A Hotel Vs. Corporate Housing
A place to call your own is a basic need of the individual in an advanced industrial civilization. Whether this means an apartment, home, or condo is of the least consequence, as long as it allows private entry and access. For it is only in our own space that we are allowed to flourish and be ourselves as we truly are. But how does one do this when relocating to a new city or dwelling temporarily in some area for work?
The temporary living space that comes to most of our minds is the hotel model, which offers pleasant rooms but not much space for living. Many hotel rooms do not come with a kitchen, washer, dryer, or other appliances that we have come to consider as necessities for living. Therefore, many long-term travelers and workers have found a better solution over the years: short term furnished apartments of many varieties and models.
Instead of having to deal with a hotel, now an individual can have their very own furnished one bedroom apartment or equivalent in most American cities. This is perfect for workers and long-term travelers alike who are relocating because it provides many of the comforts of home with minimal cost. In fact, approximately 40% of people who use corporate housing do so because they're relocating. This number is probably even increasing without us being aware of it, due to the transient and remote nature of the modern workforce.
In this brief article, we'll go over why a short term furnished apartment is a better option over a hotel or staying with friends if you're relocating or working someplace long-term. While it will never really be like an apartment that you furnish yourself, it has the potential to be the best equivalent that you will find anywhere for the same price.
More Homey, Less Sterile
It should be obvious to any long-term traveler that has stayed in a hotel that the hospitality industry does not exactly gear hotel rooms toward "comfortable," but simply "cozy." Most hotel rooms do not have a couch, an adequate coffee pot, or even a standard-sized garbage can. They are sterile environments that are meant to house people temporarily for a couple days before they leave and go back home. There is nothing wrong with this, but to compare their comfort level to that of a short term furnished apartment is simply wrong.
Save on Moving Costs While Still Having Comfort
Nobody likes moving, but it is a necessary thing if you are planning on taking your residence elsewhere. When moving to a hotel or other temporary vacation housing, you normally only bring clothes or other "essentials" with the expectation that you will go without things you normally would use. With a short term furnished apartment, you have all the convenience of a hotel while never skimping on the comfort of having your own residence and furniture such as a couch, TV, washer and dryer, and other necessary amenities.
Don't Impose on Friends and Relatives
When you're in a new area or city where you have friends or relatives, it may be tempting to simply stay with them for the month. While this may be grand for a week or two, eventually you may start to feel as though you're imposing on their lives. After all, this is where they live and work - you are just a visitor (as glad as they may be to see you). Instead of intruding on someone else's living space and constantly apologizing, invite them over to your short term furnished apartment and live a little!
Live Like A Normal Person
To put it simply, having a short term furnished apartment means that you will live like a normal person instead of a traveling transient. While it may seem trivial to have a sink to wash dishes in (or to have dishes at all), it will engender you more of the life of a normal person and allow you to flourish a bit more. Who knows what could happen in the short term that you're living someplace? You may meet the person of your dreams and decide to pursue a spectacular relationship that follows you home. This is much easier and more convenient to do with your own apartment than from a sub-par hotel room.