Why Furnished Apartments are Better than Hotels in Times Like These
As the Coronavirus panic continues to spread rapidly, shops across the globe are seeing empty shelves with people racing to stock up on everything they need to face a potential quarantine. Stock markets are seeing unprecedented dips and governments are scrambling to secure an adequate supply of medical equipment to fight a health crisis.
In the midst of all this chaos, is there a relocation or business trip on the cards for you? If so, here is why you should choose a furnished apartment instead of a hotel.
1. Reduced exposure to shared facilities and large number of people
Hotels are often a breeding ground for harmful germs and bacteria due to the large number of guests that use the rooms, gyms, conference rooms and other shared facilities. It’s impossible even for well-manned cleaning crews to sanitise every nook and cranny of these large buildings on a regular basis.
When you decide to stay in a hotel, you’re going to have to make peace with the fact that hundreds or even thousands of people may have stayed in your room before you. There may be germs lurking on every surface including tv remotes.
On the other hand, people who book furnished apartments stay for longer periods making it easier for the housekeeping staff to clean and disinfect them in one shot after they leave.
USEFUL TIP: HOW TO BEHAVE IN A CROWDED PLACE
Whenever there is an infectious disease going around, it is best to avoid crowded places especially if you have a fragile immune system.
- If you have to be in a public place, follow proper coughing and sneezing etiquette
- Avoid shaking hands
- Do not stand too close to other people especially if you’re unwell
2. Access to your own kitchen vs shared buffets and restaurants
It’s exciting to be in a new city on a business trip especially if you’re a foodie. The prospect of going on a food adventure and trying new dishes on the company’s dime- who doesn’t like that? But, there is an obvious downside to this.
People on business trips or relocating to new cities often make poor food choices and eat all their meals at restaurants or vending machines. This can wreck their diets and routines.
Moreover, food eaten outside can also make them sick if the food workers who handled their food were sick.
Staying in a furnished apartment effectively combats both these drawbacks.
Having your own equipped kitchen allows you to get your own groceries and make your own meals. You can eat fresh food and adopt healthy eating habits. Moreover, there is no risk of contamination from food workers who are unwell or haven’t washed their hands properly.
USEFUL TIP: WASH YOUR PRODUCE THOROUGHLY EVEN AT HOME
Even when you cook your meals at home, make sure to wash your produce thoroughly:
- Rinse produce before you wash them to prevent germs from entering them
- Wash produce with cold, running water
- Rub produce gently while washing
- Alternatively, soak produce in a mix of baking soda and water for 5 minutes and rinse off thoroughly
3. Germy hotel furniture including bedspreads and pillows
Do you think your hotel room is clean because it looks overtly clean and your bed is well made?
Think again! Hotel rooms are a veritable breeding ground for harmful germs and bacteria that can give you anything from the flu to staph infections.
From switches to remotes to bedspreads, everything you use in a hotel room has been used by hundreds of people before you.
Housekeeping employees of hotels often have to clean between 15 to 20 rooms in a day making it impossible for them to do a thorough job. The comforters you snuggle up under are rarely cleaned or changed. The remotes, switches and toilets are ridden with hundreds of germs from previous inhabitants of the room.
On the other hand, furnished apartments are used by far fewer people. Moreover, their cleaning staff usually don’t handle more than 1 or two apartments in a day making it much easier for them to do a diligent job.
USEFUL TIP: REQUEST LANDLORDS TO DISINFECT APARTMENTS BEFORE YOUR STAY
If you have a particularly vulnerable immune system or are prone to illnesses, it may be advisable to request landlords to disinfect your apartment before you move in.
If you have to stay in a furnished hotel, it may be advisable to carry a thin bedspread to put over the hotel bedspread.
4. Ability to clean your apartment yourself
If you stay in a furnished apartment as opposed to a hotel, you can have access to all the cleaning and disinfecting supplies you need.
You can also clean your apartment to your satisfaction and ensure that none of the germy spots are missed.
When you clean your apartment, make sure to disinfect frequently touched spots like doorknobs, handles, microwaves and toilets especially if you share it with others.
5. Lower possibility of quarantine in apartments
If you’re in a hotel, even one coronavirus infection can trigger a complete lockdown or quarantine of the facility. There is a much lower chance of this happening in an apartment building.
Even if there is a quarantine or lockdown due to an outbreak, you will be in the comfort and convenience of a home-like environment instead of a bland, impersonal hotel room. You can just sit back and relax just like you would at home.
6. Furnished apartments are cheaper than hotels
The average furnished or serviced apartment is at least 40% cheaper than hotel rooms especially if you’re renting for a longer period. In addition to having more space, you can also save on food expenses by using the apartment kitchen.
Furnished apartments also come with all the amenities and facilities you need for a comfortable stay including a washing machine. You’re not forced to use the hotel’s expensive laundry facilities where multiple people may handle the things you wear.
Some furnished apartments also have ceiling fans to keep you cool, while in hotel rooms you have to rely on air conditioners which sometimes get charged extra.
These are just a few reasons why a furnished apartment might be the best option in times like these.
