Do you know? Some young people have stopped renting and have started renting hotels for a long time.
Search for the keyword "long-term rental hotel" on various social media platforms, and the content such as "long-term hotel stay is probably a paradise for lazy people" and "how cool is a long-term hotel rental" reveals a more "fragrant" experience than the traditional way of renting, which makes people look at it and be eager to see it.
In their eyes, hotels are no longer synonymous with "expensive" and "low value for money". Where is the "fragrance" of long-term rental hotels? What kind of lifestyle does this mean?
When it comes to staying in a hotel, do you think it's expensive to stay for one night? Not to mention hotel prices in big cities like Shanghai.
According to the data of Douyin's "Food, Accommodation and Travel" list in January 2023, Shanghai Peace Hotel and Shanghai International Tourism Resort are the most popular. Rates start at Peace Hotel Shanghai from ¥2834 per night, while Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Shanghai International Tourism Resort starts from ¥898 per night. Expensive, isn't it?
Data source: A wine hotel APP, 2023.3.18 Douyin Beautiful City's "Food, Accommodation and Travel" List (January 2023)
However, the long-term hotels mentioned here are not such high-end hotels, but hotels that can be sold for ¥200-500 a night. Perhaps we can put aside the stereotype that staying in a hotel is expensive and consider the possibility of long-term hotel rental when renting.
In fact, due to the epidemic in recent years, as well as the slump in the housing rental industry, hotels are increasingly welcoming customers to come to long-term rentals to achieve fixed income and reduce the vacancy rate of rooms.
Screenshot source: Douyin @ a small intermediary in the urban area
As for the rental issue that everyone is most concerned about, some industry insiders said that the long-term rental price of most hotels in the market is basically 6-8% off the daily listing price, and if it is in the off-season, some hotels may launch a small number of 5% off price rooms in order to attract customers¹.
Therefore, as long as the price is in place, in fact, choosing a hotel with convenient service and renting a single room for a long time is also a rental option that can be considered.
Downtown Shanghai The price of three months for a long-term hotel
Taking the Jing'an Temple business district in downtown Shanghai as an example, we compare the prices of long-term hotels with those of renting rooms. Let's explain to readers in other cities, because we chose downtown Shanghai, so whether it is a hotel or a rental price, it will be more expensive.
We inquired about the long-term rental rates of 2 hotels in the business district, and they all scored more than 4.5 on the hotel app.
A chain hotel, a superior king bed room, including 1 1.8-meter queen bed, 20㎡, the listed price from a wine hotel APP is ¥473 per night (breakfast included).
If you rent for three months, the monthly lease is about ¥11100, that is, ¥370 per night (breakfast included), which is equivalent to a 78% discount;
Screenshot source: A wine hotel APP 2023.3.20
A private hotel in Shanghai, a comfortable double bed room with 1 1.5m double bed, 22㎡, the listed price from a wine hotel APP is ¥414 per night (breakfast is not included).
If you rent for three months, the monthly rent is about ¥7200, that is, ¥240 per night (excluding breakfast), which is equivalent to 6% discount.
Screenshot source: A wine hotel APP 2023.3.20
The above are all reference prices, and you can negotiate further with the hotel. Compared with the chain hotels with uniform pricing nationwide, the pricing of private hotels is relatively flexible and better to negotiate.
And the hotel and rent in the city center will be more expensive, if you do not need to live in the city center, and you can make some concessions in terms of accommodation conditions, such as no breakfast, reduce the number of cleaning, etc., and then emphasize the advantages of your long rental period, you may be able to get a better price. It depends on everyone's negotiation skills.
Downtown Shanghai Rental price comparison
After understanding the price of a long-term hotel, let's compare the price of renting a regular house or apartment. Considering that people who generally choose to rent a single room in a long-term hotel, they should not want to share a room with others. The premise of the comparison here is to rent a whole one-bedroom apartment.
Taking the price of a private hotel as a reference, the only cost of a long-term rental hotel is the room fee, and with a monthly rent of 7200, you can have a room with an area of about 22 square meters, and close to the subway, convenient transportation and cleaning service.
In the Jing'an Temple business district, if you want to rent a one-bedroom apartment with the same area of about 22㎡, cleaning services, and good decoration, the whole apartment is the most suitable, and the monthly rent is about ¥5000-6000+.
Data source: A rental platform, 2023.3.20
However, in addition to rent, there are many hidden costs, such as the time cost of choosing a house, water, electricity, gas network fees, property fees, the cost of adding and replacing furniture and other miscellaneous expenses.
Now let's calculate an account, assuming that the rent of the entire one-bedroom apartment is ¥5000, [rent 5000] + [10% service charge ¥500] + [broadband ¥100] + [water and electricity gas about ¥200] (apartments are more expensive commercial water and electricity) = ¥5800.
