The Mrs. and I went apartment shopping this weekend (more to come on that later), and this place we checked out reminded me of an old-school hotel. It was billed as a “luxury” apartment building and just walking through the lobby and seeing the concierge and gym & pool, etc got me soooo excited! It really was like a hotel :) Had coffee downstairs and everything.
Then yesterday at work I started wondering if you COULD actually live out of a hotel? Can you imagine all the perks that it would come with? I think I could really see myself doing it!! Check it out:
Pros to living in a hotel
- A fancy & clean room! Or rooms if you get one of those corporate suite type things. The USAA folks actually hooked me up with one during our blogging trip out there the other month and it was PERFECT to live out of! Was really like a mini house.
- Free continental breakfast! Which would be more than the zero breakfast I eat right now ;)
- Unlimited coffee!!! That should save a few hundred dollars a month, haha…
- Maid service! Never have to make your bed again! Or do buy toilet paper or soap or shampoo or towels or sheets, etc.
- Gyms, pools, media rooms! And a host of other exciting things.
- No electric bills! Or water bills! Or cable bills!
- Reward points! From both the hotel itself, but also for using your credit card to pay the bill every month! Which brings us to the next perk:
- You can pay your “rent” with credit card!! Exactly what I was hoping for in last Friday’s post ;)
- Concierge service. To help watch for packages and hook you up with any tips or tricks you may need throughout your “visit.” I’d imagine you’d get in good with the entire staff after a few weeks ;)
- YOU CAN SAY YOU LIVE IN A HOTEL!!! And I’m pretty sure chicks dig that. Same with rock stars and celebrities. Ooooh that reminds me of another one!
- You will meet all sorts of new people. Imagine all the different folks coming through that hotel every day? Tourists, politicians, hot shots, celebrities, etc etc.
- You could crash tons of weddings/bar mitzvahs :) Or any other hotel parties that occur every single weekend of every single year! See, cuz you’d be “in” with the staff so you could always have a heads up of what’s going on. Haha…
Of course, a lot of those “free” perks up there really aren’t free since they’re all factored into your daily rate and what not (except for the parties – that’s worked out all on your own, pimp) but when you put it all together it sure does come out exciting. And if you REALLY think about how much we spend on our own home on a regular basis, I bet it comes close to evening out. Check it:
We spend roughly $2200 on our mortgages every month, + $300 or so on utilities (including cable & internet), then another $125 in homeowner association fees, + random ass repairs (we’ll call that $200 a month on average) + furniture to fill the house, and on and on and on.
So conservatively, we spend about $2800 to live out of this damn house (!!!!). Divide that by 30 and we’re basically spending $93.00 every SINGLE day to sleep here. That’s insane. And in case you haven’t guessed yet, we could rent a hotel room for the same cost, if not less!
Actually, I bet you can very well sort out some long-term rates with certain hotels to REALLY knock down your payments. Plus w/ all the reward points you’d get from both the hotel AND by putting it on your credit card, you’ll be saving even more every single month. See how easy it is for me to be convinced?! :)
Cons to living out of a hotel
- You don’t own it at the end. Which is only a con if you currently “own” your home like we do. You can scratch this if you’re renting!
- You get less space. Unless you’re moving from a 1 bedroom condo or studio, chances are your hotel room will be tinier. With the exception of those corporate suites I was talkin’ about.
- It’s kinda of impersonal. Cuz you won’t have your own furniture and tons of belongings with you (although you can certainly bring a lot in to make it your own).
- You can’t have pets. Usually.
- No kitchen. Which means a lot more eating out.
- Can’t do laundry. Unless the hotel provides it and you wanna dish out the exorbitant rates! But then again, not all apartments have washers and dryers anyways in the units…
- You never know who your neighbor will be. And they’ll constantly be changing. Or possibly blaring loud music or even worse: Making loud “noises” at night w/ each other! Haha… or prostitutes, who knows.
- People will think you’re strange. I won’t, but your family will :)
Boy, there’s a lot to consider when you really start thinking about this! I literally thought this post would take me like 5 minutes, haha… But when you’ve got something in your head you gotta get it out and make sure you consider all the sides ;) Can’t go around making rash decisions all the time, now can ya? But I gotta admit. Even after seeing all those cons up there I STILL think I’d wanna give it a shot! For like one solid year. I honestly think I would be happy!!! And at the very least come out with a fun experience.
Unfortunately though I think it’s much easier to pull off when you’re single. I don’t dare imagine wht the wife would say if I seriously ran this past her ;) But mark my words, I WILL find a way to do this one day! Even if that means hitting the lottery and going back and forth between my hotel and my home forever! Haha… this idea is hot, I’m telling you.
What do you all think? Would you ever give it a shot? If you do you HAVE TO promise to tell me so I can live vicariously through you for the time being :) Or I might just go live on a house boat, haha… so many things I want to try!
UPDATE: Check out this post from my friend who lives in a hotel full-time!
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(Original photo by UggBoy♥UggGirl. Edited by J$)
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It sounds good for someone with $2,200 a month in mortgage payments. I rent an $800/mo apartment and don’t buy cable, so my total living expenses are about $900/mo. I never want to stay in a $30/night hotel.
Plus, there wouldn’t be much space for the love of my life. No, not a girl or a dog, my 46″ LCD flat screen ;)
At the end of 8th grade when i was 14 I was living in China. My parents decided to get a divorce which meant that mom, my brother, and I were to move back to the states. We spent the summer and 3 months of the following school year (9th grade) living in a hotel. (we didnt know about the divorce until early august of that year, so we didnt have much of a chance of looking for a home. Anyways, we spent a LONG time living in a hotel. It definitely came with its perks. I hit the hottub EVERY morning, got to chat with the maintainance guy every day while he did his pool duties. Most nights id hit the hottub once again and I definitely got to talk to a lot of out of towners as they were visiting on business mostly. Free breakfast every morning was great. And we never had to make our beds or clean our rooms as the maids took care of that. The downside of it was that we had no address. Teachers would look at me funny when i told them i didnt have an address and that i was living in a hotel so we always had to put in a PO Box as our address. It was sweet to invite friends over for some hot tub time tho. Back then cable modems were just coming out and i was left out of that as dial up AOL was my only option in the hotel room while i was living in the hotel and couldnt wait to get into a house so i could get a low ping while playing half life deathmatch or better yet counterstrike. Although i truly believe my skills in the game went up as i had to much better predict what folks were doing when they had a 150-200 ping and mine was in the 400-500 range. all in all it was a sweet time to be in a hotel but I wouldnt want that for my daily life. Sharing a room with my brother and mom every day did get old but we found many more things to do outside of the house. It WAS neat getting to know all the front desk attendants and playing pranks on them at night. Kind of like the Suite Life of Zach and Cody that my kids watch now. I tell them i lived that and they just look at me in awe!
I almost moved into one of those condo on top of a hotel things, where you get the concierge and whatnot but it really isn’t living in the hotel. Broke down when “no pets” came up last minute. I’m glad I didn’t end up there – but I am with you, living in a hotel proper would be pretty cool.
I’ve lived in different hotels for 13 months with my husband 4 kids and 2 dogs! My extended family members think I use drugs or am mentally ill. They called CPS and my children were removed. I was told by an attorney that no judge will return my kids until I have “stable” housing! Goodbye hotel life, I want my kids back
Oh wowwwww – I never even realized that could be an issue! Good luck getting them back, man – sucky!
You lived in a series of hotel rooms with your kids, husband and dogs. I’ll bet we’re not talking the Hyatt here,huh? The hostel/hotel life is about drugs and prostitution. Even if you personally didn’t participate, (which,honestly, if you’re kids are being taken away its for a reason) that kind of environment is unsuitable for anyone normal.
Living in hotels is super common, people reading this article are imagining best western and la quinta and the like. That’s not the kind of hotel most people live in. People who live in hotels are generally drug addicts, there’s no hot tub, there no concierge there’s no room service.
Yeah, the main difference here is choosing the hotel life out of choice vs necessity – so we’re definitely talking about the nicer places/lifestyles vs seedy ones.
