One form of accommodation that’s growing in popularity is the serviced apartment. The surge in its popularity can be attributed to certain advantages it has over a hotel.

Photo by Julo for Best of European Union

Here’s a comparison of hotels and serviced apartments based on certain factors:

Cost

Serviced apartments are generally cheaper than a stay at a hotel. There are many factors why hotels charge a higher rate than other forms of accommodations, but one of them is that you pay for the established name of the hotel. This is especially true for hotel chains, which bank on its prestigious brand to pull in customers. The amenities and additional services also play into the total cost of a hotel stay.

Serviced apartments are cheaper because you don’t pay for these extras. What you pay for is the cost of renting the apartment plus a few amenities. This keeps costs down. Additionally, you can haggle for lower rates if you are planning to stay for more than just a few days. Most serviced apartments offer weekly or monthly rates that offer huge savings for the traveler.

Amenities

Hotels have an obvious advantage over serviced apartments in terms of amenities since they have bigger facilities. Additional services like room service and daily turndown are also something that most serviced apartments do not offer.

On the other hand, serviced apartments do come equipped with a full kitchen, which would allow travelers to cook their own meals. This is a big benefit especially if you’re traveling on a budget. Although there are hotel rooms that have kitchens, these are usually suites and are extremely expensive.

Space

Serviced apartments are tops when it comes to offering a lot of space. The most affordable hotel rooms are nothing more than a small box with a bed and a bathroom. Serviced apartments are real apartments so there is typically a living room, dining room, kitchen, and a bedroom. There are apartments that offer more than one bedroom, which again translates to savings if a group of travelers will rent one serviced apartment.

Derek Gallimore has been operating Boutique London Lets, a company that rents out luxury apartments in London.

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Self catering accommodation / Photo by admin

It’s cheaper:

One of the most apparent advantages of lodging in a self-catering apartment/house is that it is far more cost-effective. Firstly, you can prepare your meals in the apartment, which will certainly save you money on eating expenses. Food is one of the main holiday expenses and can easily expend your holiday funds in a heart-beat. By being able to prepare al least some meals where you are staying, will save you a boat-load of cash.

Also, if you have been out and purchased a surplus of food – You can simply take the food back to the self-catering apartment, keep it refrigerated and eat it whenever you want to.

It’s secure:

Self-catering accommodation offers your family added security. Generally, hotels don’t offer rooms that have several bedrooms, which a large family requires. As a result, it is hard to book neighbouring hotel rooms in order to keep the whole family together. By opting for self-catering accommodation – every family member has their own space, while your family is still kept together.

The comforts of home:

Self-catering accommodation offers all the comforts of home while you are away. This makes it a relaxing and comfortable place for you to enjoy your family after a big day of sightseeing.

Unlike a hotel, a modern self-catering apartment offers you enough room for everyone. Thus, if you and your spouse want to relax by doing some reading – the children can play games or entertain themselves in the next room. It is essential for everyone to have a little of their own space. By staying in a self-catering apartment – you are also able to come-and-go as you please, since you have your very own front door.

Less hassle:

Arriving home after a family holiday usually entails washing mountains of dirty clothes. Many self-catering apartments have laundry facilities; therefore you and your family can do laundry as it accumulates. Instead of visiting the nearest dry cleaner – you can simply deal with your washing at your accommodation.

So whether you need Family accommodation in Cape Town, Sydney, Hong Kong or Tokyo, you are sure to find a suitable place for your entire family to enjoy a fun and memorable holiday together.

This article was provided by food-lover and travel enthusiast, ScribeZA.

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Stay in hostels rather than in hotel rooms

Staying in a hotel room should be your last thing in mind if you are on a tight budget. Hostels may not have all the amenities and comforts of a hotel. But, it certainly provides clean and functional rooms for you to stay for the night. If you are traveling with the whole family, look for bigger hostels which may prove to be a big hit for your children.

Life Resort, Santa Pola, Costa Blanca, Spain / Photo by admin

Look for serviced apartments

If you are not comfortable with the idea of sharing a room with somebody else in a hostel, better opt for serviced apartments. Business travelers are usually the target guests of serviced apartments. However, you can always take advantage of their hidden bargains. Serviced apartments provide cooking facilities and a laundry room for their guests. You can even obtain access to their fitness gym and swimming pool at a very reasonable rate.

Save much money by saying no to some of the services offered in a hotel

Never ever place a call to any of your friends within or outside Europe using the telephone inside your hotel room. It would also be wise to refuse an offer of being able to watch more movies inside your hotel room. If you really want to watch a movie while in Europe better go to cinemas. Otherwise you will end up being shocked by your hefty hotel bill. Resist the urge of calling the hotel room service just to ask for food delivery to your room. Take the time to walk outside and look for affordable restaurants. This will save you a lot from experiencing stress and anxiety because you reduce your risks of blowing your budget while on a travel.

