Extended Stay Key Terms

Learn the key terms for extended stay accommodations

By Shannon Tani

When traveling for business for an extended period, it's nice to have some of the comforts of your own home rather than staying in a typical hotel room. However, you may be confused by some of the terms that you see on the extended stay websites. What's the difference between a studio and a suite? Is corporate housing the same as an extended stay hotel? Will you need any pre-arrival services to make your stay more comfortable?

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