Can You Stay at a Hotel for a Month? A Guide to Extended Hotel Stays

Traveling for a month or longer? Instead of booking nightly hotel rooms, you may want to consider extended stay options that feel more like home for 4 weeks or more.

Hotels provide flexible housing whether you’re working remotely, traveling, or undergoing housing changes. Read on for tips about monthly hotel policies, rates, amenities and more.

Monthly Hotel Stays Provide More Comfort and Stability

Rather than living out of suitcases in standard hotel rooms, extended stay hotels cater to guests staying a week or longer.

Benefits of extended hotel stays include:

• More space and separate areas to work, cook, dine and sleep
• Kitchens with full refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, utensils
• In-room laundry or free guest laundry facilities
• Larger beds and more closet space for storage
• Discounts for longer stays vs nightly rates
• Easy billing with deposits and monthly payments

Monthly rates at extended stay hotels range from $1500-$3500 depending on the hotel class, location and size of the suite. Still, this can equal big savings over booking back-to-back short term hotel rooms.

Major Extended Stay Hotel Chains

All the major hotel brands offer extended stay properties catering to monthly guests:

Residence Inn – Residence Inn by Marriott has over 850 locations with spacious suites up to two bedrooms and full kitchens.

TownePlace Suites – TownePlace Suites by Marriott specializes in apartment-like hotels with weekly and monthly rates.

Homewood Suites – Homewood Suites by Hilton has 500+ all-suite properties designed for weeklong stays.

MainStay Suites – MainStay Suites by IHG offers apartment-style living with full kitchens in 450+ hotels.

Staybridge Suites – Staybridge Suites by IHG provides residential comfort for monthly travelers.

Element Hotels – Element Extended Stay Hotels provide monthly suite rentals with kitchens across the US.

Candlewood Suites – Candlewood Suites by IHG has over 350 locations focused on comfort for long term guests.

Extended Stay America – Extended Stay America are budget friendly monthly hotel suites with kitchenettes and laundry rooms.

Amenities Helpful for Month Long Stays

Look for extended stay hotels offering these helpful amenities and services if booking a month stay:

• Kitchen facilities – Stovetops, microwaves, full fridges, sinks, cookware and utensils allow home cooking.
• Groceries – Some hotels partner with nearby markets for grocery delivery or offer convenience stores on-site.
• Laundry – Washer/dryer units in rooms, free guest laundry facilities, or valet laundry services keep clothes clean.
• Housekeeping – Weekly or bi-weekly cleaning keeps your suite tidy. Decline days not needed.
• Storage – Closets, dressers and pantries offer ample space for suitcases, folded clothes and personal items.
• Fitness centers – Exercise rooms provide a way to stay active. Some offer fitness classes. Pools, trails and recreation add options.
• Business centers – Printers, computers, WiFi, office supplies and conference rooms enable working.
• Social events – Monthly guests can connect through mixers, happy hours or other hosted social activities.

Compare Monthly Rates Across Hotels

Monthly rates average $1500-$3500 but compare these factors across hotels:

• Room size – Studios may have lower monthly rates than one bedroom suites. But also consider closet size, storage, desk space and layout.
• Dates – Weekly and monthly rates can fluctuate based on demand and peak travel seasons. Avoid major holidays or events.
• Location – Extended stay hotels in downtowns or major cities cost more than those in suburbs or small towns. Airport proximity also raises rates.
• Quality – Older extended stay hotels offer lower monthly pricing. But assess the tradeoffs – are amenities dated? Is service consistent?
• Commitment – Longer term commitments like 3-6 month stays may guarantee better rates. But weigh flexibility needs.
• Discounts – Government, corporate, AAA or senior discounts can lower monthly hotel costs. Inquire about loyalty program deals as well.

Consider Transportation Needs for 30+ Days

When staying at a hotel for a month or longer, consider transportation logistics to key places:

• Airport – If flying in, prioritize proximity to make arrival/departure easy. Hotels may offer airport shuttles.
• Work – Will you commute to a local office? See if extended stay brands have locations close by.
• Meetings – If visiting clients or offices, avoid stays isolated from your meeting points.
• Errands – Try to choose extended hotels near groceries, pharmacies, post offices and other key errand spots.
• Attractions – Pick a location offering easy access to points of interest if doing site seeing on weekends.
• Parking – Having a rental car? Seek hotels with free, ample on-site parking.

Mapping estimated drive times from potential hotels can optimize convenience and transportation if staying for 1-3 months.

Expectation Setting for 30+ Day Stays

Working with hotel staff to understand policies and set expectations makes the stay smoother. When booking, discuss:

• Expected length of stay. One month? Three months? Hotels may require commitments.
• Possible extensions if your project or work runs longer than anticipated.
• Discounts like weekly, monthly or corporate rates. Inquire about package deals.
• Payment processes. Hotels may require deposits or monthly pre-payment. Understand cancelation policies.
• Kitchen access like dishes provided, groceries delivered or nearby supermarkets.
• Laundry options – in room or on premise. Understand any related fees.
• Housekeeping – is it once a week or bi-weekly? Customize as needed.
• Parking situation – find out about on-site parking rules and fees if you have a rental or personal car.
• Pet policies if you need to accommodate your dog or cat. Weight limits, deposits and fees apply.
• Early check-in/late checkout policies if arriving from the airport late or leaving later.

Discussing expectations upfront makes for the best experience during month long hotel stays. Staff can help accommodate your needs when they understand the length and purpose of your visit.

Long Term Stays Still Provide Hotel Hospitality

Just because you’re staying a month instead of a night doesn’t mean you lose the perks of staying at a hotel. Even during extended stays you can enjoy:

• Daily housekeeping
• Room service
• Laundry and dry cleaning
• On-site restaurants and bars
• Hotel gyms, pools, activities
• Business centers
• Concierge services for help booking local experiences
• Ground transportation coordination
• Familiar brand standards and loyalty programs

Review all the amenities and programming the hotel offers that can enhance your month-long stay. Don’t be shy to ask questions – staff are there to help accommodate your needs as a long-term guest.

Weigh Pros and Cons of Monthly Hotel Stays

Before committing to a hotel for 4 weeks or longer, weigh the key pros and cons:

Pros

• More space and separate areas than a standard hotel room
• Access to kitchen facilities for home cooking
• On-site laundry units or laundry services
• Cost savings compared to nightly hotel rates
• Easy to change or extend dates if plans shift
• No long term lease commitment required
• Consistent brand amenities and staff at known chains

Cons

• Expensive compared to monthly rentals or sublets
• Less personalized or homey than a rental house or apartment
• Potential boredom being on a single property for 30+ days
• Limited parking and storage for personal belongings
• No accumulation of equity like when owning property

The convenience and consistency of extended hotel stays make them ideal for certain long-term travels. But also price compare to furnished rentals, corporate housing, or Airbnbs for a month stay.

Overall hotels allow the flexibility to book month-long accommodations in a hurry – just decide based on your budget and needs. By understanding policies, pricing, and amenities at leading brands, you can make extended hotel stays feel like home.