Serviced apartment or hotel for a work trip? How to decide
In short
For one to three nights a hotel is usually simplest. For four nights or more, or when more than two people are on the same assignment, a serviced apartment or shared house usually gives more space and better value per person.
For one night, a hotel is hard to beat. For a week, it starts to look expensive. For a month, it is rarely the right answer. Here is where the line usually falls.
| Hotel | Serviced apartment | Shared house | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | One to three nights, one traveller | A few nights to a few months, one to four people | Crews of three or more for weeks or months |
| Space | One room | Bedroom plus living area | Several bedrooms plus shared living space |
| Kitchen | Usually not | Yes, in the apartment | Yes, shared |
| Meals and laundry | Restaurant, room service and laundry service | Cook and wash for yourself | Cook and wash for yourself |
| Cleaning | Included by the hotel | Arranged, often weekly or on request | Usually arranged separately |
| Flexibility | High, even at short notice | Medium to high | Medium; some have minimum stays |
What a hotel does well
- Instant, flexible, nothing to set up.
- Reception, breakfast and room service.
- Good for a single night or a single traveller on a tight schedule.
What a serviced apartment does better
- Space. A bedroom, a living area and somewhere to work.
- A kitchen. Cooking your own meals saves money and is better for your health over time.
- Value over time. The longer you stay, the better the comparison gets.
- Privacy. Your own front door, not a corridor.
Rules of thumb
- One to three nights, one traveller: hotel.
- Four nights or more: price an apartment.
- More than two people on the same assignment: a shared house or multi-bedroom apartment is usually better value.
- More than a month: look at corporate housing.
The real comparison
Add up the whole cost: the room, breakfast, dinners, laundry, parking and the cost of getting to and from work. Then divide by the number of people and nights. That per person, per night figure is the one to compare.
Common questions
Are serviced apartments cheaper than hotels?
For longer stays they often are, once you count the kitchen, the extra space and the meals you do not have to buy out. Compare the full cost per person, per night.
How many nights before an apartment beats a hotel?
A common rule of thumb is four nights or more, although it depends on the property and what you need.
Related: Serviced accommodation. Furnished apartments with linen, towels and cleaning arranged, for stays from a few nights to a few months.