Relocating abroad with your family? Why short-term rentals make sense first

Moving abroad is a big undertaking, from navigating cultural differences and language barriers to choosing the right place to live in a new city. It can feel like a Herculean effort when you have a whole family in tow. Short-term apartments for families relocating abroad can offer a safe place to land while you get your bearings. They give you the chance to scope out neighborhoods, test commutes and schools, and get a feel for the area in person before committing to a rental or buying a property.

Wondering where to start? This guide will help you understand the perks of relocating with a short-term apartment rental from Blueground, where to find them, how to choose the right one, and what to know before you do.

Key takeaways

• Short-term rentals give families moving abroad a place to land and the opportunity to test neighborhoods, schools, and commutes before choosing a permanent home.
• Prioritize separate sleeping spaces, a full kitchen, in-unit laundry, and public transportation access for the most comfortable stay.
• Choose a rental with flexible lease terms so you can extend, cancel, or move when you’re ready.
• Before booking, confirm the total cost, extension and cancellation policies, and deposit terms in writing.
• Professionally managed rentals can offer more consistency and support than private listings, which may be key when relocating with kids.

What short-term rentals are, and why to start with one

Types of short-term housing

Short-term housing options are typically designed for longer, but not permanent stays, usually with flexible terms and booking periods running from a few weeks to several months. Some types include:

• Serviced apartments: Fully furnished apartments with hotel-like extras such as housekeeping, a front desk, or concierge service.
• Corporate housing: Professionally managed furnished apartments designed for longer stays, often in residential buildings.
• Apart-hotels or extended-stay hotels: Hotel-style accommodations with a little extra space (think: kitchenette, small living room).
• Local sublets: Privately rented homes or apartments, often found through expat groups, classifieds, or local connections.

Why rent short-term before you commit

Booking a short-term apartment rental for the first few weeks or months in your new home city allows you to make a more thoughtful, intentional choice in where you want to live. It takes time to get to know your new home base, feel out different neighborhoods or suburbs, assess daily commutes and schools, and visit local businesses before you lock in a longer-term living situation. No matter how much research you do online, you can’t get a proper feel for a place until you’re there in person.

While gathering this intel, you want to stay somewhere comfortable enough to support your family’s everyday life. If your landing pad doesn’t offer space for your lifestyle, you may feel rushed to commit to a new place. A fully furnished apartment with a flexible month-to-month rental agreement gives you a temporary home plus the freedom to stay for as long as it takes to find your more permanent base.

What families should look for in a short-term rental

In-unit space and amenities

Moving as a family comes with different needs than relocating as a single person or finding a temporary stay as a digital nomad. “Families usually need more certainty: safe neighbourhoods, schools, storage and enough space to live comfortably rather than somewhere simply to sleep,” says Robin Edwards, a buying agent at Curetons in London who regularly helps clients relocating from overseas and within the UK find short-term accommodation.

When comparing rentals, prioritize the following features:

Location and neighborhood priorities

Perhaps the most important factors to consider when evaluating a neighborhood or location for your short-term stay are safety and crime rates. Beyond that, check for proximity to:

• Everyday essentials, including grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, and cafes.
• Schools and childcare, including local public schools (if that’s a viable option) or international or bilingual schools.
• Green space, parks, and playgrounds, especially if you’re moving to a city where living spaces are small.
• Public transportation and parking options, including the walk to the train or bus station and lines that will take you to key locations.

Budgeting: Deposits, fees, and other costs

Short-term rentals are often more expensive per month than traditional long-term leases. However, many bundle costs such as utilities and Wi-Fi into the listing price, and some also include cleaning costs. Unlike signing a traditional lease, you usually don’t need to worry about a broker’s fee, utilities and setup costs, furnishings, or building or maintenance fees, which can make them more cost-effective in the long run.

However, not every property, platform, or location is the same. In some cases, even with a short-term rental, you might be responsible for a security deposit upfront, move-in or move-out cleaning fees, or local occupancy taxes. To make sure you have a clear picture of the cost going in, confirm the monthly price—including any additional costs beyond rent—in writing before booking. “Service charges, cleaning fees, utilities, and deposits can quickly turn an apparently affordable rental into a very expensive one,” Edwards says.

