Who hasn’t had business in Bucharest at least once? And consequently needed accommodation in Bucharest? The good news is that with the growing number of visitors, the accommodation options have expanded, including, besides traditional hotels, serviced apartments Bucharest and Airbnb. Both options are very good, but each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Hotel-Style Apartments
Advantages
- Hotel Services: A serviced apartment in Bucharest usually comes with additional services similar to hotels, such as weekly cleaning, limited reception hours, luggage storage, late check-out and early check-in, and sometimes breakfast included.
- Professionalism: Being managed by professional companies, they ensure a high standard of quality and consistency in the services offered to tourists.
- Safety: Most serviced apartments are located in buildings with security and video surveillance, providing a higher level of safety for guests.
- Invoice Issuance: Unlike Airbnb, most serviced accommodation companies provide an invoice for the full amount paid, which is necessary for expense reimbursement.
- Payment on Arrival: For serviced accommodation, payment is made upon arrival, by card, cash, or bank transfer.
- Flexible Cancellation: Cancellation policies are very flexible, generally not requiring advance payment. Additionally, if travel plans change, the reservation dates can be easily adjusted.
- Direct communication: There is direct communication with staff via phone or email, ensuring that any problem or request is quickly and efficiently addressed.
- Monthly Payment for Stays Longer than 1 Month: Especially for corporate stays, payment for a serviced apartments in Bucharest is made monthly, based on the issued invoice.
Disadvantages
- Less Diverse Locations: Generally, a serviced accommodation company has apartments concentrated in a single area, and not covering the entire city of Bucharest.
Airbnb
Advantages
- Diversity: Airbnb accommodation in Bucharest offers a wide range of options, from rooms in a shared apartment to entire homes and villas, located anywhere in the city.
- Authenticity: It offers the opportunity to live like a local, in authentic neighborhoods, either in the city center or away from crowded tourist areas.
Disadvantages
- Variability in Quality: Standards can vary significantly from one property to another since they are managed by individual owners and not professional companies.
- Risk of cancellation: There is a risk that the reservation might be canceled by the host shortly before arrival, leaving guests without immediate alternative accommodation.
- Limited services: Usually, services such as cleaning during the stay or other hotel facilities are not included, which can be inconvenient for some tourists.
- Communication via app and automated messages: All communication is strictly through the app and often consists of automated messages generated by the platform.
- Airbnb does not issue invoices: If you rent an apartment through Airbnb Bucharest, you might be surprised to find that you don’t receive an invoice. Issuing an invoice is the owner’s responsibility, with Airbnb being just an intermediary. Often, the owner does not have a company and cannot issue an invoice for the accommodation.
- Advance Payment: The reservation is paid for at the time of confirmation. Even for stays longer than 30 days, the payment is made in advance for the entire stay.
Conclusion
The choice between serviced apartments and Airbnb accommodation in Bucharest depends on individual preferences. If you seek the comfort and services of a hotel at a reasonable price, with a high level of professionalism and safety, hotel-style apartments are the right choice. On the other hand, if you prefer varied options, Airbnb might be the ideal solution.
Regardless of the choice, both options offer excellent accommodation opportunities when you arrive in Bucharest, whether for pleasure or business.
