You may have a hotel laundry service that cleans guests’ laundry at a fee. Some temporary apartments have a washer and dryer that can allow you to do your laundry at home.
Space
The average hotel room is around 330 square feet. Depending on the size of your hotel room, you may have limited hosting space. You also have to share a bedroom and bathroom with any guests.
A one-bedroom apartment in the U.S. is usually bigger than the average hotel room, giving you plenty of hosting space. You can have enough space to add an inflatable mattress and entertain your guests. You can rent temporary housing with several bedrooms if you are a family or plan to host several people during your stay instead of getting separate rooms at a hotel.
Residential Setting
Hotels are often located in non-residential areas, such as near airports, high-traffic areas, and popular attractions, so there is little sense of community. Guests check-in and out of hotels daily. You may not have enough time to interact with others and make new connections.
Temporary apartments are in residential areas where some people live permanently, so you might make new friends during your stay. Living in a residential area also gives you a sense of community. Some temporary housing facilities even offer co-living options.
Pets
Some hotels do not allow visitors to bring their pets, and those that do may not let you bring more than one. Hotels that allow pets can charge you a fee for bringing your pet. Temporary housing accommodations may have more lenient pet policies. You can pay a pet fee when bringing your pet to a temporary apartment, but this fee could be refundable. The fee you pay to bring pets into a temporary apartment may also be lower than what some hotels charge.
Temporary Housing vs. Hotels
Different travelers have varying ideas of what is suitable when searching for temporary accommodation. If you are looking for accommodation for a longer-term stay, temporary housing can be a more cost-efficient option. A temporary apartment can also provide a home-like place where you can host guests during your travels. A hotel can be suitable if you are traveling for a short time and will not have company.
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