1. Budget. Corporate apartments are typically less expensive than most comparable hotels. The key word is “comparable.” If you are looking for a bargain basement deal you may be better off with certain less desirable hotel chains. Although, if you stay in a hotel you won’t have the advantage of a fully equipped kitchen, so you’ll end up spending more on eating out.
2. Size of apartment. I’ve spoken with people on the phone who wanted to pack six people into a two bedroom apartment. Be practical when choosing the size of the apartment. Most states have maximum tenant laws restricting the number of people per bedroom to two. These days it is not uncommon to put two twin beds in a bedroom, but expect the cost of the apartment to increase slightly because your provider will need to cover the added utilities of an extra person.
3. Pets. Certain breeds of pets are discouraged for insurance reasons. If you have a pet, make sure you describe the breed, age, and weight to the provider when making a housing request. This way your provider can select a property for you that best meets your needs.
4. Features and amenities. If you prefer the look of stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, let your provider know. Also many properties have desirable amenities such as a fitness center, a coffee lounge, a theatre room, and/or a swimming pool. Make sure you select a property that allows you to maintain important routines, such as exercising daily.
5. Location. Choose a practical location. If you are working in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, it may not make sense to live below 14th Street. On the other hand, if downtown living best suits your style, then make sure that your apartment is near public transportation. Being near major highways, train or bus stops, or even within walking distance of your workplace will make your temporary assignment that much more enjoyable.

5 Practical Tips When Choosing a Furnished Apartment is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.

1.) Relocation. Many people have found a new job in another town and haven’t sold their home yet. They choose to live in corporate housing while the real estate market recovers because it means they will only need to move their personal belongings once.
2.) Remodeling. When a home renovation project requires the occupants to vacate for an extended period of time, many people move into corporate housing. They do this not only because it’s more cost effective, but also because the presence of a fully equipped kitchen saves them money on eating out.
3.) Purchasing a home. For those who have been lucky enough to sell their home and have yet to close on their next home, there are temporary furnished apartments. This is advantageous because it gives you and your family more room to stretch out and relax than a hotel room would.
4.) Military/TDY. Military personnel on a TDY in a city far from home choose to live in corporate housing over a hotel. Oftentimes furnished apartments are in properties that have fitness centers on site, and are within a short drive from the base.
5.) Vacation. Retirees wishing to travel for one to two months at a time, or grandparents coming to the area to help out with a newly born grandchild prefer corporate housing to a hotel. It’s possible to rent a furnished apartment with a pull out couch, so extended family members and friends can visit during their stay.
6.) Divorce or separation. Spouses enduring a separation or divorce often move into corporate housing while the legal issues are resolved. This gives the family more time to divide up personal belongings. Corporate apartments have all of the details managed by a dedicated team of housing specialists, so the occupants have more time to dedicate to what’s really important.
7.) Extended medical treatment. Furnished apartments are the best option for patients undergoing an extended medical treatment. They are often quieter than a hotel where noisy vacationers come and go, and they can be located on the first floor or in an elevator building.

7 Reasons Why People Choose Corporate Housing is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.

Seven Las Vegas neighborhoods to consider...

Deciding upon a neighborhood in which to live in Las Vegas can be a gamble. Whether you’re on a temporary assignment there, or relocating there permanently, it is a good idea to vet out the different Las Vegas suburbs and neighborhoods by first living in them temporarily through Las Vegas corporate housing.  Corporate housing, also known as furnished apartments or serviced apartments, is a complete housing package that includes all rent, furniture, housewares, linens, and utilities including local telephone and basic cable. Furnished apartments have the best that both apartments and hotels can offer because for example a corporate apartment has double the square footage of the average hotel room and includes a kitchen fully stocked with all cooking essentials. In fact, all you will need is a bag of groceries and a suitcase with your personal belongings. While Las Vegas serviced apartment leases are generally short term leases of around 3 months, they can also be as little as 30 days or as long as several years. If you’re looking for a Las Vegas corporate apartment, here are seven options you may want to consider:

1. Downtown Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Strip is where the excitement begins, and if you love the lights of the big city then why not live there? Corporate housing on the Strip is luxurious and has the easiest accessibility to all that Las Vegas has to offer.
2. Lake Las Vegas. Only 17 miles from the Strip, Lake Las Vegas sits in the desert like an oasis. The suburb has world-class hotels and spas, recreation on the lake, and a championship golf course. Lake Las Vegas furnished apartments are upscale and more laid back than the Strip.
3. Green Valley Ranch. If you’re in the market for Green Valley Ranch corporate housing, ask that it be within walking distance of the District or the local resort. The District is an upscale shopping destination with high-end stores and dining. The resort has a casino, spa, and its own nightclubs. Green Valley Ranch has its own excitement apart from the glitz of the Strip, but with a more suburban feel.
4. Seven Hills. The ancient city of Rome was founded on seven hills, and it is from this that the city takes its name. Like all great communities, Seven Hills has access to a superior roads system. It is within a short drive from both the I-215 Beltway and Interstate 15. It also has recreation such as golfing at the Rio Secco golf course, or enjoying the four parks that the city has to offer. All roads will lead you to a Seven Hills furnished apartment.
5. Anthem. Anthem is known for its country club neighborhoods, and also for its active adult retirement communities. If you live in Anthem corporate housing, then much of your day-to-day life is going to revolve around the local country club. The country club has many gated communities, tennis, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a championship golf course designed by Hale Irwin and Keith Foster.
6. Inspirada. The first and only New Urbanist community in the Las Vegas area, Inspirada corporate apartments will inspire you with their design. New Urbanism is an urban design movement that began in the 1980s and promotes walkable neighborhoods and has a variety of housing types to appeal to a variety of job types. Inspirada was not only laid out with beautiful architecture and design, but it was created with the health of its residents in mind. The community offers a variety of recreational activities to keep its members healthy and active.
7. Summerlin. Summerlin corporate housing appeals to corporate travelers with families because of the many public and private schooling options. The tree-lined streets and European roundabouts all lend themselves to what is a beautifully laid out city. There are also a variety of recreation and entertainment activities that make it easy to have children in Summerlin.

