Think a condotel and aparthotel are the same? Think again.
In travel, as in life, we rarely stop at naming something plainly when we can give it a baffling portmanteau instead. Enter two dueling terms travelers are increasingly encountering while booking accommodations: the aparthotel and the condotel. They sound interchangeable, read like typos of one another, and promise some version of “more space, fewer rules.” But in practice, they deliver very different experiences.
Here’s what to know before booking the “Bennifer” of stays.
First, What Do These Names Actually Mean?
A condotel is, at its core, a property made up of individually owned units.
“With a condotel, you have individual owners,” says Philip Bates, CEO and co-founder of TMC Hospitality. “Those owners want to make extra income, so they hire a management company to rent them on their behalf.”
The confusion starts because a condotel is also a legal designation. Tim Smith, the owner of Casago, a property management firm in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, notes that technically, the term refers to a structure in which unit owners collectively operate within a condominium framework that’s registered and run as a commercial hotel. For most travelers, though, the simpler takeaway is this: you’re staying in a building where many of the rooms are privately owned and rented out by one entity.
An aparthotel, by contrast, typically has a single owner or operating company. Instead of individually owned units, the property functions like a traditional hotel but offers apartment-style accommodations—think larger layouts, multiple bedrooms, and kitchens designed for groups or longer stays. That’s the model Bates uses at Bode in Nashville, which has about 60 units designed to accommodate bigger parties while still delivering a hotel-style experience.
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Who Owns the Room—and Why That Matters
From a traveler’s perspective, room ownership can shape everything from aesthetics to consistency. It can mean the difference between checking into a cohesively designed space, where every rental follows the same look, layout, and brand standards. Or opening the door to a two-bedroom unit that reflects an individual owner’s taste, down to DIY wallpaper choices.
That variability is more common in a condotel setup. That said, managers like Smith encourage condo owners to renovate and refresh their units regularly to keep them competitive and appealing to guests. Ultimately, though, he notes, “it’s at the discretion of the owner.”
That makes condotels somewhat like the Airbnb experience, where design, amenities, and overall quality can vary from unit to unit—even within the same building.
At an aparthotel, like London’s Ember Locke, where guests are sold “studio living,” rooms appear more like a traditional hotel in that they pretty much look the same with some small variations, but ultimately with a similar color palette and design accents.
What About Check-in? Front Desk? Lockbox?
Among Gen Z travelers, 82% prefer contactless check-in, according to Travolution. In reaction to that surge, accommodations across every category are evolving to keep pace. That includes both condotels and aparthotels.
“We have a 24-7 kind of front desk,” says Bates of his Bode aparthotel. But the property’s rooms are also equipped with door codes. “There’s often been a lot of frustration with the hotel check-in experiences. You know, you’ve traveled for six hours. You have all your luggage with you. Then you have to stand in line to get your key card. Your key card doesn’t work. So, we just want to give people that option.”
Smith notes that all his Florida beach vacation rentals are equipped with coded lockboxes, allowing access codes to be texted to guests before arrival. However, he keeps a front desk in some properties as his demographic skews older.
“They do like having a front desk to chat and pick up a parking pass,” Smith says.
Housekeeping, Amenities, and the Fine Print
While amenities by vary to property, one thing to keep in mind when booking a condotel or aparthotel is that the experience is designed to be more like a home than a hotel. At Bode, that means that housekeeping is by request only and comes with an additional cleaning fee.
Similarly, at Casago, the guest is responsible for pre-departure cleanup, such as trash removal. That said, Smith provides linen service upon request.
Other amenities, like access to a pool, often come with a condotel stay, provided that the unit owner’s HOA allows it. It’s worth checking in advance. The amenities at an aparthotel could include a bar, outdoor gathering spaces, or a cafe.
Why Is This Segment Growing?
Smith says long-term stay vacation rentals have long been in demand. Airbnb’s rise has only accelerated the trend, encouraging group travel and fueling interest in destination rentals that offer more space.
“I’d say it’s primarily leisure travelers arriving with friends and family,” Bates says. And the segment is only expected to grow, as evidenced by Hilton’s recent entrance into the market.
“At Hilton, we are continually innovating to meet the evolving expectations of today’s travelers, which is why we recently introduced Apartment Collection by Hilton,” says Gary Steffen, Hilton’s SVP and global category head.
The brand’s Apartment Collection is expected to be bookable in the first half of this year, offering fully furnished apartments, ranging from studios to four‑bedrooms.
“Guests will be thoughtfully hosted, with dedicated team members available on‑site 24/7 to provide support, and enjoy chef-ready kitchens, spacious separate living areas, and on-site laundry in the heart of sought-after destinations,” Steffen adds. That includes properties in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, all of which are bookable through Hilton.com.
Which One’s Better for Families, Remote Workers, and Weekend Escapers
How do you pick between a condotel and an aparthotel? Proximity might be the biggest driver. In places like Florida, Smith says the condotel dominates the beachfront landscape, a perk for those looking for fun in the sun. In a place like Nashville, however, you can have an urban experience with a large group at an aparthotel like Bode. Unlike an Airbnb that can leave you driving miles to get to the heart of a destination, these two booming accommodation options might just be the winning solution to a big group getaway.
