Why a washing machine becomes more important than the balcony view when choosing accommodation
A photo of the view from the balcony used to be one of the strongest selling points of an apartment, hotel room or holiday home. Today, it is increasingly common for travelers to look more carefully before booking for something much more down-to-earth: a washing machine, a kitchen, stable internet, a workspace and a location from which daily obligations can be handled without additional cost. The change does not mean that the view, design and proximity to the beach have stopped being important, but that the criteria of comfort are increasingly shifting toward practicality. Accommodation is no longer chosen only according to how it looks in a photograph, but according to how much it reduces the total cost of travel and how much it makes a longer stay easier.
This shift is especially visible in trips that last more than a few days. When vacation, work, family schedule and transport come together in one longer stay, a room without a washing machine or kitchen can quickly become more expensive than it seemed at the moment of booking. Extra baggage in air travel, frequent meals in restaurants, laundry services and the need to buy basic necessities change the calculation. That is why an increasing number of bookings look for accommodation that functions as a temporary home, and not only as a place to sleep.
Longer stays change the logic of booking
Accommodation booking platforms have in recent years increasingly highlighted categories intended for longer stays. Airbnb, for example, considers monthly stays to be bookings of at least 28 nights, and among the amenities of such accommodation it lists furnished spaces with kitchens, washing machines and other features that make the stay more similar to life in one’s own home. The same platform also highlights work-friendly spaces, including a dedicated workspace and fast Wi-Fi, which shows that the market is not addressing only classic tourists, but also people who combine travel with work, studying, caring for family or relocation.
For shorter trips, the lack of a washing machine is often only a minor inconvenience. But for a stay of ten, fifteen or thirty days, it becomes a logistical issue. The traveler has to bring more clothes, pay for extra baggage, look for a self-service laundromat or rely on more expensive hotel services. If there is a washing machine in the accommodation, the same suitcase can be packed more rationally, clothes can be washed between excursions or working days, and the whole stay becomes less dependent on external services. That is exactly why a washing machine is not only a household appliance, but part of the economics of travel.
The change is important for hosts as well. Airbnb states in its instructions for hosts that many guests filter results according to the amenities the property offers, which is why an accurate and complete list of equipment can affect visibility and the booking decision. In other words, a washing machine, kitchen, air conditioner, parking, desk or baby crib are no longer details mentioned in passing. They become part of market positioning, especially in the competition between private accommodation, aparthotels and extended-stay properties.
More expensive baggage increases the value of basic equipment
One of the reasons why travelers are looking for more practical accommodation is the increasingly complex structure of travel costs. An airline ticket no longer always means the same scope of service as it did ten or fifteen years ago. With many carriers, the basic fare includes only the smallest cabin bag, while larger carry-on baggage, checked baggage, seat selection and priority boarding are charged separately. The International Air Transport Association estimates that ancillary and other revenues of airline companies will reach 145 billion US dollars in 2026 and that such services now account for almost 14 percent of the industry’s total revenue.
In that calculation, accommodation with a washing machine gains new value. If a traveler can bring fewer clothes, avoid larger baggage or reduce the number of suitcases for a family trip, the difference in the price of accommodation can already be compensated for through transport. This does not apply equally to every route and every type of trip, but it shows why the broader picture is increasingly considered when comparing prices. The cheapest overnight stay does not have to be the most favorable option if it requires additional costs for transport, food, laundry or transport to distant facilities.
A similar logic applies to the kitchen. An apartment or hotel unit with basic kitchen facilities does not mean that guests will give up local restaurants. On the contrary, many still want the gastronomic experience of the destination. But the possibility of preparing breakfast, coffee, a simple dinner or a meal for a child reduces pressure on the daily budget. For family trips, sporting events, congresses, festival stays or trips to more expensive cities, that difference can be significant. Practical equipment therefore becomes a form of financial control, and not only a matter of comfort.
Remote work has increased expectations of accommodation
The growth of remote work and hybrid work models has changed the way some travelers plan their stay. MBO Partners states in its 2025 report on digital nomads that the number of American digital nomads increased by 153 percent compared with 2019 and that this group now makes up approximately 12 percent of the American workforce. Although these data refer to the American market, they illustrate a broader trend well: more and more people can at least occasionally work outside their permanent place of residence, and that changes the requirements placed on accommodation.
For such guests, a balcony with a view can be a pleasant addition, but it is not enough. If the internet is not stable, if there is no desk for a laptop, if the space is noisy or if clothes cannot be washed during a longer stay, the accommodation loses functionality. Remote work does not require luxury in the classic sense, but predictability. Guests want to know whether they can make a video call, prepare a meal between meetings, wash clothes after several days and continue their routine without unnecessary loss of time.
That is why the boundary between tourist and residential standards is increasingly blurred. Accommodation for travelers is no longer only a place to sleep after sightseeing. For part of the market, it is a work office, kitchen, laundry room, rest area and temporary base for everyday life. This is especially true for parents traveling with children, people combining work and vacation, participants in multi-day events and travelers who avoid frequent moves between destinations.
Travelers are increasingly looking for peace, local experience and cost control
Expedia Group states in the Unpack ’25 report that travelers are increasingly moving away from standardized vacations and are looking for unique experiences, less talked-about places, local products and content that has a clearer connection with the destination. Booking.com, in its research on travel predictions for 2025, also highlights that travel habits are changing, with stronger interest in different rhythms of travel, family relationships, wellness and experiences that do not necessarily follow the traditional vacation pattern. Behind these trends lies the same basic idea: travelers are not looking only for accommodation, but for conditions that allow them to adapt the stay to their own pace.