Living in Las Vegas corporate housing will give you more time to enjoy the entertainment and excitement that the city has to offer. Your corporate housing provider’s support staff will make sure that your staff is stress free. Furnished apartments will give you more leisure time than any other housing option can. Choosing to live in Las Vegas is an easy decision. Deciding which neighborhood or suburb to live in should be the most difficult part of your stay.

Las Vegas Corporate Housing- 7 Neighborhoods to Consider is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.

• Cottonwood/Midvale is centrally located in the middle of the valley, close to canyon access and close to the I-215 belt route.  In 2007, Money magazine rated Cottonwood Heights as # 100 on their Best Places to live list.  A few months in corporate housing in the Cottonwood/Midvale area will find you wanted to extend your assignment.

• Sandy/West Jordan, in the South part of the valley, offers easy access to I-15.  Both populous cities (West Jordan is the 4th largest city in the state of Utah), the Sandy/West Jordan area offers a taste of the big city life, with all of the best features of its smaller city status.

• Downtown Salt Lake City is modern and fun, and the center for shopping and restaurants.  Here you get all the cosmopolitan touches of a large urban center, unspoiled by breathtaking views of the mountains and valley.  The ski slopes are a short drive away—allowing you to balance your life between work and play, and between city and nature.

Salt Lake City corporate housing should allow you more time to enjoy the city than if you were to go it alone.  With a friendly support staff on hand to make sure that the washing machine is spinning properly and that your cable is properly installed, furnished apartments create free time like no other housing option.  Deciding to live in a corporate apartment in Salt Lake City is easy.  With so many friendly suburbs and trendy neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, choosing an area that suits your style should be the most difficult part of your stay.

Salt Lake City Corporate Housing: 3 Areas of the City to Consider is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.

Business Traveler Profile is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.

Passengers’ Bill of Rights is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.

Business Travel and Video Conferencing is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.

1. Be flexible. If you’re willing to catch a red eye, or even fly during the off season, you’ll end up with a much better deal.
2. Book in advance. Generally, the earlier you book the better your deal will be.
3. Sign up to receive deals and alerts by email from your preferred airline, or from a number of airlines.
4. Use credit cards with rewards that are related to travel.
5. Sign up for a frequent flier mile program.
6. Check the airline’s website directly to avoid booking fees.
7. Assess any hidden fees associated with the flight before choosing an airline.
8. Many airlines offer travel packages that include discounted rental cars.
9. Consider flying stand-by, if you’re flying during the off season.
10. Fly coach or economy class.

In essence, a little discomfort (such as flying red eye, flying stand-by, or flying with one or more stops) can lead to big savings for your company. Also planning in advance through the use of frequent flier miles, and booking a flight early can help your company’s bottom line. A little thrift improves the public’s view of business travel altogether. Which in a climate where people are hesitant to invest, could really make your company stand out from the crowd.

Business Travel Tip: Reducing the Cost of Airline Tickets is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.

1. Use websites like Valpak and Hot Coupons for free restaurant coupons.
2. Purchase an Entertainment Book at Entertainment.com. Entertainment Books run around $15-20, and you can preview the restaurants that have coupons in the book before you buy it.
3. Earn free airline miles or cash rewards with Rewards Network at RewardsNetwork.com. The program rebates 10-20% off of your restaurant bill for the equivalent number of airline miles or as a cash reward.

Although no one wants to break out the coupon book when they’re treating a client to dinner, when dining alone or with a family that’s visiting, it can be an alternative to eating in.

Business Travel Tip: Reducing Food Costs is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.

1. Refueling a car before returning it to the rental facility.
2. Sharing ground transportation costs with other employees.
3. Moving to smaller, less expensive car rentals.
4. Renting more fuel efficient cars (non-hybrids).
5. Using more public transportation when traveling.

Here are some other hints for reducing ground transportation costs while on a business trip:

1. Use van share services such as Airport Express instead of taking your own taxi to and from the airport.
2. Drive below 60 mph. For every 5 miles you drive above 60 mph, it’s like paying an extra $.24/gallon for gas.
3. Use cruise control and drive sensibly. Excessive accelerating and braking wastes gas.
4. Bring a pair of walking shoes, and use public transportation.
5. If you’re going to a conference, partner with other (non-competitive) companies that will be attending as well. For example, if your company is a partner in the organization, consider sharing ground transportation costs with an associate partner. This can be a bonding experience as well, in which you share valuable industry information and form business alliances.

Business Travel Tip: Reducing Ground Transportation Costs is a post originally from the Corporate Housing Shoppers Blog, which focuses on corporate housing, travel tips, area information and other topics helpful to corporate travelers.