If you will be visiting any city in the world for an extended stay then you may wish to consider a range of accommodation options from hotels, through to serviced apartments through to homestays.

The good news is that there is a huge amount of accommodation to choose from whether it is cheap New York apartments or luxury condos. The bad news is that it can be very time consuming to sift out the good from the bad – and costly if you make a mistake.

If you will be in a city for a month or more then you need to decide what your most important criteria are. Comfort will probably be up there on the top of your list as will plenty of space as you will not want to spend a month or more in a place where you cannot swing a cat.

Although serviced apartments may seem a good option for a longer stay, don't discount the possibility of staying in a hotel. Many hotels offer very good rates for longer stays in a bid to attract regular business and they can be a comfortable option as you can usually get room service or eat in the local restaurant instead of having to fend for yourself.

Whatever you choose, make sure that it will be roomy enough for you to spend extended periods in without going stir crazy.