Don’t kid yourself! There are many reasons your kids can be removed; you don’t have to do anything wrong if you have an ex spouse or someone who is willing to go to any length. My son was removed when he was 14 because “I wanted to be his friend and not his mother” Anyone with a teen knows that’s when they want to act out; first his thing was I wasn’t working so I couldn’t support him (was temp disabled)so I went back to work; then it was I was working and couldn’t watch him. Finally he was removed when he was told he had 3 months to get his grades up (he would go to school and air and flirt with girls and do no schoolwork in class). I had him in counseling and tutoring; he didn’t believe they would take him so he continued not turning in his homework or doing schoolwork.When this problem began I tried pretty much everything I could think of short of going and sitting in his classes finally said”OK, you don’t want to do your work, I’ll let you suffer the consequences and fail 9th grade. Imagine my horror when he was passed anyway with D’s and F’s!! So he learns there are no consequences for not doing anything. .. Then I’m blamed for him not getting his grades up. Sorry for the rant just saying I’d always been told you had to do something bad to have a child removed; NOT TRUE!
It is not true that most people living in hotels are drug addicts. While traveling. Ive noticed alot of senior citizens living in older hotel motels…..of course they do do drugs. Blood thinners, blood pressure, diabetic meds ect. So i geuss im wrong most are drug addicts.
When I was in college, our school had a habit of over-accepting for the new freshman class and would run out of dorms. So for the first 3-4 months of the school year, we used 75% of the Holiday Inn across the street as overflow student housing.
By far the biggest benefit the students who lived there always mentioned was the daily maid service. They probably had the cleanest “dorm rooms” on campus. :)
My father has twice lived in a hotel. Once as the result of not being able to find a decent apartment after he and his girlfriend broke up. And once (a much longer stay) as the result of a house fire. His first stay was more of a bachelor pad, effeciency type room. And when you “rent” weekly the housekeeping would only come weekly. Leaving him to fend for himself! There was no kitchen, and dining out soon became more of a chore then the enjoyable experience it usually is. And no access to laundry facilities was a major drawback.
The second time, since his house caught on fire, the insurance company paid for a nicer room. It was a 2 bed room suite with full kitchen. While his meals, and living expenses were covered while repairs were being done on the house it was still sucky. He hated having to take an elevator and walking down a long hall just to get “home” and it was so impersonal. Bringing groceries in was a pain too.
So in theory, it may seem “cool” but I think the novelity of it would wear off very fast.
WOJO- where did you go to college? This is identical to what happened to Penn State – Berhend campus too.
Did this for a month in Vegas, no less–and for work so it was all free to me, along with a $50/day food allowance.
my 700 square foot hilton suite had a full kitchen, huge living room with views of the Strip and a sleeper sofa for friends to crash on during the weekends, a hot tub in a separate bathroom area, King sized bed in the humongous bedroom, large bathroom with shower and awesome shampoo/conditioner/soap options which I stole every day, LCD TV with cable, DVD player with Bose sound system, washer/dryer, dishwasher, microwave, wireless and daily maid service…I could go on. I NEVER had to do my dishes or pick up my towels. I used the wake up service EVERY DAY! The hotel also had a gym and several pools. All for $85/day (in 2006). IT WAS COMPLETELY IDEAL. I’d do it again in a heartbeat!
When Roberto Alomar played for the Toronto Blue Jays, he lived at the Skydome Hotel for his entire playing tenure there. Must have been pretty cush – it’s a beautiful hotel, and he had no commute to work, other than to come down the elevator!
Agree. fabulous idea for a single guy or gal, not so much once you’re married or have kids.
But single,… imagine living in the W, you could take an elevator to the club every weekend then elevator right back to your room. Amazing!
I think I could do the living in a hotel thing and I started to calculate the cost of it. It is expensive on a monthly basis unless you get a long term deal but then I think about the cost of furniture and other things. I guess if I did then I would want a suite so I could have separate living and sleeping spaces.
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/special_report/jim-gatzke-local-illinois-lottery-winner-20100909
This guy won the lotto for like 5 million and lives in a cheap hotel and seems to like it. But certainly not some fancy hotel like you are wanting.
Doesn’t Earl from My Name is Earl live in a hotel where the maid comes and cleans the place? Does not look quite so ideal either.
When I graduated and first moved to a new town for work I lived in one of those weekly stay hotel places for about a month. Did have a fridge and kitchen area but still just one room and the bathroom it got annoying pretty quickly!
Might have to check what it would be to live in a nice hotel though, completely different story.
Have you seen how the Ritz Carlton has condos on the top floors of some of their hotels? I know someone who lives in one of them…sweet pad overlooking the beach. You get the amenities of the hotel, but you actually can own the property…of course they go for anywhere from $1.5 to $10M. Living the dream…
For me? I’d totally live in a Residence Inn type of place. That way you get your own kitchen, breakfast, and every weeknight they provide dinner too! I lived in a little motel/B&B for a month a few years back while relocating…def not the way I would do it if I had to find temporary housing again.
I thought about this when I first moved from Boston to NYC. The cost ended up being a little more expensive for any hotel and a lot more expensive if I wanted something very convenient to work. So I went with the apartment. But it was a serious consideration. It turned out that hotels didn’t want you to stay over 90 days here because then the law gives you rights of a tenant and they just can’t kick you out if you don’t pay – they have to “evict” you. So their policies were that you couldn’t stay long-term (I guess you could always check out and then back in to “break” or “restart” the 90-day time period if they let you.).
Also don’t forget you can deduct your interest payments on your mortgage, so also consider your after-tax costs to compare apples to apples out-of-pocket costs.
With 3 kids and a few pets I don’t think so.
Another benefit would be paying weekly, bi-weekly etc. You could budget a lot better
Another con: Other people sleep in your bed. You might get moved to a new room.
Con: Those Nightline news specials that go into fancy hotels with a black light and show all the gross things on the linens and the carpets.
I don’t think I’d feel good walking around barefoot.
But the free gym and coffee would be pretty sweet.
@Sarah – U Miami; I think more recently, they’re using 3 or even 4 hotels in the area for overflow.
Give me Internet access, my blackberry, and CNBC, Bloomberg, Travel channel and a hotel is cool by me. I love going out to eat and having a maid clean my room everyday…Hotel is not bad,
Persuading my family to do it…hmmm we may need to upgrade to the penthouse LOL
J$: Check out the Hampton Inn and Suites in Alexandria, VA, the one on Van Dorn Street. That’s where we stayed when we came to DC in August. FULL KITCHEN. I would LOVE to live in a hotel like that one. On the back of the door it said $799 per week but you could probably get a better deal than that. The bed was super comfy. They even have a “complimentary full breakfast buffet every morning, our Managers Reception including complimentary beer, wine and light dinner Monday to Thursday evenings.”
I worked for the Guest Suites in Alexandria, VA during the late 70’s and it was a new concept. Guests would check in and come right back to the front desk and tell us that we gave them the wrong room. They did not want an expensive suite with Kit, bedrooms, LV rooms, etc. We had to promise everyone that the rates were the same as the other hotels in our area. There were not additional charges for the larger rooms. Once the word got out about our hotel, we stayed fully occupied with many repeat guests. It was such a strange concept now and today people love it. I live in an extended suite hotel in FL and it is a lot cheaper than my house was. Plus free meals, swimming pool, tennis court, lake, gym and laundry room. Also housekeeping and maint. Not sure that I want to ever leave. We have been in an extended stay suite hotel for almost a year and the rate goes down after 6 mo. due to the extra taxes come off (17%) daily. Great place to stay when relocating, single, or in area for a short tem contact job. Plus we meet lots of great people from all over the place!
I WANT TO BE YOU!!!!
Haha… So cool to hear all these stories of those living out this “crazy” route. Perhaps I’ll have to wait for my two kids to leave the nest before actually trying this out once and for all. They weren’t even around when I originally posted this so I should have pulled the trigger then!!! ;)
First impression was there is no way in hell it would make sense. It would be too expensive and would lack so many essential aspects of every day living.
However, after the break down, im creeping towards the edge to make the jump. When you look at it from a PURE cost effective comparison between paying for the room per night between a hotel vs your mortgage, its really really really CLOSE! Kinda mind boggling if you think about it.
Breaking down your mortgage to $90 / day and compare that to some of the hotel prices? A very very fair comparison. Here is a little curve ball for you all….
What if you utilized Priceline’s Name your last minute price… EVERY WEEK? to get a last minute supply vs demand hotel room and a cheap price? its a whole other post IMO but think about it! You would be saving ridiculously even on hotel rooms using their last minute price request!! Cue William Shatner!
