Guide to Pricing and Costs of Extended Stay Lodgings

Extended stay hotels give business travelers the accommodations they want at affordable prices

By Rachel Davy

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Reserve extended stay business lodgings at budget prices with economy corporate housing solutions

For business travelers with budget concerns, extended stay economy hotel rates can get you a great room at weekly rates of about $100 to $200. There are day rates for economy extended stay housing for as low as $40 in some areas.

I recommend: Visit Budget Suites of America to reserve rooms for either long term and short term corporate housing stays in any of its locations. Reserve rooms at Motel 6 to find temporary housing while you're on the road.

Book rooms at moderately priced extended stay lodging locations

Prices for moderately priced extended stay hotel are a bit higher than those for an economy room, but they also offer more accommodations such as laundry and kitchen facilities. Moderately priced extended stay hotels are approximately $350 to $800 for one week's stay.

I recommend: Go to The Big Blue House to reserve one of its seven rooms in this location. There is also an extended stay apartment condo available. Visit Prospect Complex to reserve rooms at this extended stay hotel. Outside Inn offers furnished homes for business travelers to use as extended stay lodgings.

Reserve upscale extended stay suites and apartments throughout the United States

For businesspeople who need more upscale accommodations or who need an apartment, there are extended stay providers that offer extended stay apartments and suites in prices from $900 up to $1,200 per week. These suites and apartments come with a full line of services and options to make you feel as if you'd never left home. Some extended stay apartment providers will only reserve rooms for a minimum of 30 days.

I recommend: Reserve a corporate rental suite at Residence Inn Marriott. For long term corporate housing solutions, consider accommodations at Homewood Suites Hilton extended stay lodgings. Go to Oakwood Worldwide to reserve an extended stay apartment.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many extended stay hotels offer online deals that give added discounts to business travelers who use extended stay and corporate housing accommodations.

Guide to Extended Stay and Corporate Housing

How to avoid hotel room blahs on long business trips

By Betty W. Stark

If you dread lackluster hotel rooms and crave a few creature comforts, there are lodging alternatives out there that will:

1. Save you money over standard day rates
2. Offer studio apartment-or-larger lodging options with homey features
3. Give you and others in your company flexibility to come and go as needed.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Define your needs. Staying a few weeks; months?

The extended stay concept makes sense if you want added features in a studio or suite setting and you can sign on for a minimum one-week stay. For longer stays (a month or more) or an open-ended lease, fully-furnished corporate housing is the way to go.

I recommend: To compare the two concepts, and see other helpful business travel resources, check out Biz-stay.com

Budget chains are widely available.

There are new players and venerable oldies in the budget extended stay arena. Features and geographic locations vary.

I recommend: Check out the details at Value Place, Extended Stay America, Studio6 (the extended stay affiliate of Motel 6) and Crossland.

Is luxury a top priority? There's no shortage of options.

If you want a suite outfitted with a pillow-top bed, fireplace or whirlpool bath, you'll find that and more at several upscale extended stay chains.

I recommend: Look into Summerfield Suites (a Hyatt chain), Residence Inn (Marriott), Staybridge Suites (InterContinental/Holiday Inn upscale) and StudioPLUS.

For longer-term stays, look into corporate housing.

When ongoing projects keep you away for weeks, opt for fully furnished apartments with plenty of amenities in residential neighborhoods.

I recommend: Look into Oakwood Worldwide, the largest serviced apartment provider in the world, and Marriott International's ExecuStay program.

Let others help you sort out the details.

These exceptional sources survey, report on, evaluate and connect properties and customers.

I recommend: Check out Biz-Stay.com, Interim Housing Solutions, and SuiteNet.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Watch for ongoing reflagging and renaming of extended stay chains. Several hotel groups are spinning off that product or acquiring smaller regional groups to add to their mix.
• •  As a bonus, you might earn frequent guest points for your extended stay. Make sure you get credit if there's a program tie-in.
• •  Some corporate housing services offer pre-arrival grocery shopping.
• •  Housekeeping services can vary. Some include it in the price (though usually not daily); some offer it at an extra cost.
• •  Long-term corporate housing can include access to fitness centers, business office facilities or conference rooms.
• •  Need a rental car during your extended stay? Some car rental companies offer discounted extended lease agreements that allow you and your colleagues to drive the vehicle.

