Hotels are typically envisioned as a place people stay in for a few nights while away from home. But, sometimes, you may need to stay at a hotel for much longer. Living in a typical hotel room for weeks or months at a stretch can be very expensive and be a little uncomfortable. In such cases, what you need to look for are extended stay hotels. This arrangement combines the comfort and facilities of a hotel with the economical rates of renting an apartment. Take a look at the advantages of staying in an extended stay hotel rather than a rental apartment or hotel that charges you a daily rate.

As compared to a rental apartment

House keeping: The biggest advantage of living in hotels vs. renting an apartment is that you can still avail of hotel facilities like housekeeping and get fresh towels and sheets without too much of an effort. In addition, you get access to Wi-Fi, television etc which in a rental apartment you would have to install yourself.

Room service: When you’re on a business trip, you don’t typically have the time to cook on a daily basis or will feel like eating out every day. If you are living in a rental apartment you’re only option would be to experiment with takeout services. On the other hand, when you stay at a hotel, you can always call for room service if you’re not eating out or don’t feel like cooking.

Security: This is one of the key points where extended hotel stays win over rental apartments. When you’re new to a city, you may not know the best parts of the city and staying safe is crucial. In a hotel, you are guaranteed round the clock security and can even avail of services like locker vaults to keep your documents and valuables safe.

As compared to typical hotels

Bigger rooms: A typical hotel room can get uncomfortable after a day or two. This is especially so in the case of sharing a hotel room with another person. However, when you book an extended stay, you usually get a suite of rooms that allows you to separate your private and public spaces. Thus, you can comfortably entertain guests without your bed being the only place for them to sit.

More economical: No matter how great a deal you get on hotel rates, they can add up to an exorbitant amount in the long run. Extended stay options however are much more budget-friendly. When compared to rental apartments, they may seem more expensive at first, but given the facilities you can avail of, it usually works out cheaper to stay in the hotel.

You can cook for yourself: As mentioned above, when you’re living away from home, you mostly find yourself eating out, but this can get tiring and unhealthy after a while. Since most room suites come with an attached kitchen or kitchenette, staying at a hotel gives you the option of cooking dinner whenever you feel like.

Work trips are not always overnight trips. In many cases, you may need to spend a few weeks out of town. In such cases, staying in a typical hotel and paying on a nightly basis can be uncomfortable and expensive. Hence most people look at either renting a service apartment or extended stay hotels. The latter typically offers a larger suite instead of a single room with additional facilities, but at a comparatively lower price. Staying at an apartment may appear to be cheaper in the beginning, but the costs can quickly add up as you will have no help with housekeeping etc. So, if you are going to be heading out of town for an extended time period, here are a few things to keep in mind while booking your extended hotel stay.

What is the type of room you need?
Like hotel rooms, extended hotel rooms also are of many different types. If you’re traveling alone, a studio may be enough for you but if you are traveling with a colleague, you may need a one bedroom suite with two beds or a two bedroom suite. Some hotels also allow you to stay with your pets. However, you may need to check with the hotel about the number of pets and type of pets allowed.

What are the housekeeping services available?
Unlike a typical hotel room, do not expect housekeeping to make your bed every day in an extended hotel stay. Typically, housekeeping services depend on how long you will be staying. While fresh towels may be available whenever needed, a room cleanup and replenishment of bath supplies may be scheduled for once a week. If you’d like any additional services, it may be charged as an extra fee.

Do you have access to a kitchen?
The advantage of extended stay hotels is that you should have access to a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette, which allows you to cook for yourself. You will, however, need to check on what facilities are available in your in-suite kitchen and where you can get groceries etc from. Also, check if your housekeeping service includes washing the dishes or not.

What are the laundry facilities you can access?
Most extended stay hotels give their guest access to a Laundromat in the building. You will, however, need to check on Laundromat timings. Also, ensure that you have an ironing board and an iron available in the room. If budget is not an issue, you could also simply give your laundry to the hotel to be washed and ironed.

Are you eligible for any special offers?
Most hotels offer many different types of discounts to people looking for extended stay options. Many corporate offices also have tie-ups with hotel chains that can get you lower rates. If you are a group of people traveling together, booking your stay together can also help you avail of discounts to make your stay more budget-friendly.

While the wedding ceremony itself might excite the bride more than the groom, the honeymoon is usually an equal priority for both partners. Planning a honeymoon is great fun and with the amount of romance in the air, there are a few silly mistakes you may make. Here’s a quick list of things to keep in mind while booking honeymoon packages.

Set a budget
Given that this may be your first holiday together, it is easy to go overboard when planning a honeymoon. Hence, the first step is to set a budget. Allocate money for your accommodation, shopping, food etc and decide what you would like to splurge on and where you think you can save money.

Plan it together
Since the holiday is for both of you, you should plan it together. This way, no one person feels the weight of planning the holiday. Planning it together also lessens the guilt you will feel if things do not go according to plan at any time.

Ask for upgrades
Many places will offer you a free upgrade if you tell them that you are on your honeymoon. So, don’t be shy about mentioning it. Along with looking for hotels online, try contacting them directly as well. Many a time, when you speak to a person, you can get a much better deal than a holiday website. Even at restaurants, telling the server that you are on your honeymoon can get you free desserts and wine.

Don’t spend too much on accommodation
Prioritizing the right amount of your budget on accommodation can be tricky. After all, you do want the place to be inviting and comfortable but you also don’t want to spend all your time indoors. Instead of the typical 5-star chains, look at smaller boutique hotels that may offer you similar rooms at a more budget-friendly price.

Avoid an early morning flight
Yes, everyone knows you’re dying to start your honeymoon but starting it on a tired note is not a great idea. Planning a honeymoon begins months in advance and avoid red eye flights and take a mid-morning or evening flight instead. This is especially important if you’re leaving the day after your wedding.

Look into in-transit airport facilities
If you’re changing flights and have a lot of time to spend at the airport, look into the lounge facilities offered. In many cases by making an online booking, you may be able to get a better deal on the prices.

Find a place that both of you like
A honeymoon is no place to start compromising. If you and your partner have common interests, picking a place is easy. But if you have different interests, try to find a place that offers something for both of you.

Check out the weather
As with any other holiday, don’t forget to check the local weather conditions for the place you are going to be honeymooning at. The monsoons may seem romantic at first but being cooped up in a room while it pours outside is no fun at all.