Yearly Archives: 2023

Finding a place to stay when you’re away from home may be an exciting and stressful experience. On the one hand, there’s the concept of staying somewhere new and taking a break, whether for work or pleasure; on the other, there’s the stress of finding somewhere good that’s also affordable.

While hotels have been the standard option for decades, they may be costly. Fortunately, there are lots of accommodation options for everyone, from families to lone business travelers. Here are four hotel selections for both long and short visits.

1. Serviced Apartments

(Longonot Place Serviced Apartments, Nairobi)

If true luxury and quality service is desired, look no further than the serviced apartment. A mid-to long-term alternative accommodation to hotels, serviced apartments provide five-star hotel-like service and amenities for both single travelers and groups, alike.

While serviced apartments come in at the high end of the budget spectrum, the comfort, security and relaxed luxury are second to none. Sometimes called aparthotels, as a portmanteau between an apartment and a hotel, serviced apartments are expansive, private spaces that provide a true home-from-home for your stay.

With multiple rooms, including a fully fitted kitchen and a separate living area, a serviced apartment is particularly suitable when the stay is extended beyond a few days. Living in a hotel beyond a few nights can be somewhat oppressive for many.

Despite the comfort of a hotel room itself, the smaller space and lack of a kitchen can make travelers yearn for their own homes. By contrast, a serviced apartment provides a larger area that can easily accommodate guests, allow for personal meal preparation, and deliver the kind of relaxed comfort that soothes the mind.

Like a hotel, serviced apartments are focused on their individual guests’ needs. Many have concierge and security services for convenience and safety and all will have modern amenities, and be cleaned regularly to a high standard with regular housekeeping services.

Good for:

• Business travelers looking for longer-term accommodation

• Guests looking for a luxury experience

• Families visiting a city for a quality time

Looking to Stay in A Serviced Apartment? View Our Luxury Apartments

2. Vacation Rentals

With the rise of Airbnb, vacation rentals offer a huge range of options for travelers. Vacation rentals function by individual landlords offering their property for short-term rental via one of the service sites.
As an alternative to a hotel, vacation rentals can provide a good budget alternative both in cities and across the country, however, there are no guarantees of quality, and care must be taken to fully research and read reviews.

The individual and unique nature of each vacation rental also means that care must be taken to ensure the booking is satisfactory. Parking, WIFI, supplied bedding, nearby facilities, and other factors should be checked before finalizing.

Good for:
• A huge range of options and locations
• Budget to suit
• Confident travelers

3. Bed and Breakfasts

Also called guesthouses, bed and breakfasts are family-run businesses where a larger home has been converted to provide private bedrooms as a hotel alternative. Typically, with fewer than ten bedrooms on offer, B&Bs are small and cozy but tend to offer little in terms of luxury.

Modern bed and breakfasts may provide en-suite facilities, but older ones typically have shared bathrooms. As the name suggests, breakfast is included, with full English available (as well as uncooked fare like cereal and yogurts) in the breakfast room each morning.

Though a budget option compared to higher quality hotels, B&Bs tend to be priced on a comparative level to chain hotels, such as Travelodge or Premier Inn. Their locations tend to be quite good, with city guesthouses readily available.

Due to their smaller family-business ethos, B&Bs are typically quite flexible and offer both short- and long-term stays.

Good for:
• Business travelers on a budget
• Short stays in desirable locations
• Weekend getaways

4. Hostels

Another budget option, hostels provide a reasonably priced, no-frills bed for the night in a range of locations, including city centers. London has a wide range of hostels that offer good, cheap alternatives to hotels.

Although some hostels do have private bedrooms and even en-suite bathrooms, the budget option is typically with dorm-style rooms where guests share space with others. While great for young adults traveling with a desire to meet others, hostels are typically unglamorous and lack privacy.

Good for:
• Young adults traveling on a budget
• People who wish to meet others and socialize
• Inexpensive short-city stays

What Can You Do if You Don’t Have a Hotel?

One thing a hotel offers that is typically superior to most of the alternatives is its walk-in nature. If you find yourself unexpectedly in a city overnight with no plans, then hotels do provide a safe room for the night at no notice. Alternatives, though they may be kinder on the budget or a better long-term option, do typically require booking in advance.

Look to bed and breakfasts as one of the hotel alternatives that are equally willing to accommodate no-notice guests. Similarly, hostels can be good for backpackers or other solo travelers. If you do have some time, check sites such as Airbnb to see if there are any short-term options nearby that can be booked for that night.

But, when all else fails, short notice means you may find yourself in a hotel after all!

Choosing the Best Hotel Alternative

Location, budget, and size. These three factors affect accommodation bookings more than anything else. Take the time to research the options that suit those three requirements and you will find a hotel alternative to suit. Perhaps this list has provided some extra inspiration for a unique holiday idea for the future, we certainly hope so.

Here at Longonot Place, we offer the finest quality Nairobi serviced apartments – perfect for an enjoyable luxury stay in the capital. Contact us today for more information.

