Extended stay facilities have their roots in Europe, where travelers tend to value accommodations right in the heart of major cities. Because urban space is limited, the buildings that house European extended stays are generally small with units that economize on the small sizes of the buildings that house them. In Europe, extended stay facilities were usually the result of renovations rather than new construction, contributing further to small rooms, as many buildings were not used for living facilities in their ""previous lives."" European extended stay facilities are usually owned by independent owners or small firms and do not have large brand or franchise names associated with them.
The face of the extended stay facility is quite different in the United States. Rather than being confined only to a downtown area, Miami lodging is much more spread out. Some facilities are located downtown to cater to business travelers who are visiting Miami for meetings and conventions. Tourists may also take advantage of downtown extended stay locations if they are in the area for sight-seeing.
Those looking for cheap accommodations in Miami for a beach vacation usually prefer to stay in more suburban areas near Miami Beach. The most developed area for Miami lodging in the beach area is South Beach. Rooms in the region are typically smaller than those found in downtown Miami because the buildings are older and demand is high, resulting in multiple units being placed in smaller buildings to accommodate as many guests as possible. Travelers looking for cheap accommodations in Miami and the surrounding area can also find lodging in Brickell, Sunny Isles and Aventura.
Other differences exist between Miami extended stay facilities in those in Europe. For one thing, many of the buildings used for extended stays were built from the ground up. This usually results in larger rooms than the ones found in European cities. In addition, Miami extended stays include both unbranded properties and those associated with large, name brand chains, such as Marriott.