Alternative Lodging: Why Settle for a Standard Hotel?

Comfortable pillows, homemade meals, and bedrooms big enough to walk across without tripping over furniture. If you thought these were pleasures you had to give up when you decided to do business on the road, guess again.

Sleeping away from home doesn't have to mean enduring uncomfortable nights in drab, cramped quarters. Chances are you'll find the services and amenities you're looking for at a bed-and-breakfast or a residence hotel. And you just might pay less than you would at a standard hotel.

Bed-and-Breakfasts

The unfortunate myth about bed-and-breakfasts is that they're reserved for romantic getaways. But this isn't a reason to deny yourself homey touches like pleasant decor and warm cookies at night.

As with other small businesses, bed-and-breakfasts typically offer better service and more individual attention than larger chain hotels. Take note of how well your hosts treat you — you might even pick up a client-relations skill or two.

The perks:

• Waking up to a gourmet homemade breakfast featuring fresh local fare
• Comfortable rooms with individual character
• A pleasant atmosphere for working, lounging, or meeting
• Locations in quiet residential neighborhoods, not busy commercial zones

The trade-offs:

• Few high-tech in-room business amenities (though most hosts will try to accommodate you)
• A location on the outskirts of town away from downtown convention centers or business districts
• No room service (then again, you can always order in)

The cost: Prices often start at about $100 a night, but can top $300 depending on the location and room. Rates are generally equal to those at nearby hotels of comparable quality — and slightly cheaper if you factor in the cost of meals.

You can find listings on Bed & Breakfast Inns Online.

Residence Hotels

Business trips often mean more than just a few days away from home. Stays of a week or more can become tedious and expensive at a standard hotel. That's why residence hotels (also called extended-stay hotels) are the fastest growing niche in the lodging industry. Think of these rooms as apartment and hotel hybrids: They offer the convenience of having your own home base without the hassles of a long-term rental.

The perks:

• Rooms the size and shape of an actual apartment
• Full kitchens with all the tools you need to cook and eat at home
• Business-minded features such as free local calls, voicemail, and data ports

The tradeoffs:

• No concierge service
• No room service (though many offer dinner delivery services from local restaurants)

The cost: Residence hotels vary in price and quality, but it's generally half the cost of staying at a mid-range hotel.

For more information, check out Extended Stay America and PlacesToStay.com. Look for the terms residence or extended stay in city-lodging listings.