Flat Chance

I admit I was hesitant when my friend first suggested that we look into renting flats or apartments for our European adventure. Well, maybe a little more than hesitant…it was more of a “Whatchoo talkin ‘bout Willis?” kind of moment. 

You mean you want me to sleep in someone else’s bed, use their dishes, their shower, and otherwise be in their personal space amongst their personal things, for several days in a foreign country? Uh, let me think about that one.

But after I did a little research (ok, a lot) and looked at the savings versus the hotels in the area, I started to open up to the idea. Then I realized the range of neighborhoods that we could explore and the opportunity to “live like a local” became hugely appealing to me. This was really going to add to our adventure.

The idea of renting a flat as opposed to booking a hotel is becoming more and more popular. Living like the locals do has its benefits. In choosing a flat, you have a better opportunity to experience the various neighborhoods of a metro area. In London for example, the neighborhoods of Chelsea, Camden, and Greenwich each have different characteristics that would make for a distinct experience depending on where you choose to stay (more on London neighborhoods in a future post). Hotels, on the other hand, are usually only available in limited areas (read: typical tourist spots).

Renting a flat will also save you money. In my research, I found they were 10 to 25 percent cheaper than booking a hotel. Plus, you would typically have a kitchen and laundry available which is invaluable when you’re trying to save on food costs and when you’re traveling light. And the idea that you’ll be living in someone else’s personal space is not entirely true. While there are some inhabited apartments that people sublet, many are solely rented to travelers.

There are a few good services available for online booking – we used Airbnb and I would recommend them for ease of use and a wide variety of possible rentals. So when planning your next trip, do a little neighborhood research, check out some reviews and consider giving a flat a chance!

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please share below.