Residence hotels ★★☆

The Penthouse apartment at Kensington's The Harrington rents from just Â£261 per nightâ€”though rates for less lofty doubles start at Â£112, The Harrington, London

Serviced flats are a cross between a hotel and a rental—You get your own mini-apartment, but with hotel-like services (front desk/concierge; housekeeping, etc.)

A "residence hotel"—sometimes called an ApartHotel, serviced flats, condo hotel, or an all-suite hotel—is a cross between an apartment building and a hotel.

A London aparthotel a serviced apartment available for short-term rentals, usually with a hotel-like front desk and some level of maid service—kind of like the all-suites hotels in America beloved by business travelers (and savvy traveling families).

Accommodations are at least studios with kitchenette, if not full-blown mini-apartments,and might sleep anywhere for one to six people.

Guest quarters tend to be a bit functional and bland, with a focus more on basic comfort and amenities rather than style. I've noticed that many residence hotel properties do not seem to refresh things as frequently as hotels, so they tend show their age more—this is far down on my list of what I care about in my accommocations, but I thought you should know.

Residence hotels are usually used mainly for longish stays. A few have three-night or one-week minimums, though most allow you to stay for as few as 3, 2, or even 1 night.

Maid service ia rarely daily. They are usually cleaned weekly, though sometimes more frequently.

Essentially, it's a bit like getting a time share just for the week or month—only without the whole annoying sales pitch.

Residence inns are often used by folks in town on business for an extended period, but that doesn't mean travelers can't shack up in them as well.

Serviced flats can be a godsend for traveling families, since you can use the kitchen to treat meals more flexibly and cut down on dining costs. (Also, they tend to be bigger—if duller—than your average hotel room.)