How to Find Low-Cost Extended-Stay Hotels 2022 Latest Update
– Extended-Stay Hotels –
How to Find Low-Cost Extended-Stay Hotels: When you’re in between homes, traveling for long-term temporary jobs, or moving to a new place, it can be quite stressful.
Whatever the reason you are searching for extended stay accommodation, you have to weigh your accommodation options.
Daily hotel rates are high, so most people either prefer an extended hotel stay or a short-term rental arrangement. Extended stay hotels offer more versatility than renting an apartment, and at a price comparable to the rental locations.
Pros and Cons of Extended-Stay Hotels
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Pros
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Cons
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|---|---|
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No credit checks
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Small space
|
|
No leases
|
Limited kitchen
|
|
Low move-in costs
|
The Internet can be slow
|
|
Utilities are included
|
TV channel selections are limited
|
|
Amenities (fitness center, pool, etc.)
|
Decorating is also limited
|
|
Already furnished
|
May reflect badly on your credit
|
Things to Consider Before Staying at an Extended-Stay Hotel
There is somewhat of a trick to finding weekly housing. You will need to find an extended-stay hotel that is maintained well enough so that you will want to stay but affordable enough so that you actually can stay.
Just as almost anything else in life, the more money you pay, the more quality you’ll get.
1. Safety (neighborhood, security)
Do your research. Check to see if the area around the hotel is walkable—especially if you don’t have your own car and need to get groceries, go to work/school, etc. Also see how secure the hotel is.
Does it have a history of break-ins or other criminal activity? Cheap motels and hotels are often situated in sketchy areas, so although the cheap rate may be attractive, consider your safety the number one priority.
2. Cleanliness
Cheap hotels may not have the best hygiene and health standards. Problems like bed bugs, roaches, mold, and dirty furniture are not only off-putting, they can also lead to a number of health problems. Spend some time reading reviews from past tenants. If possible, go check out the place to see if it is tolerable.
3. Convenience (near restaurants, shopping, etc.)
Whatever your reason for staying at an extended-stay hotel, convenience is usually a big factor. You may want to look for a place that is closest to your work, grocery stores, or any other place that you plan on visiting frequently.
This is especially important if you don’t have access to a car. Being able to walk to the places you need to go can save you a lot of money on commute.
4. Amenities
Some contracts include free breakfast, housekeeping, free parking, and access to facilities like the fitness center and swimming pool. Consider whether any of these are a necessity—or something that you’re willing to spend a little extra on. Read the fine print thoroughly before booking a stay to avoid any surprise fees.
Extended Stay Hotel vs Apartment Rental
Your schedule may change when relocating or traveling for work. New homes may come available sooner than you thought. Work schedules may be extended by a couple of months. You need some flexibility in your extended stay accommodations.
If you’re renting an apartment, it can be difficult to get out of a lease or extend your stay without signing a new lease agreement. Extended stay hotels are more flexible: you can move in or out of the hotel suite as needed. Some guests leave at the end of their prepaid period. Others stay for over a year.
Extended stay hotels offer other advantages over short-term lease agreements, including:
- No credit checks or lease agreements required: simply submit your debit or credit card at check-in.
- No need to pay first and last month’s rent, a security deposit, or cleaning fees.
- Water, power, phone, electricity, sewer, cable television, and basic WiFi included.
- Walking distance to grocery stores and pharmacies.
- Free parking.
- Furnished suites with in-room kitchens, beds, sofa bed, flat-screen television, and desk or table with chairs.
- Housecleaning every two weeks.
- Towels, bathmats, hand towels, washcloths may be exchanged for new ones at the front counter.
- Linen can be changed by opting into the “linen exchange” program for a small fee.
- 24/7 professional customer service.
- Laundry rooms, vending machines, and other amenities.
5 Reasons You May Need an Extended-Stay Hotel?
1. You’re New to the Area
Being a long way from home, it can take a while before you really get to know the area. Which neighborhoods are the safest? Which areas are most convenient (e.g. for the commute to work, shopping, school, etc.)? Rather than rushing to any decisions, staying in a weekly hotel can give you time to plan out the best possible living situation for you.
2. You Only Need to Move Temporarily
You may be a business traveler who is temporarily relocating for work, or you’re just scoping out a new area to see if you like it.
Your stay may not be long enough to find an apartment to lease or a house to rent, and it may not be short enough to book a hotel. Extended-stay hotels offer a flexible and cost-effective solution for people who only need to move somewhere temporarily.
3. You Can’t Afford Expensive Moving Costs
Moving into an apartment can be expensive.
Even if you can find affordable housing, you still might have to find the funds to pay for the up-front costs, like a high-security deposit, the first month’s rent, and non-refundable application and administration fees—don’t you just love that whole “administration fee” nonsense that many apartment complexes charge?
4. You Have an Eviction on Your Credit History
Not having all of the cash upfronts is a hurdle in itself. But there can be an even bigger one: Many people do not know that it can be extremely difficult to get approved for an apartment if you have an eviction on your credit history.
Evictions stay on your credit history for seven years, and any time another apartment complex pulls your application, they will be able to see that negative mark.
Most complexes will flat out refuse to rent to you because, as far as they are concerned, you did not pay your rent to a previous landlord, so there is a high risk that you might do the same thing to them.