I LOVE staying at hotels! I could totally live in one. I’m not big on decorating or furnishing anyway.
Sadly, our rent only works out to less than $40 a day, so it wouldn’t be very economical…
I think an RV would be better. You can get some killer deals now that everyone is trying to unload because of the economy.
A good RV park (with a lot of the hotel like amenities) will put you back $400-$600/mo. And, if you don’t like it, you can move to another park.
Now, if I can only convince my wife…
I am looking to go back to living in a motel but they have gone up so much! I loved in one for about 2 years until 2012 then moved with a friend. I haven’t been able to find less than $40/night which works out to around 1350/mo! How can I get that lowered? They add tax which brings it to 1600/mo. I can’t afford that on SS!
I’ve been playing out this theory but substitute house for car and hotel for rental car. I spent almost $10,000 just to have the convenience of a car last year! OK, it was 3 cars but two are paid off……(grumbling along now).
We don’t have public transportation where I live but with that $ I’m trying to live the fantasy in my head of riding my bike to work. I’m leaving out the 20 miles each way, wondering where I would pack on my two kids on and the freezing weather.
@Kevin @ Thousandaire.com – Maaaaaaaan what I wouldn’t do to get back to $800/rent! Def. wouldn’t make sense in your case. Wanna trade? :)
@Brent – OMG that is awesome. Love hot tubs! And pranks! And Zack and Cody! haha… it’s pretty funny to think back to the dial-up days. We’ll never forget all those damn AOL cds being sent all over!
@karmella – Wow, was it a really expensive place?
@Wojo – HAH! Same thing happened to my my freshman year. Although we had no maid service or pool. Seemed one or two kids ruined it for the rest of us :(
@sarah – Makes sense. But I’d still give it a shot to find out ;)
@Sense – I WANT TO LIVE THERE!!! Tell your job to hire me, but that I’ll be only bloging the whole time ;) And playing hold’em.
@Mel – That is all kinds of sexy.
@James Fowlkes – MMmmmmm… W….
@Lulu – Yeah, I think the whole long term agreement part is key here. Would have to knock down the rates enough to actually make sense.
@Philip – Haha.. is that show still around?
@C – I LOVE B&Bs! But way more expensive for the ones I like ;) Never heard of those Ritz Carlton places before but I shure would like ot check ’em out!
@Nick – Oh yeah – forgot about that ;) That makes sense about the 90-day limit. But like you said I bet they let you sneak by w/ tricks like that. ALthough you could always check in to another hotel for a bit and then come back! Check out some new scenery perhaps? :)
@Techbud – You should try it and let us know how it goes.
@Evan – I like that!!
@Jenna – Not if you camp out there for months at a time :)
@Lindy Mint – Ewwwww forgot about that! Plus lots of bedbugs goign around hotels, eh?
@L. Marie Joseph – Would probably only cost you a buck more ;)
@Mrs. Accountability – Woahhhh now you’re talking! Beer AND comfyness? Yes I will def. be checking that out :) No joke. Alexandria is on our list of places to look into too, so thanks!
@Doctor S – Haha you’re always thinking man! I like it in terms of saving money, but man that would be a lot of moving around and re-packing every week… that’s a bit TOO mobile for my blood ;)
@eemusings – Unless you want to move to the “up and coming” neighborhoods ;)
@Jerret – Now that’s a thought. I’ve considered RVs briefly in the past, but it has always remained on the possibility list. I’ve already got the wife convinced, only problem is I have to wait 30 years for her to allow it!:)
@Molly On Money – Riding a bike to work would be an absolute pleasure! Weather aside I would totally be up for that. But I’m not your kids ;)
Apartment shopping? Wow! In regards to your bitterness in home ownership, I totally can understand it. Living in Las Vegas, I know many people who walked away from their underwater houses. Better to declare bankruptcy first ;) On the other hand, I’m 4 years from owning my home outright and I cannot begin to tell you how good that feels. I do think most home owners do not focus on the end result, causing them to miss out on the financial benefits a mortgage-free home provides. Of course situations do vary.
Do you think if you had purchased a more affordable home you would feel different about home ownership? For example, what if your mortgage was a 15 year compared to that 30 year you have right now?
I’m with you J; living in a hotel sounds fabulous, even with the cons up there. But, like you, being in a relationship makes it a little harder. But we’re renting a 1 bedroom, so if we found the right place, I’m sure that’d work out. Hmm, wonder if Embassy Suites is interested in having us as their long term guests :)
I worked at a front desk of a couple of different hotels up to this point. I’ve seen various rates from 30/night – 100/night for long term stay people. In a way it was nice to work there because you knew the same people would be down in the lobby getting ice cream every night or that unlimited coffee supply, so I always had someone to talk to at work! But I think the unsatisfying parts of living in a hotel are the parts where you don’t really have privacy, you can’t really keep expensive things (I mean, who knows what could happen to it!), and there can be a lot of noise. Oh yeah, and no pets!!
@StackingCash – Oh man, yeah I’ve heard a lot of scary stories coming out of Vegas! And Detroit, Florida, etc etc – bleh…. As for our situation, I think our home losing value does play a role to a degree, but since we can comfortably afford it and we didn’t really splurge on it, it’s not that much of a deal breaker. That part just sucks ;) The main issue here is really just my lack of committing to staying in ONE SPOT, and living so far out from the city. I just cannot sit still and even though I knew that going into home ownership, I thought I’d be able to tame it! haha…. oops. Oh, also we have too much room. I’d much rather be in a smaller place closer to the city (renting) than a big one farther away. Better for my new minimalism kick.
@Briana @ GBR – Oh yeah! going from 1 bedroom to hotel would be a much smoother transition. DO IT! do it do it! (and then let me come visit your pool and get all that free coffee :))
@Cat – Hmmmm… didn’t think about that expensive stuff part. I wonder though if everyone knew who you were though, that they’d be MORE secure? Like, cuz then no one’s stealing a stranger’s things, ya know? Something to consider either way, thx :)
I lived in an all inclusive luxury apartment for 4 years. I paid $1250 per month for a one bedroom apartment, plus $150 a month for parking. The apartment complex consisted of three 24 floor apartment buildings that were all connected underground by a mini shopping mall that included a movie theatre, a florist, a post office, two grocery stores, 6 restaurants, a bank, a liquor store, and a gym with a pool ($40 per month).
The apartment was fully renovated and fully equipped with a dishwasher, Jacuzzi tub, and air conditioning.
2 years ago we moved to a smaller apartment which also has a pool and a small gym. We now pay $995 per month for a one bedroom on the 21st floor of a 21 floor high-rise in the middle of downtown Montreal. Our building does have 24 hour security however it doesn’t have the shopping mall attached underground.
Now I actually have to change out of my pj’s to go and do my groceries. Sometimes I think that the extra $405 per month was definitely worth the cost.
Interesting thought, but my immediate reaction was: What? Go to all this trouble (of getting rid of everything) and STILL be stuck in one place? Nope, not for me, but put that hotel room on a cruise ship, and I am SO there! Now if only I could afford it.
@Kristina – man, BOTH those options sound good! it would literally cost us $4,000 to live like that in DC, no joke. It cost almost $3k just for a 2 bedroom 15 miles out! haha…
@gharkness – you’re never stuck in one spot cuz you can just pick up and move to the next hotel :) but I agree, living on a cruise ship sounds pretty hot too.
I forgot to point out – just in case someone didn’t know – the fare for the cruise ship includes 3 meals a day, and depending on what you like to drink – the drinks too. (Doesn’t cover soft drinks or booze.) It’s a dream for me, but one I probably will never actually be able to do.
J.Money — I already do live in a hotel :)
Check out: http://www.EverydayMinimalist.com
I agree with most of your points, except I moved from a studio to a 2-bedroom. This place is freaking huge with 2 bathrooms and a massive kitchen with a dishwasher, dryer and washer.
The building also lets you have pets, and if you take a hotel with a kitchen, you can avoid a lot of problems
I think people find it strange, but I see it as a transient apartment. It’s not that weird for me to live out of a suitcase, being a consultant.
YOU ARE AWESOME!!! And you better believe I’ll be looking forward to that guest post from you ;) Going over now to check out your other site – didn’t realize you blogged there either!
Work it girl.
I would definitely give up everything and do it, if I could have pets. I wouldn’t mind living lighter, and having maid service, but will not give up my pets.