Take the time to have a little chat with the hotel staff

Talk to them about your future plans of coming back to Europe with your friends or business partners. You may also want to give them an impression that you really liked the hotel. The hotel staff has to know these things so that they will look at you as their prospect loyal guests. As a result, the staff will be giving you a VIP treatment. They will also be happy to offer you some really good deals that will help you save money and make your stay worthwhile.

Getting a room late at night will save you more money

Hoteliers only have one night to sell their rooms to tourists. Missing one guest for the night would also mean missing the chance to earn. This is one of the advantages of looking for a hotel room late at night. Hoteliers will become pressured not to have someone for each room. Therefore, getting inside the hotel late at night will give you the chance to ask for a discount or the best deal. You should be smart enough to negotiate and let them feel that the little amount you have is better than an empty room for the night.

Traveling these days in Europe has proved to be a reasonable thing to do. Many European airline companies are now giving out huge discounts to tourists. Therefore, make an effort to look for airlines, not just hotels that will allow you to save some of your hard earned money. After all, the best does not always have to mean the most expensive.

About the Author:
Ryan Rivera used to suffer from anxiety attacks for seven years. He now dedicates his life helping other anxiety sufferers through his writings. You can read more of his articles at Calm Clinic.

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The City of London is the centre of the UK’s financial industry, ranking on a par with New York City as one of the world’s most important financial centres. It is often referred to as the City and is just over one square mile in area. In medieval Britain the City was the full extent of London. Today, it is now only a small part of the metropolis but remains a notable part of central London with an average of 320,000 people primarily working in the financial and legal professions. It also has a resident population of approximately 8,000.

The City has excellent transport links with eight tube stations. It also has a huge range of hotels, serviced apartments and other accommodation options.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Ben Sutherland

2. Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf is London’s second largest financial district, 2.5 miles to the east of the City in the London borough of Tower Hamlets. Canary Wharf forms a spectacular part of London’s skyline, with three of the UK’s tallest buildings. One Canada Square, occupied by HSBC, is the tallest of the three and provides 14,000,000 square feet of office and retail space.

Over 90,000 people work in Canary Wharf with some of the biggest names in the banking industry using the much desired location as its headquarters, including Barclays and Citigroup. Many Canary Wharf serviced apartments are within easy reach of the financial district, making them a popular choice for employees who are relocating or visiting London.

Although many hotels are present in the area, the range of serviced apartments Canary Wharf offers provides business travellers with a comfortable and luxurious stay. Slightly further east than the City, Canary Wharf will be busy during the much anticipated London 2012 Olympics. The extensive transport links in the area make it easy to travel from Canary Wharf to Stratford, or elsewhere in London.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by bram_souffreau

3. Covent Garden

Covent Garden may not spring to mind as a business hub, but many business travellers choose to stay here – and network here – because of its great transport links and central location. Home to a number of law and financial firms, the area also attracts businesses who want to take advantage of the extensive shopping facilities, famous theatres and mouth-watering delis. Any business traveller staying here is also sure to find plenty to entertain themselves in the evenings and weekends.

Covent Garden always has a lively atmosphere. Local pubs include The Nag’s Head and The Roundhouse which host great live music. If you are looking for somewhere to eat, the Fire & Stone Bar is excellent and offers a range of very exotic pizzas!

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by David Baron

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Matt Riggott

1. Arthur’s Seat/ Holyrood Park

Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano, is one of the defining features of the Edinburgh skyline. It is in Holyrood Park which lies close to the city centre and is one of Europe’s largest urban green spaces, containing an array of hills, lochs, glens and ridges. Lying about a mile east of Edinburgh Castle, it’s the highest point in the city and provides panoramic views over the spectacular skyline. It’s a popular walking spot among tourists and locals. Don’t be put off by its height: it’s not too steep so it’s relatively easy to climb.

2. Gilmerton Cove

Hidden beneath the streets of south Edinburgh, Gillmerton Cove is a series of underground tunnels and chambers. Guided tours of the cove are popular; a guide will take a small group down for around forty-five minutes to one hour and will explain the history and myths surrounding the cove. Entrance is £5 per adult. The attraction is very popular so it’s advisable to book in advance.

3. Royal Botanical Garden

Located 1.5 miles north of Princes Street (one of Edinburgh’s main shopping streets) is the Royal Botanical Garden. The garden spans 31 hectares and is a family favourite, with plenty of benches dotted around for picnics. If you don’t fancy making your own sandwiches fear not, because the garden also features an on-site café and restaurant which provides food, and shelter for when the weather isn’t as good. Entrance to the site is free; there’s a charge to enter the specialist greenhouses but according to reviews, seeing them is worth the extra cost.

After a long day of outdoor activities why not consider staying in one of the serviced apartments Edinburgh has to offer?

Phil Hudson, PR & Marketing Support, SilverDoor International Serviced Apartments

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