What is a Serviced Apartment?
To give you the short answer: A serviced apartment is a fully furnished apartment available for both short and long-term stays. It provides amenities for daily use, household management, and a range of other services, all included in the rental price. Now you might be thinking, "Sounds a lot like a hotel." But no, they are two very different things. So, what exactly is the difference between a hotel and a serviced apartment?
Hotels and serviced apartments - comparing apples and oranges.
Serviced apartments offer similar facilities to traditional hotels but with additional space, comfort, and privacy like home, allowing you to live like a local during your stay in Switzerland - usually at much lower costs.
Most online booking sites have long offered serviced apartments, but without a separate category - most are simply labeled as "apartments" and offered as an additional option alongside regular hotel rooms. The problem with this is that serviced apartments offer much more than just the spatial dimensions of an apartment and cannot be compared to traditional hotel rooms.
However, even outside the business travel sector, the term is slowly becoming more familiar because more and more private travelers are discovering that serviced apartments are available and offer a credible and cost-effective alternative. They are particularly affordable for longer stays of one month or more.
Another significant but often forgotten difference is that as a guest in our serviced apartment, you enter into a lease agreement according to Swiss law. With this rental contract, you can register with the local authorities and gain the right to work in Switzerland. This feature is a significant legal difference because our furnished apartments are located in residential areas, not commercial zones. Legally, you are on equal footing with any other tenant.
Your home away from home
Today, especially business travelers are looking for alternative accommodation options to make their stay even more comfortable. If you are constantly living out of a suitcase and staying in traditional hotel rooms as a business traveler, you will appreciate the advantages of a serviced apartment. Business apartments provide space, privacy, and comfort in your own environment and the freedom to do the same things you would do at home.
The advantages of a serviced apartment over traditional hotels in a nutshell.
A serviced apartment feels more like a home, with amenities that offer more freedom and comfort.
A serviced apartment typically has more square footage than a traditional hotel room. We have space for your sports equipment!
A serviced apartment is significantly cheaper for longer stays than a hotel room. This is due not only to the actual cost of the apartment compared to a hotel room but also to the ability to cook for yourself and not have to eat out for every meal.
A serviced apartment reflects the culture of the respective area. It provides insights into what a real local apartment would look like and allows for a more immersive experience of the culture and values compared to hotel rooms, which usually all look the same.
Integrated services in the serviced apartment
- Central location or excellent public transportation connections
- Self-contained apartments usually within a residential building
- Fitness studios, restaurants, and shops nearby
- All utilities included, i.e., maintenance, water, and electricity
- Free Wi-Fi
- Fully equipped kitchen
- E-scooters
- Living area with a television
- Bed linen and towels
- Bathroom with shower and washing machine
- Key handover via a key box
In other words, furnished apartments offer you a turnkey solution where you can enjoy comfort and convenience, making you feel at home even while traveling.
