Summer is here, which means it is vacation time. Zeroing in on your destination is what you do first when you plan a trip with family or friends. The other aspect is finding good accommodation that fits your budget; this is usually the biggest expenditure on a holiday.

For most, hotels are the de facto option. But if you are travelling in a group and you’re willing to put in a little effort, consider service apartments.

Cost advantages Service apartments are fully furnished and rented out for short-term stays. While they are usually targeted at working professionals who are on temporary stints, they can be good choices for your holiday too.

“Service apartments are a good option for large tourist groups as well as families coming for medical treatment for a few weeks,” says Madhu Singh of Perch Apartments in Gurgaon.

For one, in many cities, you can find service apartments in prime locations; they are about 30 per cent cheaper compared to hotels. Apartments also offer weekly rates that can be quite competitive. For instance, a decent single room service apartment in the NCR may be available for ₹15,000 a week. So, if you are with a large group and the apartment is spacious, splitting the rent can be cheaper than booking multiple hotel rooms. You have a choice of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments depending on your group size. The cost advantage is even better when you stay for a longer time. Second, since service apartments are fully equipped, they come with kitchens stocked with appliances too.

You thus get to save on your food bill, especially when you’re staying with a group. It is also helpful when you have small children or people with dietary restrictions. Likewise, you can save on laundry costs by using the washing machine provided. Of course, to save on costs, you do have to put in some effort; even then, all your needs may not be met when compared to staying in a hotel.

Service apartments have hotel-like amenities, such as fitness centres, WiFi, and security. They also offer limited concierge services. You may not, however, have all the comforts that hotels usually provide.

For instance, there may not always be a restaurant or bar attached. Likewise, a swimming pool is not something you are likely to find in most service apartments.

What to check The service apartment that you have identified must be conveniently located. If you’re depending on public transport, the apartment must be reasonably close to bus stops or stations. It must also be near entertainment venues, based on your needs. If you plan to cook, check if there are grocery shops nearby. Next, look into the amenities offered and their pricing. Checking up on power back-up facilities and air-conditioning quality is essential, says service apartment user Jaap Ruoff, who is in Gurgaon on a temporary assignment.

Raman Narula, MD of Formula Group, which provides service apartments, points out that facilities such as WiFi may not be available or you may be charged for it additionally.

He also suggests asking for room sizes as pictures posted online could be misleading. Third, read up customer reviews for service quality. A good starting point can be online travel booking portals such as Tripadvisor.com or sites such as Stayzilla, ClearTrip, Sulekha, which list alternative choices. These booking sites also help you get a list of service apartments in the locality you are interested in.

Fourth, note that advance payments and cancellation terms are likely to be more stringent than in hotels.

You are typically required to pay two-nights charges as advance either at the time of booking or two weeks ahead of your stay, says Raman Narula. Finally, since service apartment as a holiday stay concept is still picking up, there may be limited options in smaller towns. Things may be looking up, though.

“Listings in metro cities are popular but there is also traction in tier-II cities,” says Yogendra Vasupal, Founder, Stayzilla.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW