5 Tips for Booking a Furnished Apartment for Your Holiday Travels

The holidays are a time for family, friends and fun. It's also a time when the airports are packed and hotel rates are through the roof. This year, why not try something different and book a furnished apartment for your travels? Not only will you save money on nightly rates, but you'll have all the amenities of home at your fingertips. College students have been doing this for years - it's the perfect way to host "Friendsgiving" or to have their families stay with them while they're away from home. In this blog post, we'll give you five tips for finding the perfect furnished apartment for your holiday travels!

1. Do your research

The first step to finding the best furnished apartment is to do your research. There are a number of websites that can help you find furnished apartments in the area of your choosing like FurnishedFinder.com, AirBnb, or us STARS of Boston! As well, there are online forums where you can ask for recommendations such as Facebook, Reddit, and Craigslist to name a few. Once you have a list of potential apartments, it’s time to start narrowing down your options.

2. Consider your budget

One of the most important factors to consider when looking for a furnished apartment is your budget. Make sure to set a budget before you start your search so that you don’t end up spending more than you can afford. Keep in mind that furnished apartments can often be more expensive than unfurnished ones, but this is because they come with furniture and in many cases Wi-Fi and utilities are totally included in the price as well. So be aware that you may pay more upfront but ultimately less effort must go into preparing a stay in a furnished apartment especially if you are staying longer than a few days.

3. Check the reviews

Another important step in finding the best furnished apartment is to check the reviews. There are a number of websites where you can read reviews from other renters, which can give you a good idea of what to expect from a particular apartment complex. Google and Yelp are some good examples of sites that provide an array of guest experiences and reviews. If an apartment has mostly positive reviews, it’s likely a good place to live. And while it may feel like common sense, if there are more negative reviews than positive ones, you might want to keep looking.

4. Ask for recommendations

If you know someone who has lived in a furnished apartment, be sure to ask for their recommendations. Word of mouth can be one of the most reliable forms of getting a review, also sometimes people know about things that google doesn't. They may be able to tell you about their experience with different furniture rental companies or give you some tips on what to look for when searching for an apartment.

5. Compare prices

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s time to start comparing prices. Be sure to compare the cost of rent, utilities (if they are included or not), and furniture rental between different apartments so that you can find the best deal possible. With a little bit of effort, you should be able to find the perfect furnished apartment for your needs and budget!