Corporate Apartments

When Jim travels on business, he flies in, rents a car (except in NYC or London) and stays in a hotel. I’ve learned from experience that a three-week trip doubles nearly automatically, as does a five-week stay.

The US has to learn more from Europe on extended stays. We seem to think “living” for a week or more means two burners, a microwave and small frig. In major cities in Europe one can live in relative luxury and save the company money by staying in a flat.

Let’s call it all corporate housing, but with differences between US hotels offering such, US extended stay apartments, and European-style living. In a hotel, I find that the moment I step into the shower, the maid comes to clean the room. Shampoo in my eyes, she gets the message to come back later or leaves the room undone.

It is absolutely fine for me to have the place cleaned by the manager or maid, sheets and towels changed, once per week. I like to make Jim breakfast, dinner perhaps 2-3 nights a week. I eat lunch at home at least three weekdays and meet Jim or a friend for others.

Corporate bill-processing departments don’t like grocery store purchases because they don’t fit into the scheme of things. They’re used three meals out per day or per diem, period. I can’t tell you how much we’ve saved employers by living the way we do while on longer assignments. And we’re able to live our lives comfortably, do laundry, wash dishes, grab an apple from the frig. Road warriors won’t like it but that’s OK.

The typical corporate apartment has utilitarian furniture, owned or rented, TV, dishes, utensils, crummy knives and pots and pans. It should be an easy turnkey operation. Four forks, knives, spoons, a plastic plant, colander, mixing bowl.

We are enjoying our place now because it’s up in the mountains with gorgeous views, is on a nature preserve where we can watch the birds and coyotes and other wildlife. It has many dishes, forks and spoons so we could entertain here. Simple things like a vase for flowers, or an ice cream scoop, make a difference.

I did have to go out and buy several things, including a peeler that could be used by a leftie, a large cutting board, two saute pans (one for Jim’s eggs and one for larger items) and an electric tea kettle. But I’m trying to keep any purchases to a minimum. OK I do need a new pair of jeans, and Jim had a hole in his shoe so we bought waterproof ones and I think I was successful in tossing the others out. We also needed a new crate for Zoe (she now has three) because she feels safer in a “den” than running from window to window looking for us when we’re gone.

We’re happy here. I forgot to take in the basil and pansies last night and lost 1/3 of the basil plant due to frost, but I’ll remember this evening.

If you and your family are looking for vacation housing for a week or two this summer, check out rentals rather than hotels. If you need two hotel rooms for your family, look into a two-bedroom condo with kitchen. I brought my knives and many tea towels here, as well as utensils because we’re here for a couple of months. But if you have a real kitchen you can bring herbs and spices and other things and have breakfast at home, pack a picnic lunch and eat dinner out, or any combination that saves money on your family trip this summer. Have fun! Dee