Holiday Rentals in 2025: Rise of the Service Apartment in Mumbai
In 2025, the hotel industry of Mumbai is experiencing a distinct drift. People are avoiding conventional hotels and opting for PAJASA service apartments for their short and extended vacation stays. The trend is becoming increasingly apparent each month. Though hotels continue to be the destination of choice for business and leisure tourists, service apartments are fast becoming the preferred choice because they offer convenience, privacy, and improved value for money.
What Are Service Apartments?
A service apartment is a fully equipped apartment that can
be used for both temporary and permanent stays. It has hotel-type services like
housekeeping, linen replacement, security, and utilities. It differs from
hotels in that it has a kitchen, washing machine, sitting room, and even more
than one bedroom. These apartments are found in residential or mixed-use neighbourhoods
in cities such as Mumbai, with the stay experience being the same as being in
the city.
Shifting Choices in 2025
Most visitors to Mumbai today prefer accommodations that are
like home. This encompasses tourists, corporate professionals, medical
tourists, students, and even foreign visitors. No longer are they seeking just
a place to sleep in. They wish for room to cook, unwind, work, and spend time
with family or friends without the encumbrances of hotel rooms.
In 2025, the majority of the holiday rental guests are
either travelling in groups or for periods over five days. For these travellers,
service apartments offer the convenience of self-cooking, self-washing, and
self-pacing. Self-reliance is becoming a significant consideration in deciding
where to stay in Mumbai.
Key Areas in Mumbai for Service Apartments
Mumbai is dotted with localities where travellers prefer
staying in service apartments. Some of the most sought-after locations are:
·
Bandra: Famous for shopping, cafes, and
accessibility to western suburbs as well as South Mumbai.
·
Andheri East & West: Near the airport
and business parks. Suitable for business travellers and families.
·
Powai: Well-planned, with parks, lakefronts,
and numerous corporate offices in the vicinity.
·
Colaba and Fort: Preferred by tourists
who prefer to reside close to the Gateway of India, museums, and heritage
areas.
·
Lower Parel and Worli: These regions have
trendy high-rise residential apartments and are favoured by luxury travellers
and business guests.
The Role of Digital Platforms
The proliferation of service apartments is also due to the
surge in online booking portals. Internet sites and mobile apps such as Airbnb,
Booking.com, MakeMyTrip, and local real estate websites now make it easy for
people to reserve service apartments with the same facilities as reserving a
hotel room.
These websites offer photos, reviews, and transparent
cancellation policies. In 2025, most of them will also have special services
such as weekly house cleaning, airport pick-up, and meal plans in association
with local vendors. This has made service apartments a reliable choice for travellers.
Who's Renting These Apartments?
In Mumbai, the guest profile for service apartments is a mix
of many. Some of the most frequent types of guests are:
1. Domestic Tourists
Families from metro cities such as Delhi, Bangalore,
Chennai, and Hyderabad tend to prefer service apartments to accommodate bigger
groups. Rather than taking two or three hotel rooms, they reserve one 2BHK or
3BHK apartment for accommodation.
2. Foreign Travellers
International travellers visiting for business, tourist
purposes, or medical tourism favour these apartments due to their in-house
kitchen facilities and financial economy. They stay for one week or months.
3. NRIs Visiting Relatives
NRIs travelling to Mumbai for vacations or family events
also prefer to stay in service apartments to prevent overcrowding at their
relatives' homes.
4. Medical Tourists
Since Mumbai has numerous top hospitals like Kokilaben,
Lilavati, and Jaslok, individuals travelling for treatment tend to prefer
apartments near the hospitals for longer periods.
5. Corporate Employees
When firms send employees to train or work on short projects
in Mumbai, they reserve service apartments rather than extended periods of
hotel stay, which may be costly.
Cost Benefits for Travellers
One of the reasons why service apartments are becoming
popular in 2025 is the cost advantage overall. A 3-star hotel room in Mumbai
would cost between ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 per night. On the other hand, a service
apartment with one bedroom, hall, kitchen, and all utilities provided can be
rented for ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 per night for two or more individuals. It is
cost-effective, particularly for families and groups.
In extended visits, savings are greater. Service apartments
usually have cut-down weekly or monthly deals. Guests not only save on lodging,
but also on dining and laundry.
Facilities That Count
Service apartments in Mumbai in 2025 provide all the
essentials and a lot of advanced amenities that today's travellers expect:
·
Kitchen well equipped with stove, microwave, and
utensils
·
Washing machine and drying space
·
Wi-Fi and smart TV
·
Housekeeping (every 2 or 3 days or on request)
·
Security and support 24/7
·
Access to parking (in certain properties)
·
Air conditioning with backup power
·
Access to fitness centres or swimming pools in
large societies
Guests today expect openness about facilities, and
appreciation for this has made listing sites even more verbose in their
descriptions.
Advantages Over Hotels
There are several reasons why travellers in 2025 are opting
for service apartments compared to hotels in Mumbai:
1.
More Space: A hotel room is typically one
room. A service apartment has several rooms.
2.
Kitchen Facility: Visitors can prepare
their food, which cannot be done in hotels.
3.
Laundry Access: Clothes can be washed
easily and without a fee.
4.
Cost-Effective: Particularly for extended
stays and groups.
5.
No Restrictions: Visitors can arrive and
leave freely without limitations on guests or meal times.
Challenges Still Faced
Though the demand is increasing, the service apartment
market also has some issues in Mumbai:
·
Not all establishments are registered or
regulated.
·
Some apartments do not have standard safety inspections
or hospitality training.
·
Quality is highly inconsistent between
buildings.
·
There are instances of cancellations of bookings
and refund disputes.
But in 2025, most service apartment businesses are enhancing
their services to satisfy customers. More professional players have joined the
market, introducing improved control of service standards.
Trends to Watch in 2025
A few new trends are redefining the service apartment
landscape in Mumbai this year:
·
Subscription Stays: Websites providing
flexible month-on-month stays.
·
Co-Living and Hybrid Models: A few
apartments provide shared areas with private rooms.
·
Pet-Friendly Apartments: Growing demand
from pet owners.
·
Eco-Friendly Apartments: Solar power,
waste segregation, and green ratings are picking up.
·
Apartment Aggregators: New brands
operating 20–100 service apartments under a single name for improved
consistency.
Government and Regulations
In 2025, the government of Maharashtra is also developing
more definitive rules to license and regulate service apartments in Mumbai.
This move will safeguard both the owners of the property and the guests. The
policies are likely to make the market more structured.
Future of Holiday Rentals in Mumbai
As more travellers seek practical, flexible, and economical
stays, the market for service apartments is likely to increase further. With
enhanced infrastructure, smarter technology, and enhanced services, Mumbai's
service apartment market is progressing towards maturity.
Customers are no longer seeking just a bed to sleep in. They
expect a home where they can cook, relax, work, entertain friends, and live
like a local on their vacation.
Comments
Post a Comment