Actually living in a hotel is really awesome and way cheaper!!! I live with my 2 kids and s/o in a hotel, and this has been one of the best experiences of my life. We are only doing it until my daughter is old enough to go to school which is going to be sad and there is no way I am home schooling her. So there are many perks to living in a hotel and especially since you get to know the hotel people so they give you free stuff and hook it up! I love waking up to an already made breakfast and people that are fun and interesting to talk to everyday.I Love it!
I am so jealous of you!!!! Haha…. I swear one day I’m gonna try it and I bet I’ll love it just as much :) Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
I found your blog after a friend sent me the following and I googled “living in an Hotel”
I’m 71 and still very active….it would suit me down to the ground
::To all of you approaching 50
What a brilliant idea
Where to live when you retire!!!
No NURSING HOME FOR me!!!
No nursing home for us. We’ll be checking into a Holiday Inn!
With the average cost for a nursing home care costing £188.00 per day,
there is a better way when we get old and too feeble.
I’ve already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn.
For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it’s
£59.23 per night.
Breakfast is included, and some have happy hours in the afternoon.
That leaves £128.77 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant we
want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies.
Plus, they provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and
washer-dryer, etc.
Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and
soap.
£5 worth of tips a day you’ll have the entire staff scrambling to help
you.
They treat you like a customer, not a patient.
There’s a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free.
The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp).
To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays.
For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one
of the nice restaurants there.
While you’re at the airport, fly somewhere. Otherwise, the cash keeps
building up.
It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take
your reservation today.
And you’re not stuck in one place forever — you can move from Inn to
Inn, or even from city to city.
Want to see Hawaii? They have Holiday Inn there too.
TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No
problem.. They fix everything, and apologise for the inconvenience.
The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid
checks to see if you are ok. If not, they’ll call an ambulance . . .
or the undertaker.
If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and
Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.
And no worries about visits from family. They
will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days
mini-vacation.
Just thought of something else!
If you “own’ your home (ie its mortgaged to the bank) like I do You can almost certainly rent it out for a lot more than your mortgage payments/ I my case I pay £900 per month the current going rate for my place as a rental is about £1800 per month plus I would loses a lot of other expenses.
Even if I make only £1000 a month excess that still reduces my Holiday Inns bill to about £23 a night. Factor in all the stuff I’d sell (and at 71 I’ve got a LOT of stuff), the holiday costs I wouldn’t have (because Hawaii here I come) and the appreciation that will build up in the equity on my home which someone else will be paying for and I’d make a priofit and still have a lump sum in the house for when I can no longer “work out” or “invite chicks back to my room”.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
hahahahhaah… “The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp).” – you are too much man, I love it. haha… I am dying over here! As if I weren’t convinced before, you really sure know how to put things in perspective ;) I may have to bring this up again in a future post – thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!!! Made my night!!
I would totally consider living in a hotel too! I mean, as for the decor, a lot of them are nicely decorated, furnished and you can bring in your own things. Also, there are hotels that allow you to bring your pets! As for how many, not so sure. I think that it’s a good deal for people who are single or have one other person tagging along. For larger families…not so much. I would definately suggest a single family home. The ONLY con for me is that it kind of reminds me of a retirement home. Lol! Very similar services.
Hahaha, how true that is ;)
I’ve lived in a hotel for about four years now. It’s not that I’m overly-for being a hotel resident, I just happen to be a resident manager. Putting the work aspect of my stay aside, I can safely say that… it’s alright. Of course the room service, in-house bar and restaurant, pool, jacuzzi, and whatnot provide a lot of enjoyment but it balances the cons. I often feel cramped, and want more space. I hate spending $2.50/load on laundry. It’s difficult to have a moment of solitude with the constant traffic that comes with a hotel. All in all it’s not miserable; however, the novelty is all smoke and mirrors.
Oh wow, that is interesting! I forgot about the on-site bar — I think I could get into a lot of trouble there ;) Though it would be PERFECT for client meetings/etc! I guess with everything, there are pros and cons… I just hope I can experience it at least once in my life to see once and for all if it’s my type of thing or not. One day, though!
Thanks for sharing my man, I always enjoy thinking about this kinda stuff.
Easiest way to live in a hotel…..is to work for one. i recently got hired by a mid-sized hotel in town and they wouldnt hire unless i moved in. they take rent out of the paycheck obviously at a very discounted rate. but like mentioned before you pretty much have no living costs to deal with so what money I make is mine.
I lived in a hotel for 15 months while I was working overseas for a specific client. I loved it. No maintenance to worry about. No meals to cook. My expenses were covered and all I had to do was come and go. The hotel even let me use their laundry facilities to do my personal laundry each week. I met so many wonderful people while I lived there because new people would be coming and going every few weeks.
@Christopher – Really??? Haven’t ever heard of THAT before, haha… I like it though ;) I bet you learn the ins and outs doing that, pretty smart on the hotel’s behalf.
@Tackling Our Debt – YES!! That’s what I originally thought too – so many people walk in and out of those doors so you’d meet TONS of people! I love it :) And actually, you just reminded me of something — I used to live in a hotel overseas too!! Haha… only for a month while waiting to get our “real” home (dad was in military), but it was awesome!! Why did I not remember this before?? Oh man, I am so slow. Thanks for the comment! :)
If you stay at an extended stay hotel like Residence Inn, Staybridge Suites, to name a few, they provide a kitchen/kitchenette where you can cook your own meals, free housekeeping, free breakfast, free coffee. I have a Marriot Rewards credit card and you get 1 point for every dollar spent. You can use your points and redeem them for free hotel stay.
I like it!! It’ll be on the list if my wife ever lets us do it!! Haha… thanks for stopping by :)
I’m seriously considering doing this once my current lease is up. Right now, I have a super cheap apartment, but the roommate situation is not working out so hot for me. A studio apartment in the neighborhoods I’ve been looking at start at $1250. Figure $150 for utilities and $50 for gym membership and $50 for misc. apartment spending (cleaning supplies, furniture, improvements, etc) and I’m up to $1500 per month.
Over the last eight months, I have spent 12 nights/month on average in my apartment. So, if I can keep the average nightly spend below $125, I should come out ahead. Using best rate guarantees, hotel loyalty points, priceline, and hoteltonight, I believe I can keep my average cost at or around $75/night.
I think I’m going to pull the trigger on this!
NICE!!! Let us know if you do, and how you like it after a month or so – cool? Would love to hear how it works once put in reality :) I’m jealous!
I want to live in a hotel. I love it. The privacy. I liked it however with the istuation I just got out of. No one knew where I was & that was good for me. I want to go back to one and stay there.
Im going to have a coffee and think about this.
haha, cool. let us know if you ever do it!
I was curious to see other people’s experiences living in a hotel and that’s how I found your site. My family just started living in a hotel recently as a result of a house fire that is going to take several months to repair. Our insurance company put us up at a Residence Inn, which is an extended stay hotel w/a kitchenette until we find more suitable housing. Other than it being a bit cramped (2 adults/2 kids), there are definitely tons of perks:
– Hot breakfast every morning (I also stock up on the fruit and yogurt to snack on throughout the day.)
– Happy hour Mon-Thurs. Includes wine and food. Sometimes I don’t even cook dinner because they have some pretty good offerings like BBQ sandwiches, salads, grilled chicken. If you’re creative, you can make a good dinner out of it or use it for lunch the next day, which I do all the time.
– WIth the free breakfast & happy hour, I haven’t had to shop as much for groceries.
– Unlimited shampoo/conditioner/soap – They even upgraded us to Paul Mitchell products after our 1st full week.
– Free KLEENEX (& toilet paper/paper towels)!!! This one is a huge plus for me since I suffer from terrible year-round allergies. I go through at least 1 box/week.
– No bills, which means I can take as long of a shower as I want (unless I’m feeling environmentally conscious)
– They allow pets.
-Swim/gym access, but even better is access for the whole family to the Lifetime Fitness gym down the road (which is normally >$100/month)
– I can have deliveries made here and they take it to my room.
– I have my own “office” in the roomy Business Center.
Cons:
– Cable channels are limited
– No DVR
– Not much closet or storage space
– Gets loud in the early mornings during the week so probably not good if you are retired and want to sleep in
– Starts feeling claustrophobic after a while
– Very impersonal. I have to stare at boring hotel pictures on the wall instead of beautiful pictures of my family.
