Katy Apartments

Business is facing uncertain times, not just in the UK, but globally. Business travel has always been a feature of working life for many employees, but with budgets tight companies are looking for ways to cut costs. However, the very nature of many businesses means that employees are still required to spend days, sometimes weeks and months away from home. Finding the right balance between cost and comfort has led to new developments in the hospitality industry in the last few years. This has included the rise of the serviced apartment as an alternative to hotel accommodation.

Growth and Location

Two cities in the UK that continue to see a level of growth in business as well as population are the South Midlands cities of Northampton and Milton Keynes. Both cities are logistically well placed – close to the capital with access to major communications routes throughout the UK. Milton Keynes was established in the 1960s with two specific aims: to alleviate overcrowding in London and to become a regional centre in its own right. Northampton is an older city that has grown as a result of its logistically strategic location and relatively competitive housing costs. Milton Keynes is now well established as a major centre for business and a destination for businesses travelers from throughout the UK, not to mention the rest of the world.

Long and short stays

Individual requirements for accommodation in Milton Keynes or Northampton depend on the length of stay. For business travelers requiring accommodation in either city from a night to more than a week, the serviced apartment provides a competitively priced alternative to hotel accommodation. For those finding their companies making a permanent move to the city, serviced apartments in Milton Keynes provide the perfect ’stepping stone’ when relocating. The majority of apartments in Northampton and Milton Keynes are centrally located with easy access to the main transport links and business districts. Serviced apartments offer not only privacy and flexibility, but also zero house-cleaning worries. Including weekly maid services, laundry services and all you would expect from a boutique hotel, there is a range of accommodation in Milton Keynes available at prices that are highly competitive with terms that can range from a few days to months.

Relocating resource

A realistic alternative to the real estate rentals for those in the process of relocating to Milton Keynes or Northampton, apartment accommodation can be found that provides space for individuals or whole families. With the uncertainty in the housing market, the flexibility of a serviced apartment is one of the key factors that make them so attractive to this particular market. When the sale of a previous home goes through it pays to be able to move quickly on a new one, but if this is not possible, a serviced apartment can be retained for a longer period. Whether it is for short term business travel or part of a relocation strategy, the serviced apartment is set to become the favoured form of accommodation for business travelers around the world.

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When you travel frequently, two problems that you will always encounter are the travel arrangements and your accommodations when you reach your destination. Travel arrangements can easily be made from the phone or via the Internet, for most people. For other folks who travel on a corporate account, your employer will have arranged for everything beforehand, which means one less worry on your part.

But lodgings are another matter altogether. You can’t help but be scintillating when you’re looking for a place to spend your stay. This will be your headquarters for the duration of your visit. This will be where you will rest, after a long day of work in an unfamiliar locale. If you can’t get proper rest when you’re at your hotel or apartment, this can greatly affect your performance in the morning.

That’s the problem with most traveller’s inns and hotels today-you won’t get any peace and quiet. Stay at a hotel, and everybody from the bellhop to room service will be at your beck and call, whether you like it or not.

A traveller’s inn is no better. These establishments are like pubs with rooms. It’s noisy, and likely to be filled with tourists. So much for that restful evening on the couch.

So what’s a poor travelling businessman to do? What other choice does he have? Luckily, there are such things as serviced apartments.

What’s a serviced apartment?

If you’re a constant traveller, and you haven’t heard of serviced apartments, then you must have had your fair share of bad hotel rooms.

In a nutshell, serviced apartments are lodgings designed for fixed short- and long-term stays. These are establishments that prioritize the comfort, convenience, and privacy of an individual without being difficult on the pocket.

Here’s another way of saying it: serviced apartments are flats-turned-hotels, without the expensive price tag.

Benefits of a serviced apartment

Convenience

Imagine living in your own place. A flat, a condominium unit, even a two-story shoebox affair in the projects. No matter what the details happen to be, there is no place like home.

With a serviced apartment, you can have that same fuzzy feeling of walking in through your own front door even if you’re in an unfamiliar city. That’s the magic of these establishments-they are the convenient homes-away-from-home for the weary business traveller after a long day at the rat race.

And what are some of the best benefits of renting a serviced flat? The convenience, of course, is the first thing you will come to appreciate. You will have your own television, a sofa set, even a kitchen, at far less than what you would pay for at a hotel with the same amenities.

The kitchen alone is a godsend. You won’t ever have to survive on take-away food while you’re in town, since you can buy your groceries-just like any homeowner-and cook them at your leisure. You can even cook leftovers, put them in the freezer for later consumption, and it won’t cost you more than a farthing.

Familiarity

There’s also the benefit of familiarity. There are two recognized types of serviced apartments, and one can choose between the two for what seems to be more suitable. For people who can’t get enough of the hustle and bustle of the city, there are apart hotels, which are basically serviced lodgings with a hotel-type atmosphere. Similar to a traveller’s inn, these establishments have in-house bars and restaurants, and will probably appeal to the solo traveller.

Businessmen who would prefer more genteel accommodations are encouraged to avail of corporate housing. These are furnished apartments or houses that come bundled with services such as cleaning and laundry, and utility charges. These can also usually be found in city centres, but are more commonly located in the suburbs in order to further facilitate the idea of coming home to a quiet, convenient environment.

Comfortable Space

The best thing about serviced apartments is that you’re getting good value for your money. These lodgings are the cheaper relatives of spacious hotel rooms, so a serviced apartment is just as big as your average upper-tier hotel apartment.

That’s good news if you’re travelling with family, children, especially. There’s plenty of space to move around in when you live in a fully furnished serviced apartment. This means that a child can stay at home, and perfectly enjoy himself as if he were living in his own home, and ultimately means fewer things for you to worry about. And when you’re travelling, the less you have to worry about, the better!

These establishments do not have the glitz and glamour of a hotel. However, the comfortable environment that you pay for when you book a serviced apartment is what we like to call quality service for your money. So the next time you’re going out of town, remember that the best kind of accommodation is one that you can call home without any reservations.

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