Even if you’ve learned your lesson after being evicted—and you swear you’ll never let it happen to you again—unfortunately, you now have bad credit. You’ll just have to roll with the punches.
Luckily, there are housing alternatives for people with an eviction on their credit, including looking for affordable extended-stay hotels and motels that charge weekly or monthly.
5. You Have a Criminal History
Another reason you may not be able to get an apartment is if you have a criminal background. Many apartment complexes will check your criminal history. If you have a negative mark against you, the complex might refuse to rent to you.
We all know that the justice system is supposed to rehabilitate those who have committed a crime, but most of us also know that the justice system’s rehabilitation process does not work that well.
You cannot really blame an apartment complex for refusing to rent to you if you have a criminal background, but you still need to be able to find safe and decent housing.
Things to Consider Before Staying at an Extended-Stay Hotel
There is somewhat of a trick to finding weekly housing. You will need to find an extended-stay hotel that is maintained well enough so that you will want to stay but affordable enough so that you actually can stay.
Just as almost anything else in life, the more money you pay, the more quality you’ll get.
1. Safety (neighborhood, security)
Do your research. Check to see if the area around the hotel is walkable—especially if you don’t have your own car and need to get groceries, go to work/school, etc. Also, see how secure the hotel is.
Does it have a history of break-ins or other criminal activity? Cheap motels and hotels are often situated in sketchy areas, so although the cheap rate may be attractive, consider your safety the number one priority.
2. Cleanliness
Cheap hotels may not have the best hygiene and health standards. Problems like bed bugs, roaches, mold, and dirty furniture are not only off-putting, they can also lead to a number of health problems. Spend some time reading reviews from past tenants. If possible, go check out the place to see if it is tolerable.
3. Convenience (near restaurants, shopping, etc.)
Whatever your reason for staying at an extended-stay hotel, convenience is usually a big factor. You may want to look for a place that is closest to your work, grocery stores, or any other place that you plan on visiting frequently.
This is especially important if you don’t have access to a car. Being able to walk to the places you need to go can save you a lot of money on commute.
4. Amenities
Some contracts include free breakfast, housekeeping, free parking, and access to facilities like the fitness center and swimming pool. Consider whether any of these are a necessity—or something that you’re willing to spend a little extra on. Read the fine print thoroughly before booking a stay to avoid any surprise fees.
Pros and Cons of Extended-Stay Motels Hotels
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
|---|---|
|
No credit checks
|
Small space
|
|
No leases
|
Limited kitchen
|
|
Low move-in costs
|
The Internet can be slow
|
|
Utilities are included
|
TV channel selections are limited
|
|
Amenities (fitness center, pool, etc.)
|
Decorating is also limited
|
|
Already furnished
|
May reflect badly on your credit
|
5 Reasons You May Need an Extended-Stay Hotel?
1. You’re New to the Area
Being a long way from home, it can take a while before you really get to know the area.
Which neighborhoods are the safest? Which areas are most convenient (e.g. for the commute to work, shopping, school, etc.)? Rather than rushing to any decisions, staying in a weekly hotel can give you time to plan out the best possible living situation for you.
2. You Only Need to Move Temporarily
You may be a business traveler who is temporarily relocating for work, or you’re just scoping out a new area to see if you like it.
Your stay may not be long enough to find an apartment to lease or a house to rent, and it may not be short enough to book a hotel. Extended-stay hotels offer a flexible and cost-effective solution for people who only need to move somewhere temporarily.
3. You Can’t Afford Expensive Moving Costs
Moving into an apartment can be expensive.
Even if you can find affordable housing, you still might have to find the funds to pay for the up-front costs, like a high-security deposit, the first month’s rent, and non-refundable application and administration fees—don’t you just love that whole “administration fee” nonsense that many apartment complexes charge?
4. You Have an Eviction on Your Credit History
Not having all of the cash upfronts is a hurdle in itself. But there can be an even bigger one: Many people do not know that it can be extremely difficult to get approved for an apartment if you have an eviction on your credit history.
Evictions stay on your credit history for seven years, and any time another apartment complex pulls your application, they will be able to see that negative mark.
Most complexes will flat out refuse to rent to you because, as far as they are concerned, you did not pay your rent to a previous landlord, so there is a high risk that you might do the same thing to them.
Even if you’ve learned your lesson after being evicted—and you swear you’ll never let it happen to you again—unfortunately, you now have bad credit. You’ll just have to roll with the punches.
Luckily, there are housing alternatives for people with an eviction on their credit, including looking for affordable extended-stay hotels and motels that charge weekly or monthly.
5. You Have a Criminal History
Another reason you may not be able to get an apartment is if you have a criminal background. Many apartment complexes will check your criminal history. If you have a negative mark against you, the complex might refuse to rent to you.
We all know that the justice system is supposed to rehabilitate those who have committed a crime, but most of us also know that the justice system’s rehabilitation process does not work that well.
You cannot really blame an apartment complex for refusing to rent to you if you have a criminal background, but you still need to be able to find safe and decent housing.
Finally, if you’ve checked out most of the options in this guide, and you still can’t find anything that suits your needs, perhaps it may just be time to relocate. Do yourself a favor and at least check out the link below to the top 20 cities in the U.S with the lowest rental rates.
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