Having a serviced apartment for your short-term business stay is invaluable for many reasons. A serviced apartment is a fully furnished apartment with full amenities. This is important for the business traveler who wants to focus on work instead of dealing with the hassles of staying in a hotel room. The benefits of a serviced apartment are:
- Home-like atmosphere
- Complete comfort in the well-furnished space
- Full amenities (washer and dryer, dishwasher, internet, etc.)
Since a serviced apartment is completely self-contained, you are assured a more pleasant stay in Asia. In cities like Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore, where the culture shock of being in a completely foreign environment can be overwhelming, having Western luxuries can be surprisingly comforting.
The privacy and security of a serviced apartment will help you rest easier as well. With a fully equipped kitchen worries about where to eat around the city is reassuring to say the least. In a city like Bangkok, so full of chaos and traffic, not having to leave the confines of your room can seem like a blessing.
The level of service for each apartment varies from country to country. Many of the serviced apartments in Asia come equipped with:
- Doormen
- 24-hour reception
- Daily maid service
- 24-hour security
The facilities often times feature both swimming pools and fully equipped gyms. Every apartment is completely functional, and for the price you pay, the amount of service and amenities are nowhere near as confining as a hotel.
The concept of serviced apartment is really catching on. The fact is, with the option of a place to live such as this, a hotel stay seems almost illogical for those who appreciate service and comfort wherever they stay. It is a completely flexible and cost-effective way to stay in a city like Singapore, where the cost of living is higher than average.
For vacationers, staying in a furnished apartment is a welcome respite from the sterility and "used" feel of a hotel room or suite. Outside of the impersonal approach many hotels use when designing and fitting each room, fees for certain services and amenities are often times added to your bill. The option of living for weeks at a time in an apartment, as opposed to a hotel room, is palpable. Some of the drawbacks of staying at a hotel are::
- Extra fees for certain services
- Insufficient or no amenities
- A lack of hominess or personality
Whether your Asian vacation destination is Singapore, Hong Kong or Bangkok, you can live a managed life in your furnished apartment. The location is a centralized one, close to, or in, downtown. The close proximity to shops and restaurants makes a social life rewarding and enjoyable. Without the hindrance of travel to and from the hotel, you are able to relax in the city and thoroughly enjoy your surroundings.
Furnished apartments can be rented for whatever your length of stay is; short or long-term. Spending a few weeks in Singapore is made easier by avoiding the congestion of an Asian city from the comfort of your apartment.
Online serviced apartment sites have become the golden standard for men and women looking for a comfortable and affordable place to stay. Some sites work side-by-side with real estate agents in Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, to make the search easier.
The serviced apartment is an engaging concept for men and women who are visiting an Asian city for a short-term stay. The reason is simple: they want to live in a home instead of a room. For those who want comfort, style, value, and affordability, an apartment like this is suited just for you. They are far less confining than a traditional hotel room, plus they have the same services as hotels and then some. The amenities and style of the apartment are similar to things you would find in the average home.
- Dishwasher
- Washer and dryer
- Internet
When on a business trip that requires amenities best suited for the businessperson, corporate housing is the best option. Corporate housing is exactly what it sounds like: housing for corporate employees. Whether you're an executive or associate, the services available for corporate housing makes staying at a hotel seem downright ludicrous. This type of housing is ideal for:
- Extended business stays
- Essential travel for corporate training
- Maintaining a business presence in the region
- Maintaining contacts in foreign countries
Since personal relationships are so vital to Asian businesspeople, being able to make a home for one's self in corporate housing is the most cost-effective way to live in a foreign country. Places like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok, feature such an eclectic culture it can sometimes be a shock to the visitor. Being able to come home to the comforts of corporate housing serviced apartments is the single best alternative to staying at home altogether.
Some of the benefits of corporate housing are:
More comfortable than a hotel room
More space and amenities
Home-like feel
The reality is, when bringing friends or coworkers to your hotel room, you run the risk of your guest feeling like they're simply in a room. Hotel rooms are often white-washed, sterile walled cells. Sitting on the edge of a bed is far less appealing than sitting on a cushy sofa or recliner. Washing dishes in a fully functional kitchen is more enjoyable, and far more comfortable, than using the tiny countertop and small sink a hotel room furnishes—if they're available at all.
Certain websites that feature corporate housing are better than others. While some are vague, and list very few details about the apartment, some are quite extensive. Those that are, show:
- A full list of amenities
- Cost of your stay (however long or short)
- Bars, clubs, restaurants, and other social ports of call in the vicinity of the
There are very few drawbacks of living in a serviced apartment. With all they have to offer, a stay in a hotel is only cost-effective and worth your while if you are in town for less than a week. Why bother with the hassles of booking hotel rooms when fully furnished, completely functional apartments are waiting for you? Go to the various websites and see for yourself how good business travel can be.
Of the best websites that feature serviced apartments is Moveandstay.com. They feature a comprehensive listing of almost every listed and available serviced apartment in just about every major world city.