Residence hotels

A "residence"—sometimes called an "ApartHotel" or all-suite hotel—is a cross between an apartment building and a hotel. It's a serviced apartment available for short-term rentals.

Residences hotels--like this one in Italy--offer a cross between a rental apartment and a hotel Residences hotels—like this one in Italy—offer a cross between a rental apartment and a hotel.

A Residence hotel is like setting up housekeeping—only without the housekeeping.

Residence hotels work a bit like having your own efficiency apartment in a doorman building—think of the all-suite hotels and extended stay chains in the States. Those are residence hotels.

Accommodations are at least studios with kitchenette, if not full-blown mini-apartments, and might sleep anywhere for one to six people. They tend to be a bit functional and bland, with a focus more on basic comfort and amenities rather than style.

Residence hotels are usually used mainly for longer stays—some have three-night or one-week minimums, though many allow you to stay for as few as 3, 2, or even 1 night—and they are usually cleaned weekly (sometimes more frequently).

Essentially, it's a bit like getting a time share just for the week or month—only without the whole annoying sales pitch.

Residence inns are often used by folks in town on business for an extended period, but that doesn't mean travelers can't shack up in them as well. If just means you sometimes have to plan to stick around town for a bit longer than the average tourist.

For example, when I studied abroad in Rome, Italy, a "residence" near the school (the Residence Medaglie d'Oro) served as student housing for the program. (As it happened, I became friends with the girl who lived in the mini-apartment above mine, and as I write this—nearly 18 years later—I can hear her in the yard outside my office window, playing with our young son. So yeah, I'm a big fan of residence hotels.)

Speaking of which, all-suite hotels are a godsend for traveling families, since you can use the kitchen to treat meals more flexibly and cut down on dining costs. (Also, they tend to be bigger—if duller—than your average hotel room.)

The reason this page is separate from that on how to rent an apartment is because I consider apartment rentals to be where you are getting a private apartment in a building surrounded by flats inhabited by actual local residents, whereas in one of these "residence" hotels, everyone is a visitor from out of town.

Resources for finding Residence Hotels

GENERAL

Venere.com (www.venere.com)

This European booking engine is one of the few to list residences—which are variously categorized as "serviced apartments," "residences," and "townhouse suites"—with often dozens of options in major cities. Even if this weren't our partner site, I'd suggest it as the best one-stop shopping for residence hotels since it includes many one-offs and private ones, not just the chain properties.

Apartotels.com (www.apartotels.com)

U. K.-based booking site for more than 27,000 residence hotels and other apartments for short-term let (from some 35 chains and agencies, including Citadines, below) throughout Europe and Asia, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the UAE.

Staybridge Suites (www.staybridge.com)

Nearly 190 all-suite hotels in North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico), Europe (Russia, the U.K.), Brazil, Egypt, and the U.A.E. All rooms are 1- or two-bedrooms suites with full kitchen, and they include free broadband WiFi, a free breakfast buffet, a free evening cocktail reception, and both a convenience store and fitness center open 24/7. It's part of the InterContinental Hotel Group (Holiday Inn Hotels, Holiday Inn Express, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites), so you can use your Priority Club rewards points.

Candlewood Suites (www.candlewoodsuites.com)

Nearly 290 all-suite hotels in North America. Rooms are studios or one-bedroom suites with a large work area and 24-hour convenience store in the lobby. It's part of the InterContinental Hotel Group (Holiday Inn Hotels, Holiday Inn Express, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites), so you can use your Priority Club rewards points.

Residence Inn (www.residenceinn.com)

Marriott's top end all-suite line. There are 580 around the world (mostly in the U.S. and Canada, with one each in San Jose, Costa Rica and Munich, Germany), with with studios and 1- or 2-bedroom suites, full kitchens, grocery delivery, pool, 24/7 minimart, free WiFi, on-site laundry, and free breakfast and evening cocktail parties. Better rates for longer stays. Can use and earn Marriott Rewards points.

SpringHill Suites ( www.springhillsuites.com)

Marriott's the affordable all-suite line. There are 230 properties in the U.S. (plus Quebec City), each offering free breakfast and Internet, microwave and minifridge in the rooms, separate working and sleeping areas, and a pool. Can use and earn Marriott Rewards points.

TownePlace Suites (www.marriott.com/towneplace-suites)

Marriott's all-suite extended stay property for the do-it-yourselfer. There are 190 in the United States, and each suite comes with a full kitchen, free WiFi and breakfast, while the hotels have pools, 24/7 convenience stores, and laundry facilities. Better rates for longer stays. Can use and earn Marriott Rewards points.

Citadines (www.citadines.com)

Chain of ApartHotels, mainly in France (17 of them in Paris, as well as ones in Aix, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nice, Marseille, Lyon, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Lille, Grenoble, and Cannes). There are also locations in London (4 of them), Brussels (2), Berlin (1), and Barcelona (1, right on Las Ramblas near the Cathedral). One nice thing is that you can book for even just one night.

Barclay International (www.barclayweb.com)

One of the world's premier rental agencies since 1963. (And yes, "premier" does mean "a bit pricey"). Excellent properties and service, though, throughout Western Europe, and though they're billed as rental apartments, these aren't just some bloke's flat; most of them are actually residence hotels or buildings of entirely short-term rentals or condos.

Suite Novotel (www.suitenovotel.com)

A new chain of all-suite hotels aimed squarely at the business traveler—the idea is you can turn the public area, with its unlimited high speed internet and satellite TV channels, into a meeting room or office reception while leaving the sleeping area separate. It currently has nearly 30 properties, the vast majority in France (seven in and around Paris alone), with a few outposts in Germany (Berlin, Munich, Hannover, Hamburg), Switzerland (Geneva), Austria (Vienna), and Spain (Malaga), plus Marrakech and the U.A.E.