Extended Stay Hotels for Business Travel and Pleasure

If you travel a lot for business purposes, you know how cramped a regular hotel room can feel after just a couple of days. You’re often stuck in meetings all day, and then at the end of the business day, you return to your small hotel room with nothing more than a bed and a bathroom. It’s enough to make even the most jaded business traveler suffer from claustrophobia! So what’s the solution? An extended stay hotel!

What’s an extended stay hotel?

An extended stay hotel is one that’s specially designed for guests who plan a stay of at least several days. In some situations, your business might require a stay of weeks in an out-of-town city, and extended stay hotels keep this in mind. Most of the extended stay hotels and extended stay motels provide accommodations and amenities that will make a long stay comfortable, convenient, and reasonably priced. The savings on daily rates can add up to a quite a large sum!

Most of the extended stay hotels and extended stay motels are no-frills lodging. It’s not a place you’d probably want to go to for an indulgent romantic getaway, but it does provide you with an appropriate place to stay for business travel. Many of these extended stay hotels would also be appropriate for a vacation, even if you’re bringing the whole family.

Amenities at extended stay hotels and extended stay motels – extended stay suites

Of course, each extended stay hotel or extended stay motel is different, but most of the rooms are in the form of suites. Extended stay suites generally include a bedroom, a sitting area with a sofa, a small kitchen, and a bathroom. Guests often have a choice of a king suite, a queen suite, or a suite with two double beds. Some of the extended stay suites also have a sofa that makes into a double or queen bed. This can provide room for the kids.

Kitchens in the extended stay suites often have a refrigerator, a stove, a coffee maker, and a microwave oven. Some might also have a standard oven and a toaster. They also usually include cookware, utensils, plates, cups, and glasses. After a long workday, going out to eat might be the last thing you want to do! With an extended stay suite, you can return to your home away from home at the end of the day, undress, and pop something in the microwave or make a big salad for dinner. Eating in could also save you a bundle.

Extended stay hotels and extended stay motels usually have a work area, too, with a desk, a computer dataport, wireless internet access, copy service, and fax service – everything you’ll need to work from your room or extended stay suite.

Most of these hotels don’t have daily maid service, which can actually be a blessing. No one will be knocking on your door to disturb you. Thorough cleaning is usually conducted once a week at extended stay hotels and extended stay motels.

Many extended stay hotels and extended stay motels also have an onsite coin-operated laundry, a swimming pool, and a fitness center. This will give you an opportunity to unwind after a hectic work day.

Cheap extended stay hotels

One of the best things about extended stay hotels is the price. Many cheap extended stay hotels have a nightly rate of less than $60. In fact, some cheap extended stay hotels and extended stay motels offer lodging at less than $40 a night! Think of the money you or your business could save, especially when you consider the savings over the period of several days or weeks.

For some extended stay hotels, the weekend rates are significantly lower than the already-low weekday rates.

Best cheap extended stay hotels

Cheap extended stay hotels can be found all over the United States. Some of the best and most popular cheap extended stay hotels include chains like Homestead Extended Stay Suites, La Quinta Inn and Suites, Extended Stay America Hotels, Extended Stay Deluxe Hotel, Crossland Economy Studios, and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel.

Tips for staying at extended stay hotels

As I’ve already mentioned, every extended stay hotel is a little different, but these tips apply to most extended stay hotels in America:

1. Get to know the front desk employees. They can make your stay a lot happier.
2. Learn the front desk hours! Some extended stay hotels don’t man the front desk after 10 or 11 at night. When that’s the case, you’ll have to deal with a security guard who might not be able to provide much help.
3. If you run out of soap, shampoo, coffee packets, or anything else that’s provided, ask for refills at the front desk.
4. Exchange soiled towels at the front desk for clean ones.
5. If your extended stay hotel is located near an airport, bring along some white noise to muffle the sound of planes. This might include a noisy fan or a rain machine. This might not be a problem – even some extended stay hotels that are near an airport have almost soundproof rooms.
6. Stock your kitchen on the day of your arrival so that everything you need will be there before you begin your first full work day.
7. Since many extended stay hotels offer very low weekend rates, you might want to arrive on the weekend if your work begins on a Monday. This will give you a chance to settle in, shop, and maybe see a few sites in the area.

Best deals on cheap extended stay hotels

To find the best deals on cheap extended stay hotels, search online. After finding the best deal on a travel site, compare it to the hotel’s rates on its own site. Some, like Homestead, offer a low price guarantee. If you find a cheaper rate online, not only will they honor it, they’ll also give you a 10% discount!

Also, be sure to ask about other discounts, like senior and AAA discounts.