Contractors and business travellers have many choices when they take a work trip. One of them is what kind of accommodation is available to book or ready to occupy. Another consideration is what is a serviced apartment and what does staying in one involve. Here’s our guide to what is a serviced apartment and what they’re like to stay in.
Serviced apartments as an alternative to hotels
Long gone are the days where low-budget hotels were the only option. In recent years the serviced accommodation and ‘short terms lets’ industry has been performing much better than other hospitality sectors, and has resumed near normal service since the industry took a bit of a hit in the pandemic.
Many blue-collar workers, contractors and managerial personnel have changed their priorities since the pandemic ended. Now, their preference is for a more ‘home-from-home’ experience when working away – clear to see as the volume of searches on alternative serviced accommodation stays has increased in this time.
Here in Middlesbrough and the surrounding areas of Teesside, our townhouses (all located within walking distance of Middlesbrough town centre) provide that perfect ‘home-from-home’ environment that people who have to work away from home are looking for.
Even more so since the pandemic, the ease with which guests can choose to socially distance themselves from the public and/or other guests while having the benefits of a higher standard of cleanliness and safety consolidates the serviced accommodation sector as the mainstream choice for contractors and professionals working away.
At Serviced Accommodation 4U (SA4U), our townhouses are fully furnished properties available for short or longer-term stays – mainly with their own ensuites or multiple bathrooms across the four or five bedrooms and also have plenty of communal space, including a fully fitted kitchen.
There are, of course, a few differences between serviced accommodation units like ours and the local hotels in Middlesbrough, Teesside.
What is a serviced apartment & how does it differ from a hotel?
Six ways serviced apartments are different:
1. Space
We all know that most hotel rooms can be quite small. Although larger suites are also available, they’re generally more expensive, charging a higher premium.
In contrast, our serviced accommodation in Middlesbrough are generously sized townhouses: four- or five-bedroom homes, some with ensuites, and on average offering 40-50% more space than a typical hotel room.
2. Kitchen availability
An obvious point to mention is that it isn’t common for a hotel room (and no hotel in Middlesbrough or the Teesside area that we know of) to include a kitchen for guest use.
Don’t be confused by hotels that offer ‘kitchenettes’ instead – not the same thing and not as fully equipped with all the cooking essentials normally associated with a fully fitted kitchen. They’re quite basic by comparison and can be impractical.
3. Furniture and equipment
Many hotel rooms provide little more than just a bed and a bathroom. Our townhouses are fully furnished and equipped with all the typical furniture you’d find in a home – everything from pots and pans, plenty of storage, comfy sofas to the television and free WiFi.
Our serviced accommodated units also have a washing machine and dryer, and some have a dishwasher too, so you’ve got all the in-house cleaning facilities needed.
4. Cost differences
From a cost perspective, spending 30 plus nights in a hotel is much more expensive than 30 plus nights in a serviced townhouse, especially if more than one person is travelling and sharing.
The fact we cater for four and five sharers (bedrooms) in our Middlesbrough townhouses means the cost per head spreads even further, as we charge only for the whole house, no matter the number of guests.
On average, the rates for our serviced accommodation homes are around 30-50% less than typical hotels with no hidden extras!
5. Amenities
The amenities provided at hotels and serviced houses vary, of course. Hotel amenities may include room service, an on-site restaurant, a pool or a spa. Our self-catering amenities mirror what you have back home, with all equipment and accessories available to use.
We provide free WiFi as standard, always included in the cost of our serviced townhouses, while many hotels charge extra.
Our Middlesbrough townhouses have communal areas with a lounge and TV with smart connectivity to enjoy Netflix. Our comfy sofas, a smoking area in the yard and communal dining area make this a true home-from-home experience.
6. Location and amenities
We’re right in the heart of Middlesbrough, all within walking distance of the town centre – no different from the centrally based hotels in terms of location.
There are plenty of bars, restaurants, pubs, and nightclub venues, as well as a large shopping facility to cater for your entertainment and day-to-day essentials.
The larger retail shopping parks (ten minutes by car) in the Teesside region have even more shops and eateries.
What is a serviced apartment: what it isn’t
You’ve seen what is a serviced apartment, but what about what it isn’t? Serviced apartments differ in that they aren’t flats owned by individuals looking to achieve a supplementary income, but rather they are owned by a company with the sole purpose of renting them out on either a short-term or long-term basis to individuals who need somewhere to stay.
More choice
Business travellers and contractors grouping together to share a ‘home-from-home’ environment now have much more choice here in Middlesbrough.
Now you’ve read our guide to what is a serviced apartment, our serviced accommodation townhouses are available to book – check out our properties here.
We think our guide to what is a serviced apartment is pretty comprehensive, but if you want to know more about our Teesside homes or discuss anything else regarding our business, please get in touch now – info@servicedaccommodation4u.co.uk.
