There are many different types of business trips – from ones that last just a day or two to those that can range up to several months or even years. Although undoubtedly fun, traveling for business can sometimes be quite a challenge. Not only will you have to make it to all the appointments and make various preparations well in advance but you’ll also need to find a place to stay at while away from home.
No matter if you personally will be the one choosing your accommodation or your employer is the one who takes care of that, you should certainly look into more options aside from hotels and motels. Recently, furnished and serviced apartments seem to be the most popular choices. Here are a few reasons why they’ve become so popular as well as some tips on how to choose them properly.
Decide on the area
When looking for a place to stay during your business travels, you should first get familiar with the place you’re going to. Try to learn as much as you can about the local culture, food, and customs. All of this will help you determine where to look for accommodation. Decide whether you’d like to be as close as possible to your new workplace or you won’t mind commuting to your work each day. Then you can check out Bwalk.com to see what properties are available in that particular area. Both of these have their own set of benefits, so make sure you take all of them into account.
Find something that fits your budget
Furthermore, don’t forget to keep your budget in mind when looking for a place to stay. Motels and hostels generally tend to be cheaper than hotels, but none of them offer the same benefits as serviced apartments do. For instance, these are quite cheaper options than luxury business hotels and they offer you the chance to make yourself truly feel at home. Since business trips can get somewhat overwhelming sometimes, being able to come back to a place that feels like a home away from home can be quite comforting.
Look for all-inclusive rents
Furthermore, pay attention to what is being offered to you. While some places may look super affordable at a first glance, you may want to pay closer attention to other things stated in the offer. For instance, if a place doesn’t offer all-inclusive rents, you’ll have to account for those expenses as well, outside of the monthly rent. On the other hand, there are accommodations, such as serviced apartments for rent in Hong Kong, that offer all-inclusive monthly rents which includes all of the utilities, housekeeping, linen change and other additional benefits.
Leave room for flexibility
Another benefit of choosing serviced or furnished apartments over other types of accommodation is the fact that they offer a greater dose of flexibility. As such, they present a living environment you can almost fully customize to your needs. They also offer you the ability to choose when and where you want to eat, how much time you’ll spend inside – or outside, as well as how often you want to have company. For people whose business trips expand to over a few weeks or even months, these present the possibility to lead a lifestyle similar to the one they’ve had back home.
Proximity to other amenities
The proximity of your accommodation to other amenities that might interest you is also super important. If you’re someone who likes to stay fit, you should look for accommodations that either include or are close to the gym. Also, check out the supermarkets and marketplaces in your area and see if you’re happy with the offer. Proximity to other things like a doctor’s office or a dentist is also very important. If you’re interested in learning more about the culture and the people you’re surrounded by, you may also be interested in an accommodation that’s close to museums and theatres.
Don’t compromise
Finally, while it is true that you won’t have too many options to choose from, you still want to ensure that you don’t compromise too much. As mentioned earlier, being on a prolonged business trip away from home can be quite overwhelming. So, if you make too many compromises you’re not too happy about, you may end up feeling dissatisfied and stressed all the time. Such feelings will only negatively affect both your overall well-being and your performance. Therefore, while it is true that you won’t be able to have everything work out perfectly, you still need to ensure that you make the best of the situation.
Choosing the best possible business accommodation that will cater to all of your needs is not super easy. However, if you take all of the aforementioned tips into account, you’ll have a much easier time making a decision you’ll end up being happy with. So, don’t rush to choose any accommodation available but really try to research your options well.