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An increasing number of corporations are not just getting acquainted but getting habituated to the concept of renting serviced apartments for short-term stays as well as longer durations. For the uninitiated, serviced apartments are essentially turnkey establishments - fully furnished and well-equipped apartments with separate living and sleeping areas and a kitchen as well.
Often they are part of a building of apartments and serviced by an on-site management, with services such as concierge, check-in desk, weekly or daily housekeeping and linen change. What sets serviced apartments apart from a hotel are the personal touches found in a homely atmosphere, extra space to spread out, a separate personal lounge where you can relax and entertain, and a level of privacy that far surpasses that found in a hotel.
How does it differ from normal apartments available for rent or vacation rentals?
Serviced apartments differ from non-serviced, ordinary apartments in several ways including the amenities, services, duration of stay possible etc.
Duration of Stay
Serviced Apartments:
Duration of stay can range from just a night to a long duration such as a couple of months or even a year.
Long-term Apartments for Rent:
Long-term apartments are generally bound by contracts or minimum one-year lease.
Vacation Rentals:
Vacation rentals are rented for short durations ranging from a night to a week or a month at the maximum.
Amenities & Services
Serviced Apartments:
Amenities include well-equipped kitchens, entertainment units and laundry facilities that not only enable you to make great savings but ensure a hassle-free stay as well.
In addition to these, serviced apartments offer guests the services of an on-site concierge, on-site housekeeping team and maid service, on-site laundry services and much more.
Long-term Apartments for Rent:
No amenities - renters have to furnish and equip the apartment themselves.
Vacation Rentals:
Vacation rentals are privately owned second homes and hence are equipped with all the amenities that the homeowner would wish to have in his vacation home.
However, services of a concierge, housekeeping team or laundry services are missing.
What is the difference between a Serviced Apartment and a Self-catering Apartment?
Serviced apartments offer the services of an on-site management that includes a concierge service and housekeeping team. Self-catering apartments do not have any such benefits.
Why is a serviced apartment preferred over hotels or self-catering apartments?
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Serviced Apartment |
Hotels |
Self-catering Apartments |
| Services |
Select services of a hotel such as concierge, laundry etc in a homely atmosphere
Facilities such as wireless Internet access are included in the cost. |
Several services but with an impersonal touch. Quality of services are often disappointing.
Facilities or services such as laundry, room service, Internet access etc are at additional costs. |
Facilities such as wireless Internet access and phone bills are often included in the cost. |
| Privacy |
The same privacy you enjoy in your own home. |
Little privacy courtesy people walking up and down the halls right outside your rooms, thin walls that hardly keep out any sound etc. |
The same privacy you enjoy in your own home. |
| Space |
Lots of space even in a studio apartment. |
One small single room. |
Lots of space even in a studio apartment. |
| Cost |
Savings are high, as serviced apartments have fully equipped kitchens and in-house laundry units that enable you to make great savings on food and laundry costs. |
High costs due to additional expenditure on meals, room service and other services such as Internet access. |
Savings are high, as self-catering apartments have fully equipped kitchens that enable you to make great savings on meal expenditure. |
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