Now it’s not like I travel round with a wheelbarrow of cash or entourage however, if I want to stay somewhere for a while or with quite a few other people, my options involving traditional are meagre and expensive.
Park the Limo Next to the Tent?
Other options are camping or caravanning but the divas in my crew just won’t have it. Especially in the city! I’ve found the answer and they take the form of apartments. The serviced variety offers a convenient and flexible alternative to hotels for business travellers, actors or families on extended visits throughout the UK. The industry originally developed in the US and has gradually established itself in Britain. During the 1990s and early part of this century a growth in the ‘apartment living’ trend saw the development of numerous quality apartment blocks around the country – and this has contributed in the growth and demand for short and medium term lets.
Accommodating Accommodation
The cost of accommodation for those working away from home has always been an issue. The traditional options in the UK included run down boarding houses, at worst, and hotels at best. With the growth in the serviced apartment sector the choice and quality of accommodation available has grown rapidly. For companies and organisations that regularly require staff to work for longer periods away from home, this type of accommodation can offer a significant saving. So what are the key advantages over the more traditional – pokey – room of one’s own?
Home From Home Advantages
- Cost has to be the first consideration. Hotel accommodation in the UK has, in most cases, kept pace with consumer demand for quality rooms and service. However the cost has also kept pace with this rise in standards. For those individuals or companies requiring medium or long term places to stay hotels can be the expensive option – more so in the case of the best, boutique quality premises. For medium or longer stays, apartments compare very favourably indeed.
- The hidden costs of hotel accommodation tend to mount up – especially over a period of time. Additional charges for internet use, for TV access and for meals, do not come cheap in many hotels. Parking may or may not be included, but for longer periods there may be charge. Apartments offer these services as a standard part of the package – with the exception of meals. Some do have restaurant facilities on the premises while many will have leisure facilities as part of the package. When it comes to meals with apartment rentals there is always the DIY option, which can be very cost effective indeed.
- Privacy, security and comfort are also part of the deal in this type of property. The space offered by an apartment rental when compared to a hotel room is excellent. While it may not be ‘home’ it’s at least a home from home – again compared to the cost of a room in a hotel you certainly get much more for your money. Having a place to call your own can make all the difference when working away from home for long periods. This is beneficial to not only individuals, but to their employers too. Stress can be a factor for people who have to work away from home and the privacy and security an apartment can offer makes a subtle but important difference.
Discounted Flexibility
Many serviced apartments will include a range of services including maid and laundry services. They are in some respects a hybrid between hotel and private rented accommodation – offering the best of both worlds. The flexibility of terms usually means that you can rent for just a couple of days or several months – and longer stays often attract excellent discounts.
Travel in style now, as you can afford to get that crew of yes-men/women and have your entourage follow you round – wherever that may be. (Without you tripping over them, while they sleep on the floor.)
Northampton apartments offer ideal accommodation for business travellers needing flexible, private, serviced accommodation. Offering the best that hotels have to offer and the best that private rented accommodation can provide they offer flexible solutions for long or short stays.


