In today’s society, traveling has become a convenience that many of us are regularly taking advantage of. In fact, it is estimated that Americans collectively took almost two billion overnight trips in 2018.   Many of those trips were likely diverse in nature, including travel for business and leisure. Most, if not all, of those travelers probably required some form of temporary housing. Because more Americans are traveling than ever before, the temporary living industry is seeing a spike in demand.

When your domestic travels require an extended stay, temporary living accommodations are a must.  Whether you are traveling across the country or in state for business or vacation, there is generally no shortage of options when it comes to choosing a place to stay that meets your specific needs and budget.

Common Reasons For Temporary Living Arrangements

Temporary living can refer to a number of different situations, although most pertain to business or leisure.

Business travel may include anything from a short business trip to a sister office to an out of state convention to a transfer-related house hunting trip.  Leisure travel is generally limited to quick getaways or extended vacations.

Regardless of the reason, an overnight stay on the road usually requires temporary living accommodations that will allow you to rest easy at night so you are more than prepared for the next day’s work or activities.

Temporary Living Options

When it comes to temporary living options, the most common choices are corporate apartments, hotels and rental homes. While each is a valid possibility, they are not necessarily created equal. It is best to research each thoroughly to find the best temporary housing option that specifically meets your needs.

A traditional form of temporary housing over the years has been hotels. Living quarters in a hotel are typically furnished with the bare basics of a place to sleep and a bathroom, which are all typically located in one large room. Most hotels will offer amenities such as housekeeping and access to a pool or workout room. However, depending on the length of your stay, hotels can be expensive for a stay lasting more than a few days. Another thing to consider is the number of people or large groups (such as amateur sports teams) that may also be utilizing the same shared spaces such as the lobby or hallways.  It is best to request a room that is not located near the elevator or stairs to cut down on unwelcome noise.

Rental homes are another temporary housing option. Many of these rentals can be arranged online and include the comforts of home including privacy and quiet. However, renting one of these properties can be expensive and is usually not very flexible in renting terms should you need to extend your trip.  Rental homes also typically come with a long list of do’s and don’ts that may turn out to be more responsibility than what you are looking for. Be sure to read the fine print on any contracts before signing them.

Up and coming business and leisure travelers are increasingly using corporate apartments for their temporary living needs. These apartments are usually managed by a corporate housing service. These companies can be more cost effective for long term stays and may offer more flexible leasing terms than the previously mentioned options. In addition, corporate apartments provide residents with more privacy than a hotel and yet still offer many of the same amenities including housekeeping and pool and gym access. A bonus to staying at a corporate apartment is the full kitchen and in-unit laundry room.

Things to Consider in Temporary Living Accommodations

While amenities provided will differ from one place to another, there are some amenities every traveler should compare before making a reservation, including:

• Furnishings: What kind of furnishings will your temporary living choice provide? This can generally range from the basics of a bed and nightstand in a one room space all the way to several tastefully decorated rooms that provide all the comforts of home.
• Basic Amenities: Even when on the road, most of us have become accustomed to basic amenities such as television, speedy internet access, and fresh towels and linens. If your trip requires you to be gone for anything more than a day or two, it will be best to look for temporary living that offers all these options and more, such as pool and workout room access.
• Privacy: This can be an extremely important consideration if traveling for business as you will likely want to stay at a place where quiet hours are the norm rather than the exception.
• Flexible lease terms: Whether it is a business deal that requires an extra few days of negotiations or a vacation that has been extended, choosing a temporary living option that offers flexible lease terms is important.
• Around the clock service: While hotels and corporate apartments typically provide around the clock service, rental homes usually do not. Be sure the type of temporary living you choose will sufficiently meet your needs for the duration of your stay.
• Housekeeping services: In most temporary living options housekeeping services are somewhat standard but may vary in frequency.
• Full kitchen: Having a kitchen is one of the perks of staying in a corporate apartment. This feature is particularly helpful to those who have special dietary restrictions or simply prefer not to eat all their meals out for the duration of their trip.
• Washer and dryer: Particularly for longer trips, having a washer and dryer inside the unit makes life easier and more comfortable.

Using a Service to Find Temporary Living Accommodations

Depending on which temporary living option you choose, a corporate lodging service may be able to help facilitate your lodging reservations.

If selecting a hotel or rental home for a trip, travelers will likely need to rely on the services of a travel agent or spend time surfing the web for the best lodging rates. However, guests utilizing a corporate apartment are usually treated to a first-class reservation experience facilitated by a corporate housing specialist.

In addition to making reservations easy, working with the same corporate housing company time after time can yield some additional benefits. One of the best perks of working with the same housing specialist is that the client can come to expect the same excellence in customer service and standards of living regardless of their destination. In addition, some corporate housing companies may also offer a rewards program where travelers that use their company frequently can get a bonus or reward of some sort.

Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, the temporary living accommodations you choose should feel like home and provide the amenities you need, at your fingertips.