Are Extended Stay Hotels a Good Value?

Extended stay hotels can be a challenge for travelers. They're tricky. On the one hand, they can offer great values to savvy travelers on a budget or people who legitimately have need of somewhere to stay for an extended amount of time.

On the other hand, they can sometimes neutralize their budgetary value by providing you with a very low quality stay. Let's face it, sometimes it's better to pay more money and actually enjoy your stay somewhere. As for the question, "Are extended stay hotels a good value?" the answer is, they have the potential to be, but it's not always a guarantee. Here are some tips to make sure that you do get a good value from your extended stay hotel experience.

1.) All extended stay hotels are not created equal. Much the same as luxury hotels, you can't count on a quality experience at a hotel based on the hotel's website alone. Find some reviews and ratings before you book your stay anywhere. After all, if you have to check out immediately after checking in due to cleanliness problems or noise issues...you may have a tough time finding a good place to stay. Also, do pay attention to star ratings, they make a difference. Never chance a stay at a one star hotel, be it extended stay or not.

2.) Don't hold out for frills, the good extended stay hotels don't try to re-create the experience of a luxury hotel or a tourist experience. They have a different demographic, and if they're a smart hotel, they'll play to their specific type of traveler. One way to ensure you're getting a good value is to call the hotel in advance and ask what their perks are. If they play up their kitchenettes or their excellent service, this is a good sign.

Most good extended stay hotels don't typically offer a pool, free breakfast, or any of that. Why? Because they put all of their efforts into making sure that business travelers will choose them. This means a quality room, a comfortable bed, a clean bathroom, a kitchenette and free internet access. If they've put their efforts here, this is a good sign. For example, we booked an extended stay hotel in Austin, Texas very recently. It had no frills, but we were there on business and didn't need any. Our room was clean, comfortable, and gave us everything we needed. So make sure to change your perspective on the extras when you're shopping for an extended stay hotel.

3.) To get the best value out of an extended stay hotel, don't wait until the last minute to book your trip. Why? Because seasoned and savvy business travelers, those who know the ropes of all the good extended stay hotels, will have snatched up the good rooms at the great hotels. So do your research in advance and book ahead of time. Waiting until the last minute will leave you with a smaller selection of lower quality hotels.

4.) If you're taking a trip somewhere and you know you'll be busy the entire time, don't be afraid to book a lower starred extended stay hotel. This can offer you an even bigger value. We once flew to Anaheim, California for a special event at Disneyland and didn't have much money to spare. So we booked an extended stay hotel there for two nights.

The hotel was about 2 ½ stars, and it wasn't exactly a dream come true. But it served its purpose, and we spent almost the entire trip out of our hotel room. So ultimately, it was a great value. So you have to know your needs and personal standards. Sometimes booking a lower starred extended hotel can make the difference in whether you make a trip or not. In those cases, if you love the travelling and you don't have a family in tow to entertain, I say go ahead and go for it.

Extended stay hotels can be an amazing value, if you look for quality. If you don't do your research, the miserable experience might not be worth the money you're saving. If you really are going to need somewhere to stay for an extended period of time, don't take chances with lower star ratings.

All in all, all of my experiences in extended stay hotels, across many chains, have been very good. They're something of a well-kept secret among frequent travelers. I would recommend trying it at least once, as they can almost always save you money. I think that a quality extended stay hotel is a great value.