I say give it a try. That’s the only way you’ll every find out. Good luck to you!
Cool!!!! Man, I’m getting all excited just reading that! If only you can help convince my wife now – she’s totally ruled it out since this post ;) Appreciate the inside scoop!
I wonder what is the best hotel rewards program is the best to accumulate free rooms?
That’s a GREAT question indeed. If I were getting more serious about this (the Mrs. has since told me a flat NO on this idea now), I’d totally research them all and pick the best option… I put all my charges on 1 credit card now anyways, and that adds up! (Though you probably would need a general “travels” perks card than specific hotel as the main hotels wouldn’t be the ones you’d be living in I don’t think – too expensive. You’d probably need to strike a deal with more of a mom & pop smaller kind of hotel OR an extended stay one/etc… but worth doing the research for!)
I travel for work and usually stay in hotels an avg of 80 days a year. Work pays for the hotel, rental car, airfare and food and I get to accumulate the points. I am single and my apt lease is up in August and plan on experimenting with living Hotels FT for awhile. I have accumulated enough points where I could live in a hotel free for months. Not sure where I will stay but I am moviing everything into storage and plan on doing it. Its a bit of a experiment so we will see what happens. I can use my Southwest points, Priority clubs via Holiday Inn express, and Hotels.com free nites for the rooms.
AWESOME!!! Good for you. Maybe you should start a blog about it and make it a one year experiment where you share all the pros and cons over time? I bet you’ll have a TON of interesting experiences with that ;) Or, come back here after a few months and tell US how it’s been! You can be a guest poster ;) Either way though, have a $hit ton of fun my friend! I’m totally jealous of you.
Living in a hotel is awesome. Home ownership blows – for me anyway. I chose a modern hotel and negotiated a six month rate with the owner of the hotel. I renew every six months. Been here for two years. Five star in Las Vegas. I pay $1600/month and get all the following:
– High speed internet
– Cable with DVR
– Kitchenette with induction cooktop, convection microwave, full size fridge, sink with disposal
– Separate living/sleeping areas
– Free breakfast every morning
– Two flat screen TVs
– 1/2 price lunch/dinner buffet credits
– No surcharge on room service
– Free parking
– Indoor pool
– Outdoor pool
– Infrared sauna
– Steam room
– Tanning beds and mystic spray tan – Don’t need it because black don’t crack! LOL!
– State of the art fitness center
– Free shuttle to airport
– Maid service everyday
– Jetted tub with a vanity that only a woman could love! Double sinks. And a toilet that flushes like Niagara Falls!
And did I mention a great view? I used to live in NYC, but rent out my place in Brooklyn that my parents convinced me to buy even though I never wanted to buy it, as a corporate rental. I have no mortgage, so basically it pays for me to live in a hotel. It is definitely not for everyone, but I enjoy the lifestyle. I do it everywhere I travel now.
And I could have a pet, but I opted not to because I travel too much.
PS – With Enterprise for $9.99/day on weekends, I don’t even both with a car either.
I always thought about this but never had the chance to try it yet. As a young female in college, LA-native and aspiring to move to NYC I think it would be ideal. We have a few here but I rarely go and I never stay more than two hours.
@Beth Johnson – Wowwwwwwwwwwwww I am loving that!! What a killer deal you’ve got going on there! Talk about just doing your thing and enjoying life, thanks so much for sharing with us :) The next time I head out there I’m totally emailing you for a tour. Then I’m gonna blog about how sad I am that I’m still in my unwanted house, haha… at least *someone* is doin’ it right!
@Esther – “We have a few here but I rarely go and I never stay more than two hours.” – A few what? Hotels? That you stay in for only 2 hours? Are you trying to say something about your profession? haha… ;)
What? For some reason this comment notification never got through. Yes, I meant a few hotels. That was what you wrote about, silly.
On second thought, I would be a bit creeped out not knowing who stayed in my room prior. But then again, it’s the same scenario with some apartments.
yeah, just fixed my commenting system… only took like 8 months ;)
I live in a motel, with none of the amenities you mentioned, but I do have a kitchen and laundry and I LOVE it. Like living in an apartment complex minus the lease.
Ooooh that would be nice too! Total freedom to do as you please! :)
Umm, Beth Johnson! Wow! What hotel do you stay at?! I’m from Australia, and the last decent hotel I looked at was 140 a night, haha.
I’m definitely doing Mike’s retirement idea, for sure!
Unfortunately I’ve only stayed at a hotel once in my 19 years of life, and have no experience to tell you all about.
There are def. places you can secure long-term agreements with which will lower the nightly costs a lot, but yeah – there’s not many hotels in my area either that would make it completely a bargain :)
I’m a Sydney, Australia, dwelling on again-off again hotel resident, and very much enjoy the way of life. I have tenants living in a property I own, who for various reasons have asked to hold the lease for some years, which has left me homeless as it were. I’ve variously moved between share-house situations (living with flat or room mates) and hotels ever since, and have to say I prefer hotels any day :)
Hotels, or lodges (being hotels with slightly reduced customer service, eg, front desk open 12hrs a day rather than 24hrs, rooms serviced every few days rather than daily, things like that), which I prefer as they’re a little cheaper than hotels, are also a boon from people who work alone/for themselves.
You never have to worry about a courier delivery arriving while you’re in the bathroom, or if you want to step out to buy lunch, they’re taken care of by the front desk staff :)
Sure there are cons, but the way of life has taught me a lot, and I’ve come to realise just how little I really need to live happily with. For me that’s basically a computer, a smartphone, and a couple of changes of clothes! It’s not always a soul-less, lonely existence either, I got to know the staff at one place so well I was even dating a woman who worked there at one point :)
“and I’ve come to realise just how little I really need to live happily with.” – yes!!! that’s the way I want to be more too :) I like the stuff that I have, but I surely don’t *need* it to be happy or live a good life. and I think shacking up in a hotel would help solidify that more too… though not sure how easy it would be now that we have a baby in the picture, hmm… but I bet it’s still do-able!
thanks for sharing your thoughts, my man – I really enjoyed the perspective :)
The idea of living in hotels really appeals to me and looking to the future I think this will be an increasing trend. With living costs so high, such as house prices, rents, energy etc it make sense. Also with jobs harder to come by it makes you more flexible to move somewhere for a new job, rather than be stuck trying to sell a house.
However there are two problems with some of the rooms discussed.
It’s the same rate for the room whether it’s one person or two. I’m single! It makes it very expensive when two can live as cheaply as one.
The suites with kitchens are typically £20 a day extra compared to just a room. When you get the breakfast included at such as Staybridge – why spend £20 on a kitchen just for the evening meal? You may as well just eat out. Again the kitchen cost wouldn’t seem quite as bad if shared by two people. I think a communal kitchen would be better because it should reduce costs.
I would fancy travelling around the world rather than staying in one location. If you only stay in one place you may as well rent.
That’s an excellent point about the cost being the same whether there’s 1 person or 2 in the mix. Although if you factor in the amount of space you’d then need, I’m sure it helps to cancel out a bit… I’d much rather suck it up and split the costs of course ;)
My husband, son, two cats and I will be moving in to a one bedroom suite at a Residence Inn soon. We’re relocating and our new home isn’t finished. I wasn’t looking forward to it. Instead of doubling our space we’ll be halving it. This post has been an interesting perspective.
Living in a hotel has never been on my “to do” list. Though I see the possibility for perks I don’t know how often we’ll/ I’ll incorporate them into life.
We looked in to corporate housing – they wanted $136 a day plus a $500 pet deposit. They also required a month to month lease. The hotel on the other hand is $95 a day and $100 pet deposit. The 15-18% hotel tax is dropped after you stay for more than 30 days. We’ll be earning Marriott points with our stay and if our closing date changes so to can your reservations.
This is going to be an interesting experiment and hopefully the entire family will come out in one piece. In the mean time thanks for giving it a positive spin.
COOL!! I know it doesn’t sound all that exciting to you now, but I DO hope that changes once you start living my dream over there! :) Who knows, maybe you’ll find living more minimalist is freeing on the brain? And then you can incorporate that back into your normal life again once time? Let us know how it all went later if you remember – would love an update :)
Been living in a hotel(s) for almost six months. I am a single female without pets. I am probably one of the very few Americans who has NEVER wanted to own a home. I retired @ 40 and travel about 40 weeks out of the year. I am only considering buying a condo because I want to be able to home swap which will make my trips even more affordable. I am also considering living in one of the Las Vegas hotel residences which would reduce my tax burden even further because there are no income taxes in Nevada.
