Serviced apartment versus hotel is mostly a question of how long you stay. For a few nights, a hotel is usually easier. For two weeks or more, a serviced apartment often gives you more room, a kitchen and your own laundry. This note compares the two on the points that matter to a business traveller.
The short answer
Pick a hotel for short trips, late arrivals and days full of meetings. Pick a serviced apartment when you will stay for a fortnight or longer and want to keep a normal routine. Many operators price their apartments for longer stays, so the gap in cost tends to grow with every extra night.
Neither choice is always better. The right one depends on your work, your budget and how much you want to do for yourself.
Sources: Furnished Quarters, blog post dated February 8, 2021; Pan Pacific Hotels Group, article on serviced apartments and hotels in Singapore.
Cost over a long stay
A hotel charges by the night. Extras such as breakfast, room service and minibar items add up fast over many days. A serviced apartment is often priced for weekly or monthly stays, and you can cook some of your own meals. Pan Pacific says a serviced apartment may be more cost-effective than a hotel if you stay for five or six nights or more.
Be careful with the claims you read online. Most comparison pages are written by apartment operators. Ask for the full price for your exact dates, and check for cleaning fees, deposits and utility charges.
Sources: Pan Pacific Hotels Group, serviced apartment or hotel article; Furnished Quarters, February 8, 2021.
Space and work setup
A serviced apartment normally has more floor space than a hotel room. Furnished Quarters puts the gain at 30 to 50 percent. Many have a separate bedroom and living area, so you can leave work at the desk when you go to bed. That helps if you take calls, write reports or host a colleague for a short meeting. In a hotel room, the bed, desk and sofa share one space, and a larger suite costs more.
Look at the desk and the chair before you book. A big flat with no proper workspace is not a better place to work. Ask about internet speed too, because you will rely on it every day.
Sources: Pan Pacific Hotels Group; Furnished Quarters, February 8, 2021.
Kitchen and laundry
This is where the two differ most. Hotel rooms rarely have a kitchen. If they do, it is usually small and has few cooking tools. Serviced apartments commonly have a full kitchen with a larger fridge, a stove and basic cookware. Many also have a washer and dryer inside the unit.
That means you can wash shirts on a quiet evening and pack lighter. You can also eat a simple breakfast at home and save time on busy mornings. Hotels still offer laundry service, and Pan Pacific lists daily laundry service as a reason to pick a hotel. You usually pay for it by the item, though, so check the price list before a long stay.
Sources: Furnished Quarters, February 8, 2021; Pan Pacific Hotels Group.
Services and flexibility
Hotels lead on services. Pan Pacific points to room service, concierge help and business centre support as things hotels offer and serviced apartments usually lack. These help when you lose a document, need to print something or want a meeting room.
Serviced apartments vary. Some offer housekeeping and a reception desk. Others give you less help day to day. Some have a minimum stay, and Pan Pacific says two of its Singapore serviced suites require six nights. Always check the minimum stay and the cancellation terms before you book, and ask how often the unit is cleaned.
Sources: Pan Pacific Hotels Group; Furnished Quarters, February 8, 2021.
How to choose
Ask yourself four questions. How many nights will you stay? Will you cook or do laundry? Do you need a real desk? Do you want daily service? If you answer yes to the first three and no to the last, a serviced apartment is likely the better fit. If you want daily service and a flexible exit, choose a hotel.
For stays near two weeks, you can also ask a hotel for a long-stay rate. Some offer one. Compare the full bill, not the nightly price, and read the terms on cleaning, cancellation and deposits.
Sources: Furnished Quarters, difference between serviced apartments and hotels; Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Singapore serviced apartment or hotel.