The question of staying in serviced apartments vs. hotels is one many travelers now face. Although there are many similarities between the two accommodation options, there are some fundamental differences too. Hotels usually offer guests no more than a bed and a bathroom, with all chores and household jobs done for you by the hotel staff. Serviced apartments, on the other hand, give guests the option to be more self-sufficient when it comes to meal preparation and laundry for example.

(Penthouse suite at Longonot Place)

A serviced apartment is an accommodation option that offers guests a fully furnished studio, two or three-bedroomed flat, or apartment. Some apartments require guests to bring their linen and towels, however, it’s more common for serviced apartment owners or managers to provide these for you. Serviced apartments offer guests a lot more autonomy than a hotel, with facilities in place to live self-sufficiently for however long you’re planning on staying.

The differences between a serviced apartment and a hotel

The key difference between a serviced apartment and a hotel is the level of service you can expect during your stay vs. how much of the cooking, cleaning, and washing you’re expected to do yourself. Serviced apartments have more facilities in the room than a hotel does. The following aspects are what differentiate hotels and serviced apartments from one another.

The kitchen

(Woman cooking vegetables in pan, freepik.com)

In a hotel, there are small kitchenettes that usually contain no more than a kettle and tea and coffee-making facilities. In some hotels, guests can also take advantage of a minibar, the contents of which will be charged to a final hotel bill if used or consumed. This is the full extent of the kitchen facilities in hotel rooms. A serviced apartment, however, offers guests a fully equipped kitchen with facilities in which they can prepare their own meals should they wish. For this reason, serviced apartments are often more appealing for anyone needing to stay in certain areas for periods longer than a week and up to a few months at a time. A fully equipped kitchen in a serviced apartment means travellers will save money as they will not have to spend money on eating out or ordering from a hotel restaurant or bar.

The living spaces

(Couple watching film on television and eating takeaway meal from delivery, Freepik.com)

Hotels usually do not provide guests with much more than sleeping facilities, and it’s rare that a hotel room will contain sofas and armchairs to create a suitable living space – unless it’s a particularly luxurious establishment. In comparison, a serviced apartment will have appropriate living space available to the guests. These accommodation options are as fully furnished as any apartment would be, therefore guests can expect to be able to enjoy a living area separate from their beds.

The furniture

(Standard two-bedroom apartment at Longonot Place)

When staying in a hotel, you will only have access to a bed and possibly another chair, a writing dress, or a dressing table. Furnishings in hotel rooms are often fairly limited, with the purpose of the room being somewhere you can keep your possessions and rest for the night. In a furnished apartment, however, the space will contain a lot more furniture, much like any apartment would. The living space will probably have sofas and armchairs, and the kitchen may also have an area in which guests can dine. As mentioned, some serviced apartments may expect guests to bring their own linen and towels, however, it’s more common for these to be provided, much like a hotel.

The amenities

(A fully equipped gym at Longonot Place)
When staying in a hotel, you can expect to enjoy amenities such as a bar, a pool, and often a restaurant. Depending on the type of hotel there may be other amenities including a gym, various activity options, and possibly resort-like facilities. Spas, airport transfer options, and package deals are often more associated with hotels than they are with serviced apartments.
For some serviced apartment blocks, the amenities can be the same but not as centred around the guests’ experiences. Some apartments will have pools, gyms, and laundry facilities in the block, all available for communal use. However, serviced apartments are much more geared toward providing guests with the option to be self-sustaining.

The stay itself

(A standard one-bedroom apartment at Longonot Place)

Hotel stays are much more geared toward those who do not plan on spending a lot of time at their accommodation and who do not want to worry about everyday living chores. Hotels can often be a more relaxed stay in comparison to serviced apartments. When you stay in a serviced apartment, the space is more inviting to spend more time in which is why they are becoming more and more popular for business trips and those wanting to explore new places on a budget. You’re able to experience living in a new place even if you opt for a short-term rental.

The cost

(A fully equipped kitchen at Longonot Place)
When you take the overall cost of feeding yourself and making sure the essentials get done. A serviced apartment is definitely the cheaper option, especially if you plan on staying in a place for a few weeks or even a few months. Serviced apartments allow you to cook for yourself and do your own laundry, saving money in the long run. Renting a serviced apartment tends to become cheaper the longer you plan on staying.
For short stays, some hotels offer all-inclusive deals that can work out cheaper and are ideal for short breaks away from work. However, as a general rule, hotel stays are more expensive as guests have to pay extra for dining out and to take advantage of other facilities like laundry and spa use.

How do you choose between a serviced apartment and a hotel?

(Black woman relaxing at home, Freepik.com)
If you’re after a complete break from everything and don’t want to worry too much about household chores, you may want to consider staying in a hotel vs. a serviced apartment. In a hotel, everything is done for you including your laundry. The hotel staff will make your bed and your linen and towels will be changed often. Seeing as though there are no facilities to cook, a hotel stay means you can enjoy eating out.
However, if you want to explore somewhere new with someone, or require a place to stay for a slightly extended period, a serviced apartment is a better option as it gives you the option to prepare your own meals and ensures you save money on additional services. Serviced apartments are also better for work trips, as they have more appropriate facilities to set up a home office than a hotel would.