Back to hotel living, I use Priceline to get better deals than the hotels will offer, even for monthly stays. I chose the DMV (DC, MD, VA) because I know the area well and there are five international airports that are all accessible via public transportation. And don’t forget, D.C. has the most free museums in the world and it’s a pretty international town. (I say this as a former New Yorker ’92 to ’07) Once I decided on an area, I actually took a couple of weeks to read reviews on Trip Advisor and go to some of the hotels to get a idea of where and how much to bid. The first month was a learning experience ($$$), but since October 2012, I have been averaging between $300 to $375/week taxes included which is pretty cheap for the area if you live alone. I have a small storage (5×10) that I rent for $52/month. My entire life is in that little storage locker! :-)
My current place is a studio/king suite with a full kitchen. It’s not big, but it’s just me, so I don’t need a lot of space. It’s got a sofa, coffee table, desk w/ergo chair, chair/ottoman, chest of drawers, two mirrored closets, king bed. Sheets are around 400TC and I have real comforter with duvet. They offer a free breakfast each morning and dinner four nights per week. At dinner, you get free wine and/or beer. Rail drinks are a whopping $2.00/each. It is close to Metro and there is a free shuttle that will take you to any location within a couple of miles of the hotel. Free safe in room and a full safe downstairs for my laptop when I head out for the day. Free parking. Free gym. Free indoor pool. Free cable around 80 channels including local programming. Free internet. (I have a HotSpot VPN so I don’t stress about internet security). Pet fee is extra.
I don’t own a car, but I do rent from Enterprise two weekends or so per month. They have a $9.99/day special on weekends and they’ll pick me up and drop me off at the hotel. I buy their gas because it’s about $.50 or more cheaper per gallon. Also Costco and other clubs have cheap gas. I have non-owners insurance (that’s a city thing) that allows me to rent without worrying about taking the rental insurance offered. It’s pretty cheap @ about $27/month. Plus, I get those offers from Priceline for airport rentals in case I want to road trip during the week. I also have zipcar for emergencies.
When I am at a place without a full kitchen, I exploit all the free happy hours, reduced price meal deals, Groupon deals, and buffets in the area. I know most of the buffet owners in a specific area and for a $2.00 more they let bring small Tupperware and fill them up. Yes, it pays to get to know people, tip well, and be nice in case you were wondering. They know my hotel living situation and most think its kind of cool albeit odd, so they cut me a break for being a loyal customer. For breakfast, lunch and dinner w/drinks I average about $10/$20/day. More when I hit the Chevy’s happy hour – HARD! $3 margaritas the size of big gulp are hard to turn down! LOL!
I would say the cons can be that some months I had to move every week to another hotel because sometimes on Priceline, the hotel wouldn’t let me extend the rate for additional nights. It was hassle to pack up in the beginning, but once I reduced the amount of the stuff I take with me to a large rolling duffel, I have it down to a science now. Also, some hotels don’t have laundry and the ones that do are often expensive, but one hotel where I stayed often in the beginning just lets me use their laundry every month for free. And I also know the best and cleanest laundromats in each area in case I need to get a to a local place. As for hotel noise, it just doesn’t bother me. Living in NYC for 20 yrs makes you immune to noise. And traveling makes you get out and meet new people. I am living next to some utility contract workers and they are Southerners which means they cook aka fry their dinner every night and are the friendliest guys in the world. So much fun. We have drinks @ the bar and whoop it up! I have met a lot of people I have kept in contact with since last year. And some of the hotel employees are now people I have dinner with when they are not working. People are only strangers if you don’t want to get to know them.
And home ownership is overrated. Owning a home is a lot of responsibility. And it’s not really fair to give home owners a tax advantage. Two people who make the same income should pay the same amount in taxes. That’s called horizontal equity for all you economists out there. The MID, PTD, and other home ownership tax deductions skew the parity amongst taxpayers and create perverse incentives. I digress…
Thanks for letting me tell my story of hotel living. I was looking for a place to blab off about it. :-) It’s a lot to consider, but like all things planning and research can allay your fears and a spreadsheet can put it all in perspective financially. Try it for a month if you can. It’ll be fun and there’s no commitment. If you don’t like it, you can back to where you started.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL! I’ve gotta run. The boys next door have made Texas chili and are ringing the dinner bell!
I WANT TO BE YOU!!! A male-version of you, anyways! Haha… this is awesome, wow. Thank you so much for taking the time to tells us about it all and get me excited again – it’s been a while since I originally wrote this :) Now we have a baby in the mix too making it harder to pull off, but I shall not close out this chapter just yet… One of these days we WILL live in a hotel! Even for just a month, as you mentioned. The pros from everything I’ve read far outweigh the cons – it’s just a matter of convincing my wife at some point ;)
Thanks again! This was fun to read today.
Beth’s post is awesome! I live in the DC area and would love to hear more about where she says, how she does it, etc. Rent is so darn expensive.
I know, right? I’m here in DC too and can’t believe she’s pulling it off like she is – so awesome.
Living in a hotel is pretty sweet if you can get a nice suite. I work out of town 21 days on 7 days off so I spend A LOT of time in hotels and sometimes its pretty good and sometimes its horrible like when I get a crappy small room to share with another dude with 2 beds one foot apart and a hot tub that’s permanently “out of order” and all there is to do is watch tv or sit at the bar spending money it can be pretty depressing. But if I manage to get a decent suite or a room to myself in a semi nice place with decent gym, pool etc its great. Don’t have to make my bed or clean up my empties just wake up in the morning and throw on my boots and go to work and when I come back 12 hours later tired everything is clean and restocked its better than being at home hahaha. No kids jumping around screaming no wife bickering just silence and cold beer.
haha… I can appreciate that! pros and cons to everything I suppose, but I bet you’d get pretty good at increasing your odds of the pros doing it so much every month. Unless it’s totally on your employer to set it all up.
I lived in a hotel room for a couple months with my wife and sons (one in grade school, the other in high school), and two birds. It got old very quick, like within a day or two. The room was very confining, and since the furniture is the hotel’s and rather generic, it feels really impersonal. There was the pool, breakfast, and so on. However, somehow I let a street person know I was staying at that hotel, and he showed up while I was eating breakfast with my wife and bummed money off of me.
It seems that at one time people commonly lived in hotels, but my experience with it was awful.
Oh jeez, haha yeah – doesn’t sound like the perfect scenario, does it? :) Next time you’ll have to upgrade to the penthouse! I’m sure that only costs a few extra pennies (Hah!).
Tell me please, the URLs, phone numbers, and other contact information to websites that I will find these hotels to live in? I have an urgent situation that my brother and I are in need of finding Hotels that we can live in with seperate bedrooms, full bath and a kitchen, by the end of November. We are packed and getting ready to leave soon as we find a hotel in the Hollywood area to live in paying by the month to stay as long as we want. We are living a a fixed monthly income currently $1279USD. not much but if all these articles about living and traveling on a lower budget than ours are true, then. We are serious about living this way for life as we are single, retired and do not want to pay rent or mortage stuck in one place. We may want to live in Hollywood for a year, and just keep exploring the world on our bucket list, documenting our journey, I want to prove two brothers in their fifties can live on the cheap, $1279USD a month, traveling around the planet, for the rest of our natural lives. We don’t have wives or children, just us, our guitars, and other musical instruments, with our acting, singing, musical and artistic talents. I’m selling my furniture, car, household stuff. computers, piano, stove, washer, refrigerator to get unburdened from that stuff.
Sold my house a few years ago, rented an apartment for 8 months, then purchased a new home. I kick myself every day for renting an apartment when a H/motel would have been cheaper and easier. A local motel, that I know to be clean and quiet, would charge $750 a month.
Ahhh, well – at least you now know what to try in the future! Maybe you can give it a shot for like a month when the opportunity rises just to see if it’s really as sexy as we all think it is? :)
I’m currently considering living in a hotel.
In London a central one bed apartment is about £2000 a month before bills etc. However as this is a relocation by using my business to reclaim the vat, the stay is also tax deductible. On top of this using hotels.com provides 1 for 10 nights for free and using cashback sites you can get a further 10-12% back.
