Our living quarters like our clothes, need to ones that fit and suit us to a T. You could say that our dwellings are like extensions of our personalities, a significant factor to our overall well-being. If you don’t like where you live, chances are you won’t be happy there no matter how much you try and how long you stay.

Often in the course of our lives and work, we will be required to travel at least once or twice, depending on the reason and need. These days, part of a company’s operational expenses is eaten up significantly by funds that are allotted for business travels and accommodations. Business trips can last for as long as a day to several weeks and hotel accommodations, no matter how modest or cheap can run up costs that can put a dent in your company budget.

This is the reason why serviced apartments have risen in popularity. For those who are unfamiliar, these are furnished apartments that are available for short or long term stays, complete with amenities for daily use. They were conceptualized at a time when a huge increase in the number of international travelers demanded more accommodations that were cheaper in price but nonetheless offered the same service as that of reputable hotels.

In addition, serviced apartments offered more space and more privacy, which appealed greatly to travelers who traveled with their families or for big groups who traveled to attend business conventions. There was the added appeal of being able to cook their own meals rather than order from an expensive room service menu because these apartments usually came equipped with complete kitchen facilities. However, there were several distinctions that separated it from the usual apartments, so much that they were classified into several types: the extended-stay hotel, the studio flats, holiday apartments, city break apartments and corporate housing.

The extended-stay hotel or “aparthotel,” which has now branched into “flatotels” and “condotels,” offers 24 hour reception and is usually located within city centers, with rooms offering a hotel-like atmosphere minus the huge expense. They offer flexible options for the travelers, from budget to deluxe rooms, to what is known as studio apartments, which are rooms that can be used both as living and sleeping quarters, complete with a kitchenette and a bathroom. Room service is usually not an option because of the cooking facilities that come with the rooms but there are those that are built as annexes to five-star hotels which allow the guest to make use of the hotel’s facilities free of charge.

The second type is known as the studio flats. Studio flats, like studio apartments are those that combine the living room, bedroom and kitchen in one space, but overall, studio flats are smaller than studio apartments. Because of this, they tend to have the lowest rents in any given area but generally the costs will depend on where you are in the world. In some countries like Singapore, they are geared more towards senior citizens – in fact, you must be around 55 years of age to be able to purchase studio apartments.

Holiday apartments are just that — accommodations for when you and your family decide to go on a holiday or leisurely trips. These are equipped with fully-functional kitchens and are best for month-long stays. City break apartments on the other hand, are usually located within major city centers and are budget-friendly alternatives to hotels and motels and range from studio types to spacious three-bedroom units..

The last type is what is known as corporate housing. These are residential properties that have been upgrades for short-term rentals, with the rental costs including cleaning services, utility bills and local taxes, as well as charges for the use of television and phones for stays of at least 30 days to 3 months. Nothing short of luxurious, some of the best corporate housing are located in suburbs like Balmain in Sydney, Australia for instance, and come with additional amenities like DVD and internet access. You can also choose from single bedroom to three-bedroom units and enjoy close proximity to the city centers and recreational places.

Now that you know serviced apartments aren’t limited to a single-unit dwelling, you can very well make the best choice for your next business or holiday trips. You can take a gander at how these apartments look like when you go online to apartment locator sites and search for the best ones that are affordable and definitely worth your time and money.