A washing machine, kitchen and good location are, in that sense, part of a broader change. They enable a slower rhythm of travel, fewer urgent purchases and less dependence on services that can be expensive or unavailable. A traveler who can wash clothes and prepare part of the meals can stay longer more easily, choose a neighborhood outside the most expensive tourist center more easily and fit more easily into the everyday life of the destination. This does not mean that every guest wants to live like a local resident, but it does mean that an increasing number of guests want to avoid the feeling that every day of travel is a series of additional charges.
Booking.com stated in its 2025 research on the impact of tourism that 73 percent of respondents want the money they spend while traveling to benefit the local community more, while 69 percent want to leave the place better than they found it. Such data do not speak directly about washing machines, but they explain why some travelers are thinking more and more about the way they stay, and not only about attractions. Accommodation that enables a longer and calmer stay can encourage spending in local shops, markets, cafés and services, instead of concentrating all costs on classic tourist packages.
Hotels and apartments respond to the same need with different models
Hotels, aparthotels and private apartments do not respond to this change in the same way. Classic hotels still have an advantage in reception service, cleaning, breakfast, safety and standardized quality. For a shorter stay, a business trip or a trip where simplicity is important, such a model remains very attractive. But when the stay lasts longer, the advantage often shifts toward properties that offer more space, a basic kitchen, a washing machine or at least an available shared laundry room.
Aparthotels try to combine those two worlds. They offer hotel organization, but also equipment that resembles an apartment. Private accommodation, on the other hand, often has a natural advantage in kitchens, washing machines and larger square footage, but quality can vary more. That is why photographs, reviews and a precise list of amenities are more important than before. If a listing states a washing machine, and it is not available or is defective, that is no longer a small inconvenience, but a potential reason for a complaint, a bad review or a request for a solution to the problem.
For hosts and hoteliers, this means that investments in functional amenities can have greater value than purely decorative interventions. An attractive terrace, good lighting and a well-designed interior are still important for the first impression, but a washing machine, dryer, quality mattress, good internet and smart organization of space often determine overall satisfaction. In practice, it is increasingly confirmed that “Instagrammable” accommodation is not necessarily also the accommodation that performs best for longer stays.
Location is no longer only proximity to the main attraction
The meaning of a good location has also changed. It used to be most often interpreted as distance from the beach, historic center, ski resort, stadium or congress center. Today, the availability of a shop, public transport, pharmacy, laundromat, coworking space, parking or a quiet neighborhood is increasingly considered as well. A traveler who stays for two weeks often needs different infrastructure from a guest who sleeps over for one night. A good location therefore does not always mean the strictest center, but a balance between accessibility, price, peace and everyday needs.
This is especially evident in cities where prices in the center are high and crowds are pronounced. Accommodation a few public transport stops away can be a better choice if it offers a kitchen, washing machine, more space and a lower total price. On the other hand, accommodation that is cheap but poorly connected and without basic equipment can create additional costs and loss of time. Travelers increasingly compare these invisible costs, especially when they travel with children, work remotely or plan several activities in one destination.
A good location in the new travel logic also means greater resilience to changes of plan. If the weather gets worse, if a flight is delayed, if a child needs rest or if a work meeting is moved, better-equipped accommodation enables easier adaptation. In such situations, the balcony view can remain a nice detail, but the washing machine, kitchen and stable internet become what makes the trip feasible.
What travelers look at today before booking
Before the final decision, total value is increasingly compared, not only the nightly price. This includes the cost of transport to the accommodation, the possibility of cooking, baggage cost, availability of a washing machine, internet quality, cleaning rules and distance from facilities that will be used every day. In that sense, accommodation with a slightly higher price can be more favorable if it reduces other costs. Conversely, a promotional nightly price can lose its meaning if the guest has to pay for extra baggage, a laundromat, a taxi and most meals outside the accommodation.
- Washing machine reduces the need for larger baggage and makes longer stays easier, especially for families, sports trips and remote work.
- Kitchen or kitchenette enables control of daily costs, dietary flexibility and simpler organization of morning and evening routines.
- Stable internet and workspace are important for everyone who has to handle business, administrative or educational obligations during travel.
- Good location increasingly means proximity to shops, transport and everyday services, and not only proximity to the main attraction.
- Accurate description of amenities reduces the risk of disappointment and helps guests realistically assess the total value of the accommodation.
This change does not mean the end of demand for luxury, a view or a special experience. It only shows that the concept of luxury has changed for some travelers. Luxury can be a balcony above the sea, but it can also be the possibility to wash clothes after ten days of travel without looking for a laundromat, to prepare breakfast without rushing or to finish a working day without problems with the internet connection. At a time when the price of travel consists of more and more items, practicality becomes one of the most important currencies.
For the accommodation market, this is a clear signal. A property that wants to attract longer stays, families, digital nomads or travelers sensitive to the total budget must clearly show what it offers beyond the basic bed and bathroom. The balcony view still sells emotion, but the washing machine, kitchen and good location increasingly sell the certainty that the trip will be simpler, cheaper and less burdened by small logistical problems.
Sources:- Airbnb Help Center – information on monthly stays, kitchens, washing machines and work-friendly spaces (link)- Airbnb Help Center – explanation of the importance of accurately listed amenities in an accommodation listing (link)- Booking.com Newsroom – Travel Predictions 2025 and research methodology among travelers (link)- Booking.com Newsroom – 2025 research on the impact of tourism on communities and the environment (link)- Expedia Group – Unpack ’25, overview of travel trends and user behavior (link)- IATA – forecast of airline industry revenue and growth of ancillary revenue in 2026 (link)- MBO Partners – Digital Nomads Trends Report 2025 on the growth of remote work and digital nomads (link)
Find accommodation nearby
Creation time: 3 hours ago