Comprehensive Guide to Long-Term Stay Hotels

Planning an extended trip requires careful consideration of accommodation options. Instead of traditional hotel rooms or suites, many travelers now prefer renting apartments, especially for stays exceeding a week. This trend stems from the desire for comfort and a home-like environment during long visits. While luxury hotels offer amenities, they often lack the homely feel and flexibility that longer stays demand. Rental apartments provide the convenience of a kitchen, allowing travelers to cook meals, save money, and avoid dining out frequently.

This shift benefits travelers, prompting hotels to enhance their amenities to create a more inviting, home-like atmosphere. Leading hotels are now offering features such as full kitchens and spacious living areas, transforming their properties into more comfortable, extended-stay options. As the industry expands, travelers can enjoy staycations with top-tier facilities that cater to longer visits.

The long-term hotel accommodation sector is experiencing significant growth. From 2015 to 2017, the number of available rooms increased from approximately 107 million to 123 million, according to industry research. This growth rate surpasses the overall hotel industry expansion by three times, making extended stay hotels the fastest-growing segment in hospitality.

Factors Behind the Rise of Extended Stay Hotels

Extended stay hotels excel at creating a homely living experience, offering amenities such as kitchenettes, spacious lounges, and flexible rental options. These properties appeal to travelers seeking consistency, comfort, and independence, especially for longer visits. The addition of communal areas enables social interactions, making stays more enjoyable.

Family and Business-Oriented Accommodations

This sector is evolving to focus on family-friendly and corporate needs. Hotels are designing properties with multiple bedrooms and shared living spaces, similar to private homes, perfect for large families or groups. Business travelers increasingly bring their families along, prompting hotels to incorporate luxurious amenities and strategic locations outside busy urban centers, offering both comfort and convenience.

Features like fully equipped kitchens, in-room laundry, and business facilities cater to this demographic, enhancing the overall experience.

Enhancing Travel Experiences with Extended Stays

Apart from traditional hotels, long-term rentals and serviced apartments are adapting to the modern travel lifestyle. Luxury rental brands like AKA now provide tailored amenities that combine the comforts of home with hotel services, such as in-room dining, gyms, and concierge services. Hotels are increasingly blending short-term and extended stay options; for example, the Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel offers Marina View Condo Suites that function both as luxury apartments and hotel accommodations, providing flexibility and comfort.

Next time you book a stay, you might find yourself already in an extended stay accommodation without specifically requesting it.

Essential Information About Extended Stay Hotels

Services
When booking an extended stay, check which services are included. Some hotels may offer weekly cleaning or other amenities that might not be available daily.

Amenities
Review property descriptions to ensure they meet your needs. While many provide kitchens, not all have microwaves, laundry facilities, or designated living areas.

Policies
Extended stay properties usually don’t charge resort fees, similar to regular hotels. However, cancellation policies can differ, with some requiring 24-hour notice and others allowing cancellations closer to the arrival date.