Guide to Making the Most of Extended Stay Lodgings

Find a home away from home in extended stay hotels, suites and apartments

By Rachel Davy

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find business lodging in exotic locations such as Alaska and Hawaii or international destinations

Traveling overseas or to places to places like Hawaii and Alaska don't have to burden you budget thanks to extended stay hotels. You can easily find hotels in all price ranges and accommodations. So if your business trips take you to exotic locations, you can find whatever you need, from short term corporate housing to extended stay suites or apartments.

I recommend: Find temporary corporate rental accommodations in Alaska at biz-stay.com, which offers listings of extended stay hotels and suites in all prices in Alaska. At ResortQuest Hawaii, you can find business lodging rooms and suits across Hawaii for yourself and your staff. If you have to go to Europe, find locations for European extended stay accommodations at extendedstaybooker.com.

Learn about the various kinds of amenities available in long term corporate housing

You may never want to go home when you see some of the beautiful rooms and accommodations available to business travelers who stay at extended stay apartments and suites. There is everything from beautifully furnished apartments to gourmet kitchens and fully equipped home offices so that you can work while you're on the road.

I recommend: Make reservations for your next business trip at Furnished Quarters, Corporate Furnished Housing or Marriott International to get their full range of amenities, including fully stocked gourmet kitchens, 24-hour security and fully furnished apartments with housekeeping staff, as well as home office services such as fax machines, private phone lines and wireless services.

Find extended stay solutions for businesspeople and their families who are relocating

When businesspeople and their families need to relocate quickly, extended stay hotels that offer temporary housing are a great way to make moving less stressful. There are extended stay housing and managed corporate housing lodgings that accommodate those who are relocating by offering them such services as helping guests rent cars and finding schools for their children, while giving them a comfortable living space until they find a permanent residence.

I recommend: Get corporate housing solutions from Corporate Connection and BridgeStreet Worldwide, which offer relocation apartments and amenities to corporate employees and their families who are moving to a new area.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many extended stay hotels offer package rates and discounts if you have to reserve rooms for more than one person.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Corporate

Corporate housing refers to home-like accommodations for traveling executives. It usually means a fully furnished apartment, however some upscale hotels also offer corporate housing in the form of large suites. This is an excellent alternative for someone staying more than one week, but less than a year. It can be more expensive than traditional housing, but less expensive than some hotel rooms or signing a long-term lease.

I recommend: Super Cheap Car Rental describes corporate housing and what you can expect when you choose corporate housing.

Serviced apartment

A serviced apartment is not only furnished with the basics, but also many of the little things you may need for daily living, such as plates and utensils, pots and pans, a microwave and a toaster. This ensures that you will not have to purchase any necessary extras.

I recommend: MoveAndStay.com lists serviced apartments. For a better idea of the types of amenities you'll find in a serviced apartment, look at the list of items from one of their apartments.

Pre-arrival services

Pre-arrival services are the extra services that an extended stay hotel provides before you get there. This could be information about the area and restaurant and entertainment reservations. Some companies even provide grocery delivery. All of these things make it easier to move right in to your extended stay housing without any hassle.

I recommend: Take a look at the pre-arrival services that The Corporate Housing People provides.

Studio or suite

A studio or suite refers to the size of your accommodation. A studio apartment is a one-room apartment with a living and sleeping area in the same room. In a suite, the bedroom and living area are in separate rooms.

I recommend: View pictures of the Homewood Suites by Hilton to see examples of studios and suites.

Open-ended or month-to-month lease

An open-ended or month-to-month lease allows the tenant to stay as long as he or she likes, giving only a month's notice before vacating an apartment. Many apartment leases require a year contract, but if you can find an open-ended or month-to-month lease, this could be a cheap option for your extended stay.

I recommend: FindLaw discusses the difference between a fixed lease and month-to-month lease.

Kitchenette

Many extended stay hotels offer a kitchenette rather than a full kitchen. This typically includes a one- or two-burner stove and no oven, however, definitions of a 'kitchenette' do vary and some hotels may offer only a microwave and refrigerator.

I recommend: At KitchenBath.com, you can see pictures of Acme kitchenettes.