Apartment vs. hotel: reasons for choosing one or the other alternative
Location is the most relevant aspect when it comes to choosing accommodation, whether it is a hotel or a tourist apartment. While for the former what counts most is the technology, the swimming pool, the views it offers or its gastronomic and relaxation offer, the apartments are chosen for the outdoor spaces, the kitchen equipment, the Internet connection and the comfort of access. This is revealed by the latest Observatur study.
The monographic study by the National Observatory of Outbound Tourism (Observatur) shows that location is by far the most important aspect when choosing a hotel, with a score of 4.2 out of 5 points. After location, the element that most influences booking decisions among travelers is the technological equipment (in particular, wi-fi), which scored 3.4 on the same scale.The swimming pool, the views or the gastronomic and relaxation offer are also highly valued by customers, with more than three points out of a possible 5.
The aspects less considered (below three points) are those related to specific needs specific needs of the customers, such as the cataloging as "gay friendly", the "only adult" seal or the admission of "pets". It should be noted in this list of valued aspects the low score given to the hotel's environmental commitment (2.7), the sports offer (2.2) or the accessibility of the facilities (2).
Also the location is, on the other hand, the aspect most highly valued when choosing an apartment, with 4.1 points out of a possible 5. After this criterion, the respondents value above all the space in the open air (terrace, garden, etc.), the equipment of the kitchen, the technology offered (wi-fi) and the comfort;comfort of access, elements that exceed in all cases the three points
Below this number, the clients place the decoration of the tourist apartment and its relaxation facilities and wellness. The accessibility and pets admission are the lowest scoring issues (2 points out of 5).
According to the same study, three out of four travelers would have chosen to stay in a hotel this summer instead of a tourist apartment, mainly because of the comfort it offers. After comfort, the second reason given by the respondents for preferring the world of the stars is the possibility to hire catering services, whether it be breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. Thus, the two main arguments for opting for the hotel are linked to the ‘domestic catering’, something to be avoided as much as possible.
One in four travelers, on the other hand, especially values the better facilities that hotels tend to offer compared to holiday apartments. The price (22%) and the safety (11%) are aspects that are also taken into account when hiring the services of a hotel. However, it is worth noting in this study the low level of interest given by those interviewed to the entertainment activities offered by these establishments.
On the other hand, those who prefer tourist apartments to hotels appreciate above all, precisely, the possibility of cooking inside them, which is the main reason given in the choice process (59%). In these cases, however, the price is a very important factor for more than half of the respondents, ahead of autonomy, spaciousness and (to a lesser extent) privacy, reasons that are also widely cited by the travelers interviewed.