Choosing the best accommodation is a must when you’re traveling to a new city. Be it New York City, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, or cities like Amsterdam or Paris in Europe, finding proper accommodation is often a challenge for travelers. You may find it difficult with the multiple options available at varying rates. Let us look at some helpful tips to choose the best accommodation when you’re in any global city.
Selecting Accommodation in Major Cities- Key Tips
Here are some tips that will help you choose the best accommodation in major cities:
- Type of Property: Major cities have several options in terms of accommodation, such as hotels (entry, mid-range, and premium/luxury), traditional and unfurnished rentals, hostels, and serviced apartments.
- Space, Comfort, and Configurations: If you want furnished accommodation with home-like space and comfort, hotel-style services, and diverse configurations, choose serviced apartments. They give you more value than hotels in terms of the space and layouts, while you don’t have to book multiple hotel rooms for bigger groups.
- Flexibility & Convenience: Hotels and hostels will not give you flexible leases for long or short-term rentals. This is only possible with serviced apartments, while you can cook meals in kitchens, invite people over, and lounge about more like a home with higher privacy. This is not possible at hotels or other conventional accommodation units.
- Compare Rentals Carefully: Remember that vacation rent should be compared across property types. Hotels are usually costlier than serviced apartments, with the latter offering competitive rates, particularly for extended stays. The rates are mostly all-inclusive, covering Wi-Fi, utilities, and services.
- Self-Catering: For longer stays, you may need to choose apartments that have kitchens with appliances and all necessary cooking equipment. Cooking meals in kitchens also helps you save money on dining out regularly.
- Amenities & Services: You’ll find that apartments come with features like Wi-Fi, workspaces, flat-screen televisions, luxurious furnishings, concierge/reception services, laundry, and housekeeping. Many offer access to on-site amenities like gyms, pools, and meeting rooms. Hotels offer many of these services/amenities although they are costly add-ons in this case, while they are often included in serviced apartments.
- Location: Always choose a location that helps you commute quickly to your office or major tourist landmarks. Staying near public transit points like metro/subway stations is vital. Look for supermarkets, restaurants/take-aways, pharmacies, and other vital amenities in the neighborhood.
- Budget: Work out the budget (per night, week, or month) early. For expensive cities like Los Angeles or New York City, consider localities just outside the city center but near transit points.
- Ratings & Reviews: Always check guest ratings and reviews to ensure quality and safety. Opt for reputed providers with verified listings for you to choose from.
If you’re in New York City, focus more on Manhattan if your budget allows and for quick access to major landmarks. Brooklyn is good for authentic experiences and seamless subway access. LA is where you should stay in a place that syncs with your key activities, i.e. Hollywood for sightseeing or Santa Monica for a beach-oriented lifestyle.
Chicago has areas like the Magnificent Mile, River North, or the Loop for walkability and convenience. In Europe, rooms are often smaller than in North America, while elevators, if present, may be smaller. Keep these points in mind before booking your stay.
Why Serviced Apartments are the Best Choice in Every Global City
Your need for furnished accommodation in every global city is best served by serviced apartments. Here’s why:
- Standardized accommodation for you with plenty of space and higher privacy.
- More flexibility for you with short/long-term leases, home-like lifestyles, and local immersion.
- All-inclusive rates covering utilities and services (more competitive than hotels for extended stays) to give you higher savings.
- Self-catering and kitchens where you can cook meals with appliances and other essentials.
- Great amenities and services that you can enjoy, ranging from housekeeping and laundry to Wi-Fi and workspaces.
- Prime locations near tourist landmarks and business hubs, along with public transportation facilities for your convenience.
- On-site amenities in many buildings like gym and pool access that you may use.
You can work, explore, and relax in peace at your apartment anywhere. In NYC and Toronto, they help you navigate the costly and high-density environments, while they offer much-needed space in LA, often with access to landmarks and parking.
In Chicago, they are great for long-term business or leisure stays in the city centers, while they offer access to historic residential zones in Europe. Families, relocators, leisure travelers, corporates, and digital nomads- you name it and there’s an apartment to meet every need.
Best Neighborhoods for Serviced Apartments in Top Global Cities
Which are some of the top neighborhoods where you will find the best furnished apartments in leading global cities? Let’s find out more on this below.
- Paris: Le Marais (central and hip locality) is a good choice for you along with the Latin Quarter (historical zone), and Montparnasse (artistic business hub). They offer historic buildings that have been transformed into contemporary apartments.
- Amsterdam: You can consider Jordaan (quaint canal-side locality) and De Pijp (vibrant cultural zone), along with the City Center for walkability and lovely canal views.
- New York City: Some options for you include the Financial District (contemporary luxury), Upper West Side (quiet and residential zone), and Midtown (fuses culture and business).
- Chicago: The West Loop (top hub for foodies) is an option along with River North (lifestyle amenities and galleries) and the Loop (corporate zone). These are options that you can consider here.
- Toronto: You can consider the Entertainment District (central location) or Yorkville (high-end area), along with King West (tech and culinary hub).
- Los Angeles: Downtown LA and West Hollywood stand out for their urban lifestyle and central location respectively. Santa Monica (beachside living) is another option worth considering in LA. It all depends on the lifestyle that you prefer.
On that note, here’s to staying comfortably and conveniently in every leading global city with spacious and well-equipped serviced apartments.
