Pull Up and Stay Awhile

A new generation of hotels built for longer stays is attracting travelers looking for both style and substance.

- Chadner Navarro

The Florence location of This Time Tomorrow.

ON A SPRING BREAK getaway to Portugal with my family, I was looking for space. We had settled on a visit to Ericeira, the famous surf town an hour north of Lisbon, and I knew we’d want room to spread out in after days at the beach—not to mention en suite laundry. I found both, at an excellent price, in the form of You and the Sea (doubles from $121), an ocean-facing complex that was originally designed as an apartment building. Today, it’s a prime example of what industry insiders call an “aparthotel”—a form of accommodation that’s fast becoming a favorite of travelers looking for more room, more privacy, and better value.

“Way back when, these corporate apartments were a niche business, and there was no reason to do anything more dynamic or exciting,” says Randall Cook. As the cofounder of Method Co., the company behind the Roost Apartment Hotel brand and other hospitality projects across the U.S., he’s working to change that perception.