In total spending 5 out of 7 nights at the hotel as will be going home and holidays abroad will cut out stay nights. I have calculated that it will cost about £700 a month for an £80 a night hotel. Plus all the perks mentioned above. I can store items at the office and move hotels as required. When you compare this to the £1500 a month without bills by comparison … A hotel seems a much better option.
Hell yeah it does! Not only for the financial reasons, but for the adventure too! Let us know if you end up doing it, and then how you feel about it once there for a while ;)
i live in a motel, not a hotel, i lived out of everything, a car, a semi truck, a van, a truck, 3 different motels, a camper in the winter w/no heat. trust me when i say its not a fun thing to do at all, im currently living a lil shit hole motel room.
That does not sound fun at all, I’m sorry to hear :( I’d only do it if I could afford the nicer units/hotels/RVs.
I currently live in an Extended Stay hotel. Before the move I was paying $950 for rent (2 bedroom apt) + $350 utilities (internet, cable, electric, renter’s insurance, water, trash). $1300 per month. On average I was paying around $43.33 per day (30 days). I booked the hotel online through a discount hotel site for $26 per night. The rooms are fitted for long stays so it comes with a full size fridge, microwave, weekly housekeeping and free grab and go breakfast. Not to mention free Wifi. I save about $500 per month. The staff is friendly and it’s a decent hotel. Yes, people think I’m crazy but I’ve been able to pay off bills and finally build up my savings. Not to mention, I never have to worry about late fees, evictions, or being tied down to a lease. I only wish I had thought of this sooner.
YES!!!! PERFECT!!!!
You’re living out my dream! Haha…. that is bad ass. Good for you for trying it and then more importantly using that money to get your finances on track! Love it!
My wife and I Live in a Hotel For over 4 years 1 room we Cook Have a Large room Were we have a queen Bed a Couch a Desk a large Counter Bureau combination we have a Flat Screen TV which is Ours and a desk my Computer and WiFi A Refrigerator Micro wave a 2 Burner Hot Plate and a Conviction Oven. A Full Bath And We Store our Stuff Its Full not cluttered at all we keep it very Clean. We even have Plants . Why I Married my High School Sweet Heart for 40 years ago. I’m a Professional Drummer but on Disability . When I returned My Home was Gone long Story, Had to sell everything so we could live The Manager Gave my wife a Job at Hotel which has been our salvation. The Hotel Changed Owners We Agreed to a Rent before we could afford and religiously pay it . New Management came on Now are using Dirty Tactics to get us to leave . The Hotel is Empty nearly every day except for 12 People Regulars we are the only residence here. A Woman who Brown nosed her way into management is trying to bully us but I already Warned her not to go Head to Head with me I have sought Legal Council So She Puts People On top and Around us . Doesn’t want to get along So Now I File a Law Suit for Harassment Discrimination
Yikes! Hope you get it all squared away, my man! Love that you found a great way to live like that though and that you married your high school sweetheart :) Sending you positive vibes!!
The Extended Stay America chain is great. Usually they even beat out Motel 6 for long-term monthly rates. I found this one with an ad on Craigslist for their monthly rate and when I booked it through Hotwire on a weekly basis, when I checked in I asked the guy at the desk about that monthly rate and he said that all their hotels have that. Now, the “economy” version only has a kitchenette i.e. mini-fridge instead of a full-size refrigerator, unlike the one I had “hotwired” my way into on my cross-continent trip in Columbus North, which is a full-size Extended Stay America.
Now I may just happen to be in a room close enough to the wi-fi router to be able to say that the wi-fi works well enough to WORK on and do online classes on. It’s clean enough, although I must say I might have had better luck with the “bugs coming in through the door” problem if I were on an upper floor and didn’t always have to insist on ground-floor units because of a slight handicap.
Anyway. The Extended Stay America properties around here are cheaper than apartments when you factor in utilities, having to give first+last+deposit+credit check+references+first born+next of kin+blood sample+DNA sample and yada yada yada.
And since I’m for all intents and purposes single and without cats, (even though cats are allowed at ESA’s) the “single” room is pretty much perfect. Then again, I’m just coming off of my only other choices being dorm-style or hostel-style where there are either at least 8 bunk beds in a room with one bathroom (more like 10), or situations like 10 people to 1 bathroom and a kitchen which is NOWHERE NEAR BIG ENOUGH for that many people to all be cooking all the time (!!) or otherwise dorm-type situations with the bathroom down the hall. Yeah, Extended Stay America is GREAT compared to my other choices. They’re especially great in cities in which even the university dorms are requiring income verifications on full-time STUDENTS.
Hah – I don’t miss shared bathrooms in the least. I can def. still do just one main room though, even though it’s getting tougher w/ kids :) Thanks for the insight on Extended Stay America – nice to know they offer monthly rates!
I’m noticing that the Extended Stay America website never actually reveals the correct total rate when you put in the approximate dates of your stay. For example, for a 2-week stay it’s giving me a rate of $2,532.01. Lol. The website says that the shown price reflects the applied discount, but we know that ESA absolutely does not charge that much for only 2 weeks.
I’ve been leaving out a hotel for almost a year and a half! Its definitely different. It was a big upgrade from living out of a car.
I bet!
Hey great blog! I am thinking of living in a hotel for a few months until I can get an apartment or maybe even live there a year if I can save to later buy a nice condo or maybe a house. I would definitely want a kitchen and washer and dryer. Even with free breakfast it is nice to be able to cook and have stuff not available at restaurants in the area. It seems like it would be fun to live in a hotel! Now is the time to do it since I don’t have a place of my own to worry about. The only big downside to living there is I can’t bring all my clothes and can only bring what fits in a luggage bag. I mean I could have a friend drive me there and bring some more stuff but unless I can always keep the same room I can’t be lugging it around but I’m sure hotel staff could help move it and I wouldn’t bring heavy stuff since it wouldn’t be needed.
Yeah, I think it would def. be do-able over time once you get used to it all. And would probably help you get more minimalist too over the months just cuz you don’t have the space to bring everything! Thus, saving you even more $$$ in the long term :)
RE: your comment below on wifi – I bet it would be okay. I’m sure some rooms are stronger/weaker than others depending on where the routers are located, but if you get a crap one you can always switch rooms yeah? or even hotels in the worst case. I’d def. need wife since I work online for sure.
Do you think the Wi-Fi works well enough to work there? I am planning to work for a travel own business type thing along with already writing short articles for some sites. The travel company might even help even more since I will make money if I purchase the hotel stay through there which I definitely would! Also what about shopping online? Do you think the Wi-Fi would be safe enough since it isn’t private like at home? I wouldn’t take the chance, though it probably isn’t as bad as shopping from a cafe WiFi network! So what should I buy to have my own private network? I only use natural products so some things are hard to find in store and just easier to get online!
We are seriously thinking of living in a hotel now that we’re in our 70’s. We need to downsize now and not wait until one of us is ill. We cannot maintain the costs it takes to maintain our home any longer and we desire easier living. There is nothing to hold us back as our children are scattered throughout the US! We’re looking at all the pro’s and con’s!….Hotel versus RV living? RV living sounds like it could get very expensive and to many things could go wrong. We are in very good health and would like to make this a reality. We have no destination in mind….but would like to venture towards the Northwest. We live on a budget so we’re looking for economical sites.
Love it! Yeah RV living would require a lot more maintenance than a hotel for sure. And from what I’ve read RV’ing can get pricey depending on what type you get and how often you’re traveling around/etc. Still would be pretty fun though in retirement :) You could probably hotel hop though too to still travel? Move around every X # of months and keep minimal stuff with you? I wish I looked into this a lot more before I had babies – hah.
Let us know if you end up taking the plunge!
My husband and I are getting ready to move in a hotel for a week and if we like it, we will stay longer. It will help us to save money and get our bills together. I think it will be a great idea
Way to go!!!! So jealous/excited for you! :)
I retired on a SSI of $1324US per month. I pay $350US a month to rent a air conditioned 2 bedroom, 1 bath, with large kitchen, laundry room, and large living room, porch, small yard, water is included, I pay for gas$60 electric$120, phone $25, internet $70 and premium satellite TV $145., that’s $770, the rest goes to food, sundries, gasoline, insurance, medicine. The place is in town within walking distance of the market, post office, 3 restaurants, library, museum, parks, thrift & antique shops and senior center.
My brother and I would need a 2 bedroom 1 bath hotel room with kitchen and laundry. I don’t know how that could be possible on an income of $1324 a month.