Not counting the things you just moved in, it costs almost 6,000 a month to move in. In addition, you will have to invest time and energy in packing up your new home.
Screenshot source: Douyin @南熙Nancy
If your rental requirements are higher (such as larger rooms, south-facing, with a balcony, and closer to the subway station), the housing cost adds up to ¥7,000.
So analyzed, for some renters who pursue cost-effectiveness, long-term rental hotels do not have an advantage in price. So why are many young people still willing to spend one or two thousand yuan more to choose long-term rental hotels?
The hotel, in the eyes of everyone, is synonymous with "temporary accommodation", and to another extent, it also represents freedom.
Short-term contracts for long-term hotel rentals have a sense of freedom to walk away. In contrast, the traditional rental contract of one payment and three leases for one year is full of a sense of constraint, making you have to be bound to the city and work you live in for a long time. For young people who yearn for freedom, long-term rental hotels are undoubtedly free from this shackle.
Screenshot source: Douyin @长葛盛合丽晶酒店
Staying in a hotel also means breaking free from household chores.
The hotel has an aunt who specially cleans, the neat bed, the newly replenished mineral water at the bedside, and the new bath towel with creases in the bathroom, which greatly enhances the happiness of life for young people who do not want to do housework. The room is tired of living, and you can even change rooms to live in, and you can do it with a phone call. Life with service is so convenient and worry-free.
Source: Figureworm Creative
Long-stay hotels also have many inconveniences
If the advantages mentioned above make you crazy about long-term rental hotels, then the disadvantages mentioned next need to be considered at your discretion.
The biggest hassle of staying in a hotel is doing laundry. Some hotels may provide communal washing machines, but due to hygiene concerns, it is difficult to use them with peace of mind, and hand washing is still unavoidable.
And the room generally does not have a balcony, and you can only choose to dry your clothes indoors. The hotel also does not have a kitchen, if you are tired of takeout, plugging in a small electric pot should still be sufficient, but it is not very convenient to make two or three dishes.
Screenshot source: Douyin @酒店情报局
Safety issues are also issues that should not be underestimated when staying in hotels. The flow of people in the hotel is very frequent, and there will be frequent footsteps passing outside the door, although there are security personnel, but it is inevitable to worry. In addition, hotel soundproofing is not necessarily very good, and these problems all affect the living experience to a greater or lesser extent.
The most important, and the most concerned issue, is the price. Compared to renting an ordinary house, the price of long-term rental hotels is still high, or there are few cost-effective options.
If you rent an ordinary house, if you want to save rent, you can choose a place far from the business district or subway station, but the better hotel, the long-term rental price is within the more expensive rental amount. For young people with a low rental budget, it is difficult to make a decision to rent a hotel.
Who are the people who choose long-term hotels?
When you just need a place for a short transition, a hotel is actually a good choice. People who choose long-term hotel rentals are generally unsure how long they will stay in the city in the future, whether it will be a few months or half a year.
For example, college students who are in the internship period want to choose a place to live close to the company, and do not want to buy a large number of daily necessities; For example, business people who often travel for one month or two months; For example, some freelancers or remote workers who have no fixed place to live.
Screenshot source: Douyin @Daily Economic News
Some people are fed up with the pain of renting: the landlord does not give a refund deposit, is pitted by an intermediary, or encounters some strange roommates, so they take the initiative to choose a long-term rental hotel.
For young people who pursue an efficient life, long-term hotel rental is about saving time, effort and worry. After all, the location is good, it is convenient to go anywhere, someone cleanses, free courier, 24-hour front desk service is on call, such a house, really fragrant.
Nowadays, young people are increasingly valuing service, allowing them to rest easy, take away from the tedious chores of life, and save more time for themselves, and it is worth spending a little more money.
Screenshot source: Douyin @佰悦湾小贾经理
The general manager of a hotel chain group said, "Among the portraits of long-term rental guests, the age is concentrated in 25-35 years old, and the proportion of women is high. Long-term rental guests have common needs for breakfast and self-service laundry, and have higher requirements for the cleanliness, privacy and security of guest rooms. ”²
In addition, there are a small number of people who rent hotels for a long time, exploring the possibility of nomadic life, in this kind of often changing cities, residences, and extremely unstable life, hotels are their "insecure" temporary shelter. This also makes them develop a lean, low-cost lifestyle and will not buy or hoard non-essential items. The lightness of personal possessions is exchanged for the freedom to change the place of residence at will, everything from simple and light.
Source: Figureworm Creative
Reading this, have you learned a step closer to the new lifestyle of long-term hotels? In fact, if you have a high rental budget, long-term rental hotels can also be considered. After all, who doesn't love spending money on services, a lifestyle that is convenient and hassle-free?
However, if you value the sense of belonging in a foreign land and the fireworks of "home", consider your home as appropriate. There are many ways to live, so choose the lifestyle you want most.