Lease flexibility and what to check before booking

Staying somewhere for a few months may be less of a commitment than buying a place, but you still need to do some due diligence to cover your bases.

“My biggest warning is not to confuse flexibility with informality,” Edwards says. “A short stay still needs a proper agreement spelling out the full cost, deposit terms, notice period, utilities, and exactly what happens if plans change.” This can make platform- and professionally-managed stays—such as Blueground and these other Airbnb alternatives—a more consistent bet than ones through private hosts or individual landlords.

No matter how you’re booking, review your contract for the following first:

• Minimum stay length: Are you required to book or pay for a certain length of stay even if you find a permanent place sooner?
• Extension options and rights: Are you guaranteed the option to extend, and is there a deadline for giving notice?
• Cancellation policy: What allowance is there for either tenant cancellation or host cancellation?
• Problems during your stay: Check what happens if the apartment becomes unavailable or needs major repairs, including whether you’re entitled to a refund or alternative accommodation. Also confirm whether you should secure separate renters or travel insurance.

Finally, “be very wary of vague listings, suspiciously low prices, pressure to pay quickly, stock photography, and landlords unwilling to arrange a live video viewing,” Edwards cautions. “Always verify exactly who owns or manages the property before transferring money.”

Where can families search for short-term rentals abroad?

Families looking for short-term rentals abroad can look to a few different places. Managed furnished-housing or corporate-housing platforms, such as Blueground, can offer more consistency thanks to a single point of contact throughout the stay and vetted, standardized properties. Midterm rental marketplaces, such as Flatio and Wunderflats, provide a wide variety of listings across major European cities. Finally, local expat networks (which may connect via social media platforms like Facebook and Reddit or messaging apps like WhatsApp, Slack, or Discord) and classifieds can be particularly helpful once you’ve arrived.

The right option depends on what your family needs. For families looking for move-in-ready housing for expats or foreign short-term housing, Blueground offers furnished apartments with flexible terms and professional management, which can eliminate some of the variability that comes with renting from individual hosts. They offer apartments in 50+ countries and 1,000+ cities around the world.

Settling in after you arrive

Once you’ve settled into your temporary home, focus on time-sensitive tasks or ones necessary for everyday life, such as handling residency paperwork, arranging healthcare, setting up a local phone number and bank account, and finalizing school registration or childcare arrangements. Depending on where you’re living, there may be different rules about having proof of a local address, and whether or not a temporary one can suffice — it’s best to do your research before you arrive. A short-term rental at least gives you a place to live comfortably in the meantime, receive mail, and start getting to know your community while you lock down your permanent home.

Why Blueground for a family move abroad

Moving abroad with a family comes with a lot of challenges, both expected and unexpected. By booking a short-term fully furnished apartment with Blueground—available in over 1,000 cities around the globe—you can feel confident that you’ll land in your new country with a comfortable, well-equipped place to stay. With flexible terms, professional oversight, a seamless experience managed via app, the right short-term rental from Blueground can be the perfect, steady stepping stone between your old home and your new adventure.

FAQs

How do I find short-term rentals abroad?

The most popular options for finding short-term rentals abroad include: managed furnished-apartment platforms such as Blueground; midterm rental marketplaces such as Flatio and Wunderflats; and expat networks, either on the ground or on social networking platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and Discord. Book ahead of time so you have a place ready for you on arrival.

How long should families book a short-term rental when relocating?

Booking a short-term rental for a month or two can give your family a dedicated space to land. Look for flexible terms that will allow you to extend if you need more time to find your next place. Book as far ahead as makes sense for you, especially in competitive markets.

Are short-term furnished rentals more expensive than a standard lease?

Yes, short-term furnished rentals usually cost more per month compared to a standard lease, but they often earn that higher price tag through included utilities and Wi-Fi, zero furnishing costs, and affording you more flexibility in terms of length of stay.

Can I extend a short-term rental if my permanent home search takes longer?

Often, yes, but it depends on availability and the rental’s terms. If you need more time, confirm the extension policy in writing before booking.