Are extended stay motels a good option for temporary living? (Hint: YES!) (2023)

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Everything you want to know about extended stay hotels and extended stay motels...

There are times when using a hotel for periods longer than a week makes sense.

I've done -I stayed in a budget extended stay hotel for 3 months!

a longer oneA hotel stay of 1 month or more (up to 1 year) may be required for the following reasons:

• A change in your employment
• a big move
• The death or divorce of a family member.
• an extended vacation

Whatever the reason you need furnished accommodation for a month or more, cheap extended stay hotels and motels can definitely be an affordable solution to your temporary housing needs.

The big question becomes:Are extended stay motels a practical option?

An "Extended Stay" generally applies to stays of 5 or 7 nights or more, depending on the hotel. Discounts for longer stays usually come in the form of weekly rates and monthly rates that are further discounted. The term "extended stay" may refer to any extended stay of up to one year. Those booking longer stays are typically traveling on business (e.g. consultants) or need temporary accommodation for a move or while renovating their home.

~Fuente

What is an extended stay hotel compared to an extended stay motel?

Extended stay hotels and motels are like "regular" hotels, but they mainly attract people who want to stay longer than a few nights.

They are similar to apartment complexes, only on a smaller scale.

• Extended stay Americais one of the most popular long-stay hotel chains.
• Motel 6(also Studio 6, same company, more amenities) is a popular extended stay motel chain.

It's worth noting that many "regular" hotels and motels also offer discounted rates for longer stays.

METROHotels tend to be cheaper than hotels for the following reasons:

• Few to no amenities (laundries, pool, on-site restaurant, room service, gym, etc.)
• Smaller rooms with doors leading directly to the outside car park
• Often found on busy roads

Here is a list of extended stay hotel amenities, services and policies, room types and amenities by extended stay hotel chain.

This is how extended stay hotels and motels work

Whether or not a hotel can accommodate long-term guests is determined by theLicense Requirementsset up by your local building authority.Each city or municipality has the right to set its own rulesto this topic.

Often, as in my home town of Duluth, Minnesota, special circumstances arise that are a response to a local problem.

For example,snowbirds(People who migrate between the northern states in the summer months and the southern states in the winter) are very popular in this area. Many people live here in RVs year-round, while others simply head north during the hotter months.

In the middle of summer, the local dormitories are empty because of the summer holidays. Since these empty rooms are a financial burden when vacant, the solution was to rent them out to the Snowbirds for the summer months. It's a win for everyone!

Another example:Construction worker.They typically travel from job to job within a specific region, often staying there for months. Signing a year-long lease is impractical, and staying in a hotel for weeks becomes quite expensive. Long-stay hotels are becoming the perfect option!

The same applies toAdvisor,contractor, janyone else who needs temporary housing. For example, because of your current credit rating, you do not want to sign a one-year lease for an apartment.

My experience living in a motel

my own experiencelive in extended stay motelsIt included a 3 month window between selling an existing home and waiting for the construction of our new home to be completed.

We were able to stay close to our neighborhoods and schools which meant there was little disruption to our routine while most of our household items were packed up and kept in one storage unit.

How much does it cost to stay in a hotel?

"How much do extended stay hotels cost per month?"is the next most logical question. For example, you may be wondering"Are extended stay hotels cheaper than apartments?"

I personally found these monthly hotel rentalsaverage around $800 a month and up- butIt depends on which hotel you choose and where it is located.:

• Hotels with cheaper weekly rates range from $90 to $125 per week, but they aren't always in the safest areas and don't include services.
• The most expensive hotels with weekly rates range from $325 to $450 per week and include many amenities.

Here's a good list of extended-stay hotels that rent by the month and their prices (3,180 hotels in 649 US market areas).

Does Motel 6 have an extended stay? - Yes, Motel 6 and Studio 6 (same company, with more amenities) have weekly and monthly rates.

Do extended stay hotels have kitchens?

Yes, even most cheap extended-stay motels have kitchenettes. is in the rooms.

Having a kitchenette gives you the ability to cook and store food supplies, taking the cost of dining out of your budget.

Here are someExamples of kitchenettes in extended stay hotels:

Believe it or not, staying in an older motel with a kitchenette can beonly slightly more expensive on a monthly basisthan you would pay to rent a local apartment on a one-year lease.

To answer the underlying question, "Can you stay in a motel?" The answer is YES, you definitely can, becausebasically you have everything you need in your fully furnished room:

• Bed, pillow and linen: for sleeping
• Television: for entertainment
• Refrigerators and cupboards: for storing food
• Stove, microwave and kitchen utensils: for cooking
• Dishwasher and/or sink - for washing dishes
• Plates, glasses and utensils: for eating, drinking, preparing food
• Full bathroom: go to the bathroom, shower, clean
• Lamps, curtains and door locks: for lighting and security
• Additional furniture (varies): desk, chair, sofa

As you can see in the videos below, long-term stay hotels can be cheapquite comfortable and practical for a few months:

Benefits of paying a monthly rent in an affordable extended stay hotel

When you're on a budget, it's important to know what you're paying for and what's included for FREE. As I see it, they areThe advantages of living in a motel:

• CameraLinen is usually changed once a week– but you can forget about the maid who makes your bed every morning.
• Is verylike living in a fully furnished small apartment.
• The essentials are provided:including dishes, silverware, cookware, toilet paper, local calls and other incidentals(Cable, electricity, water, heating/air conditioning, garbage, laundry).
• Some extended stay hotels offer aFREIcontinental breakfast each morning and FREE coffeeAll day.
• CorrespondingHotel Amenities,You could also use things like the gym and poolfrei.

Compared to renting an apartment,Living in a motel also has these advantages:

• no credit check
• no lease
• No utility bills
• Low moving costs

The only downside I see to living in a hotel is that it isis not a good environment for children or if you love peace and quiet– because the walls are relatively thin and the doors are likely to slam at any time of the day or night.

How long can you stay in an extended stay hotel?

Most people stay for a few weeks or a few months, but usually you can stayup to 1 yearIf you want.

Extended stay hotels have set daily rates, weekly rates and monthly rates if you are planning to stay longer than 30 nights.

Can you receive mail at an extended stay hotel?

If you have2 options:

1. Offers from the United States Postal Servicemail forwardingfree. You forward your mail everywhere, piece by piece!You can receive your mail this way for 15 days up to 1 year.
2. Or you can register with the USPSPremium Residential Forwarding Servicefor $22 per week. In this case your mail will be packed at your local post office and forwarded weekly via Priority Mail to the address you have provided.

Learn more about extended stay hotels and motels

In addition to the links I included above, here are a fewAdditional resources to help you decide if motel living is the right option for you:

• My next house is going to be a hotel and I'm saving $925 a month
• Self-employed living in motels for longer stays
• The cost of living in a hotel versus renting an apartment

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