Does Anyone?
Oh wow – $350 is awesome! I don’t know of a hotel where you could get it that low, but who knows…
I think you’d be crazy to leave where you are lol. I wish i could find something like you have! I’m in a “queen suite” in a lower class extended stay hotel. I love my rooms ( I have a bedroom and living/kitchenette/dining room which has a 2 burner stovetop,an apartment size fridge, microwave and a sink that is about a foot square) The only 2 things i would change are I would like an oven and a ground floor unit (my 4 yr old grandson stays sometimes and downstairs neighbors complain about him running around) My rent now that i dont have to pay taxes runs $900 for 4 weeks but $250 more on months with 5 weeks. It’s also in a very bad area-not safe outside after dark
where can you find a hotel like that long term in brooklyn
i’ve been living in and out of a hotel between rented rooms and hotel rooms for the last 6 months. if you have the option, rent a room from someone. they may be weird, usualy they are, but it gives you something to talk about plus it’s WAY cheaper than living in a hotel. at least thats the case with most hotels, in which case you will spend $40 a night, and lets be honest you get what you pay for. no free breakfast, usualy no wifi, tube tv’s, no desk, bad location, bad maid service, i could go on. with how much you eat out, it WILL be a fortune. my advise is to learn to enjoy tuna sandwiches, and anything you can cook in a crock pot (believe me, you will get inventive with crock pot recipes after a total of 4 months in a hotel).
oh jeez, haha.. that would not be worth the trade off in that case :)
“Room in someone’s house” is not SAFER for a single female if you’re in some part of the country where the only homeowners with rooms in their houses are men who happen to be perverts. I’ve found motels to be safer, sorry to burst your bubble. I mean, unless you’re the kind of single female who doesn’t mind being sexually harassed by the homeowner who shows up whenever he wants with no notice given to you whatsoever that he’s coming over, catches you asleep or still in your nightgown because it’s early in the morning, and “does his thing.” Now, some women don’t mind that kind of attention; but not THIS one.
I just came off of an attempt to rent a room in someone’s house, and let me tell you, as a single female NEVER, EVER rent a room in a MAN’s house. The guy was a pervert who tended to show up unannounced whenever he wanted (he lived in his other house in another city) showed up when I wasn’t awake and up and dressed yet, and started touching me inappropriately one day. When I complained about that, he threw me out, “get out TODAY” type thing. Even though I had paid for another month! So from that experience, I will be living in motels/hotels for A WHILE until I “get over” this. I was paying $407/month for the room in the house, and I had to buy the internet modem myself for an additional $45/month (to get the only thing out there that comes in “prepaid,” which doesn’t check credit). For just $500/month I have found a monthly motel that’s OK, it’s kind of run-down but functional, and the wi-fi works and is included. All the other expenses will be exactly the same. The difference? – PEACE OF MIND. Compared to being in someone else’s house where I had to furnish furniture, dishes, pots and pans, even some kitchen electrics, and the broom to sweep the snow off the sidewalk and the aforementioned internet router – the additional $65/month gets me peace of mind that actual motels/hotels have actual RULES and signs posted saying that the manager will come in IF AND ONLY IF you leave for the day and leave the lights and TV on. I mean, rules are posted. Saving a little money to rent a room in someone’s private house in which (depending on the state) they have every right to do whatever they want to you because “it’s their house,” isn’t worth being afraid you might be raped in – well, it’s “his” house but it’s MY BODY. To recap: I’ll never rent from a man again. This particular pervert is married with children!!
Yikes, sorry to hear you had such a horrid experience :( I wouldn’t say it’s the same renting from *all* men, but yes – def. gotta prioritize safety above all else. Good job getting out of there when you did!
I live in a gated hotel on the beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It is just one of three main vacation hotel buildings, and my building is twenty two stories high. There are tennis courts, two gyms, five pools indoor and out, one sauna, two hot tubs. Game Arcade. Volleyball court. A snack bar and restaurant, and I am a few steps from the ocean. Private security, large parking lots, and I have lived in a condo in the tower building for the last four years. Free cable, free internet. Full kitchen, bath with tub, vanity, deck, and all I pay is my own electricity which is $23.00 per month. The rent on my condo is $600.00 per month! Things are definitely cheaper in South Carolina. The hotel doesn’t rent the condo. A property manager does that and the owners set the rental price. There is a laundry facility downstairs. Water and garbage are free. This resort is full in the summers, lots of tourists but very quiet the rest of the year. It is a huge resort, many buildings and activities. All landscaped, ponds with ducks and swans, and turtles. I have my own mail box in another building, and always know my car is safe in any of the parking areas. If you can find a similar situation, it beats renting an apartment hands down. I can leave my condo, travel for a month, or a week or so and never worry about my condo or the contents. Security is 24/7 and always a phone call away. I do not have maid service. Nobody enters my condo without my permission. I wish I had discovered this way of living a long time ago …
WOAH!!!! Packing my bags now! Haha…. so so cool man, congrats on figuring that out. Bad ass.
David: May I ask how you found this great situation? Did you know the property manager? I’m moving south to be near family and the myrtle beach area is not out of the question. But, sounds like one could find a similar way of living anywhere.
I see this is an old post, however it was quite relevant to my recent search. I am relocating as my husband and i will both be attending college in a state thousands of miles from our home. It’s a real college town and rent is geared toward multiple students sharing rent. Or else it’s “cheap” housing in a low income housing development.
After looking into rental properties, and even cosidering buying a home for the time we would be out there I decided that living in a hotel is going to be the way to go. We won’t have to sign a year lease even though we will be there for only 9 months. We wont have to worry about selling a house either when we leave.
For $900 a month, My husband, the two kids and I can live in a nice suite with a kitchenette. There is a swimming pool, fitness center, free full breakfast every morning, wi-fi, cable, electric, gas, water, sewer is all included for one price. We already live in a very small house, so that won’t be a huge issue.
I’ve thought about it quite often and even went as far as offering my guest service skills for part time work at the hotel I have chosen, in exchange for an even better rate. We travel quite a bit, so hotel stays are not anything new. Living in one for potentially nine months is however a new experience.
I think it will work quite nicely. I only have to pay one bill a month (excluding my phone and netflix of course). There will be staff on 24/7. I think it will be far more secure than a low income housing environment in a large city. See, we are country bumpkins and come from a small town in rural wi of about 463 people.
I think it will work nicely, and I will be sure to blog about it as we go forth on this journey beginning in September of this year. It was quite interesting to read all of the comments and see all the different perspectives regarding living in a hotel. I’m pretty excited to see how this goes.
Nice!!!
I’m excited for you guys – and of course jealous :)
Will you come back and let us know how it goes over the months/years? Would love to follow along and learn as you go…. Will go over and check out the blog now too and see what else you’re up to.
Thx for stopping by – always fun to look over old topics covered here and see if I still think the same :) In this case, I still do! Only I’m kicking myself even more as now there’s no way my wife will let me live in a hotel with two new kids in tow… So I’m hoping your experience gives me more ammunition to try and convince her later, haha…
Good luck at school!
Drug addicts and prostitutes Not! We arrived in SC with every intentions of getting a place to live… Of course people saw our Florida license plate and automatically thought we were either rich or stupid… Neither of which we are… We settled in a nice cheap motel… Went House hunting.. One guy wanted $3000 down… The second guy was rude he was selling a 2 bedroom 1 bath piece of crap.. By then we were desperate he wanted $500 down, which we had, and $600 for the first month..which we would have had in 2 days..he refused to wait for me to get paid…we have had other sellers in between those two and since who made outrageous requests…we have lived out if this room now going on two months…had our newly obtained license plate stolen..a twisted ankle and a hurt back later we are still living out of the room with little money for food most of it goes to pay for our room and for gas…no help in sight and despite this we hold down jobs and do our best…then some ignorant a** nipple head decides he/she has all the answers…do us all a favor next time you post make sure you know what the hell you’re talking about!
Not sure who this comment is geared towards, but a) Awesome use of “nipple head!” haha… and b) I hope your situation does get better over there. Sounds like an incredibly tough spot to be in :(
I live in a Hotel. Its not a cheap flea ridden Prostituation place Hotel is owned by HILTON.
They have all the features free breakfest beautiful room pool maid service Good Rates for long term stay. Of course I am single that what makes it attractive.
I’m jealous :)