Looking for a hotel alternative? Here's where to get short-term furnished housing in Boston
Topics covered:
Visiting Boston and looking for a short-term place to stay besides hotels? Want a furnished place and housing options similar to Airbnb?
Or maybe, you’re looking to rent but have no bandwidth to get your own furniture.
No matter, because there is short-term furnished housing in Boston and Greater Boston and here are 6 places where you could browse and pick!
1. Airbnb. Minimum stay: none!
Airbnb began in 2008 when 2 designers who had space to share hosted 3 travelers looking for a place to stay. Popular worldwide, Airbnb is today arguably the leader in short-term housing. As of the time of writing, Airbnb is allowed in Boston if the owner resides at the property.
💡 Airbnb tip
If you’re planning a few months' stay, hit the 'months' tab when choosing your dates under 'when.' It’s the easiest way to set up a longer stay.
2. Short Term Apartment Rental Solution (STARS) of Boston. Minimum stay: 2 nights, typically.
STARS of Boston is a local company with furnished housing that is typically accessible by public transport. As of the time of writing, inventory is available in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Quincy.
3. Churchill Living. Minimum stay: 4 days.
Originally established in 1958 as a furniture rental company, Churchill is today present in many US states amongst other countries like Canada and the UK. The company is ISAAP-accredited for its adherence to safety, security and duty of care. Churchill’s apartments are furnished and managed with its own furniture and company staff.
4. Furnished Quarters. Minimum stay: 30 days.
Furnished Quarters was founded in 1998 by brothers and NYC real estate developers Gary and Steven Brown. They have provided highly-vetted accommodations to the majority of the Fortune 100-ranked companies and guarantee every stay with an onsite 24/7 guest service support. As of the time of writing, Furnished Quarters’ accommodations are concentrated in Boston and Cambridge.
5. Furnished Finder. Minimum stay: 1 month, typically.
Furnished Finder has a user interface similar to Airbnb where stays are booked directly with property owners. Unlike Airbnb, however, the platform encourages tenant screening (costs $39.99; covers criminal background check, credit report, and eviction history) of which tenants are responsible for paying the fee. Furnished Finder has a vast number of inventory across Boston and Greater Boston.
6. Blueground. Minimum stay: 31 days; discounts on 4+ months.
Founded in 2013 by co-founders from Greece, Blueground today boasts an international footprint. There’s a Blueground Guest App that allows one to digitally manage access and support (e.g. cleanings). Students who travel during school breaks would find this to be perk: bookings of 12+ months come with a rent-freeze feature - guests can freeze their contract as many times as they want for up to 3 months!
💡 Blueground tip
If you’re planning a longer stay, switch to the 'months' tab to unlock discounts for stays of 4 months or more!