What is serviced accommodation?
Serviced accommodation are accommodations where guests have access to convenient facilities that one would expect to find at home, such as cooking, dining, and laundry equipment, in conjunction with hotel-style amenities, ranging anywhere from free Wi-Fi to concierge services, depending on where you stay and who you book with.
Designed to cater especially well to longer-term stays, serviced accommodation comes in many shapes and sizes, with the best examples being serviced apartments, houses, and aparthotels. These options allow travellers to settle in with the amenities and privacy of a home, ideal for extended stays, relocations, and business trips. Below, we’ll look at these options, as well as some alternatives that also fall under the serviced accommodation umbrella (sometimes incorrectly!), to help you select the best fit for your needs.
- Serviced apartments: The gold standard
- Houses: Fantastic for remote locations
- Aparthotels: Ideal for short stays
- Extended stay hotels
- Bed and breakfast: Not technically serviced accommodation
- Serviced corporate lets: Not a fully managed experience
- Conclusion
Serviced apartments: The gold standard
First up are serviced apartments, the preferred choice for business travellers seeking a spacious, comfortable, and fully-equipped place to stay. They come with defined living, dining, and sleeping areas, creating a home-like atmosphere that helps guests feel settled, even during extended trips. These apartments are particularly popular for corporate relocations, training assignments, and long-term projects.
Often located in key locations, they allow employees to be in the heart of premium areas, without the hefty price tag often placed on hotels in similar locations, and when you book through Situ, you can tailor their features to meet the needs of you and your team.
Key features of serviced apartments include:
Fully-equipped kitchens: Serviced apartments provide complete kitchen facilities, allowing guests to cook meals as they would at home. This can be especially convenient for those who prefer healthy eating options opposed to takeaways or need to accommodate dietary requirements, while also reducing dining expenses.
Housekeeping services and linens: To keep the stay hassle-free, serviced apartments booked with Situ offer regular housekeeping services – either weekly or bi-weekly, ensuring a tidy environment without compromising privacy. Linens also come included as standard.
On-site facilities: Many serviced apartment complexes provide on-site amenities like gyms, parking, and meeting rooms. Some may also have concierge services and 24/7 security. Let us know what features would make your stay Booking Brilliant when you submit an enquiry, and we’ll do our best to accommodate them.
Laundry facilities: Serviced apartments include in-apartment or on-site laundry facilities, an invaluable benefit for those on extended stays.
Cost-effectiveness: For longer stays, serviced apartments often provide better value than hotels, especially when you factor in the ability to prepare your own meals. Multi-bedroom properties are also available, making them a viable option for group stays.
At Situ, we specialise in providing high-quality serviced apartments in locations around the world to meet a wide range of business travel needs.
Check out our range of serviced apartments today, and get in touch with us to learn more about how we can solve your accommodation needs.
Houses: Fantastic for remote locations
For business travellers looking for more space, a serviced house offers an excellent option. These properties provide the ideal balance of privacy, flexibility, and comfort, particularly for teams, families, or anyone requiring more than one bedroom. At Situ, we pride ourselves on having the UK’s most extensive range of serviced accommodation, giving travellers plenty of choices no matter where they’re headed.
Highlights of staying in a serviced house include:
Space and privacy: With multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and the option to request outdoor space, serviced houses are well-suited to larger groups or those who value personal space. They’re particularly useful for teams on business retreats or families in transition, providing everyone with their own living space while keeping them all under one roof.
Suitability for rural locations: In more remote locations where other accommodation options may be limited, a serviced house can be the perfect solution. Whether nestled in the countryside or located on the outskirts of a city, serviced houses allow guests to enjoy a unique setting without compromising on amenities.
Customisable amenities: Many serviced houses come with parking, and all with come with fully-equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, and high-speed internet.
A home away from home: For longer stays, a house provides a home-like setting that feels personal and private. Whether staying in a village or a bustling city, guests can enjoy the comforts of a home, helping to create a sense of stability during travel.
Get in touch with us to discuss your requirements and discover how our serviced houses could be ideal for your next stay.
Aparthotels: Ideal for short stays
Aparthotels combine the best of both worlds, merging hotel-like services with the privacy of self-contained apartments. This type of accommodation is ideal for shorter business stays or those seeking convenience with a touch of independence.
Features of aparthotels include:
Compact living spaces: Aparthotels provide all essential areas within a single, well-designed space, often including a kitchenette, en-suite bathroom, and a seating area. These layouts make them efficient for quick stays, especially for solo travellers on a short stay business trip.
Hotel-style amenities: Many aparthotels come with on-site amenities, such as a gym, laundry facilities, reception, and sometimes even a restaurant. This makes it easy to enjoy the benefits of a hotel stay with the added convenience of a self-contained apartment.
Privacy: Unlike traditional hotel rooms, aparthotels offer a more private experience. Guests can prepare their own meals and come and go without the interruptions common in hotels, making it easier to unwind or focus on work.
Situ offers a range of high-quality aparthotels that cater to corporate travellers seeking a short but comfortable stay. Get in touch with a member of the Situ team today to discuss accommodation options in your location of choice.
Whatever example of serviced accommodation you choose, you will receive the same high, Situ standard of service. With flexible cancellation and extension policies, and 24/7 guest support, you can rest assured your stay will be stress-free from start to finish.
Alternative serviced accommodation examples
Extended stay hotels
Extended stay hotels are a type of hotel specifically geared towards guests staying for longer periods, offering amenities like kitchenettes and sometimes slightly larger rooms when compared to standard hotel rooms which are better suited to leisure guests and are ill-suited to long-term stays.
However, they still feel much like traditional hotels and lack the fully private, home-like environment of an aparthotel. While extended stay hotels may provide some conveniences for longer visits, they often fall short on features that business travellers typically need for comfort over an extended stay. A tendency to have daily housekeeping and limited access to private, work-friendly spaces can also affect both productivity and relaxation.
Although extended stay hotels offer some flexibility, aparthotels and serviced apartments are usually better suited for business travellers seeking a more private, independent environment to live and work in.
Bed and breakfast: Not technically serviced accommodation
Though bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) offer a unique experience, they’re not considered serviced accommodation. Typically small and family-run, B&Bs provide guests with a room and breakfast but lack essential features like in-room kitchens and separate living spaces. This setup doesn’t support business travellers who tend to want self-sufficiency and privacy, making B&Bs better suited for holiday stays than corporate trips.
B&Bs are often mistaken for serviced accommodation because of their personal touch, but with minimal services and shared spaces, they generally aren’t practical for business purposes.
Serviced corporate lets: Not a fully managed experience
Serviced corporate lets, which are properties rented to corporations for accommodating employees, may appear similar to serviced accommodation but often lack the professional support and consistent amenities provided by a fully managed serviced apartment.
Without dedicated services such as housekeeping and regular maintenance, corporate lets can feel less supported and adaptable than other options. While corporate lets are sometimes viewed as a type of serviced accommodation, they lack the full suite of services business travellers rely on to stay comfortable and productive.
Conclusion
Serviced accommodation offers a tailored approach to business travel, providing guests with more space, flexibility, and independence. From the well-appointed comfort of serviced apartments to the spacious privacy of serviced houses and the practical convenience of aparthotels, there’s an option for every preference and length of stay.
If you’re considering booking serviced accommodation for your business trip or relocation, Situ can help you find the ideal solution. Find out more about who we work with and get in touch with us to explore your options.