Temporary housing options for interns

Congrats! You just got offered an exciting internship in Houston. Now what? But Houston doesn’t have an intern housing program with residence halls like you find in Washington, DC.

First things first, you need to get an idea of the average cost of rent in the area you will be moving to. If you’re looking for temporary housing for internships in Houston, you can expect to spend between $1,200 and $1,800 a month on an unfurnished, one-bedroom apartment. On top of that, you need to factor in other recurring expenses- utilities, wifi, groceries, phone.… Oh, and don’t forget, it’s also your responsibility to furnish your new, temporary space. 

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry, we can help you find a stylish, flexible furnished apartment in Houston that won’t break the bank.

Things for interns to consider when looking for a place to stay

Before you find your ideal intern housing, whether it’s in a hotel room, Airbnb, or apartment, ask yourself these questions:

1. What is my budget? Does my internship offer a stipend/reimbursement policy?
2. How far am I willing to commute to my internship? Will I drive, walk, Uber or ride the METRORail?
3. What do I want to live by? (grocery store, local bars and restaurants, etc.)
4. What are my security needs?

Different types of internship housing

Now it’s time to consider housing accommodations. With a variety of options, ranging from extended stay hotels, online booking sites, unfurnished apartments, and on-demand housing, it can be difficult to narrow down which one works best for you. So here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Extended stay hotels come with a hefty price tag, incredibly small living quarters and lackluster amenities (count yourself lucky if your room has a cooktop). While this may be doable for a few weeks, can you honestly picture yourself residing in a hotel room for the entire duration of your internship?
• Online booking sites like Airbnb offer an endless array of choices, but there is a disappointing level of quality control and their booking fees add up quickly. (Check out our post on money-saving tips for your next extended stay.)
• Craigslist and other similar sites can open a Pandora’s Box of potential issues. Misleading information, intrusive landlords, and rental scams top the list.
• Unfurnished apartments require a lot more time, energy and money then they’re worth, especially if you’re only staying for a short period of time. In addition to signing a leasing agreement and furnishing your new place, be prepared to pay all kinds of fees throughout the duration of your stay (pet fees, cleaning fees, parking fees, etc.). You may wind up also paying an early lease termination fee if you want to move out early.
• On the other hand, on-demand housing has completely changed the rental apartment game. You can rent a fully furnished apartment for as long as you need and avoid binding lease agreements. Gone are the days when intern housing needed to be rented for a whole summer or semester.

On-demand housing better suits an intern’s lifestyle

With on-demand housing, you can expect:

• Convenience and flexibility. A digital, fully transparent booking process, with no need for a long-term lease agreement. Only book the dates you want – without worrying about whether it fits neatly into weeklong or monthly boxes.
• Furnished means fully furnished. Unlike most extended stay hotels, on-demand housing features full-size kitchens equipped with cooking tools, blenders, and cookware.
• Turnkey living. All utilities, including the internet, are set up and ready to go when you walk in the door.
• Stylish, professional design. There is a happy medium between matchy-matchy, institutional hotel furniture, and the usual mishmash of furniture, decor, and personal items found in the listings of amateur Airbnb hosts.

Before booking your internship housing, be sure to look into what the costs will be for utilities, wifi, parking and laundry. Lodgeur’s furnished apartments include all of this – there are no hidden fees. We even include a cleaning every two weeks on stays of 30+ nights so you can focus on your internship and studies.

Save money preparing food at home

Although there are dozens of restaurants within walking distance of Lodgeur at Mid Main Lofts, there are also grocery stores within walking distance. Lodgeur’s kitchens are chef ready and the apartment communities feature poolside gas grills. Our post here lists the places you can walk to from Mid Main Lofts.

Getting around

Whether you bring a car, it’s important to know how you will get to your internship location each day. Lodgeur apartments come with free, gated garage parking. Lodgeur at Mid Main Lofts sits directly next to a METRORail Station (Ensemble Station on the Red Line). The Red Line will take you to downtown, the Museum District and the Texas Medical Center. You can also use the METRORail to access the Galleria.

Check out our post on security features to look for in a furnished apartment rental. You should look for gated garage parking, background checks for all guests, and auto-changing key access codes.

Lodgeur regularly hosts interns from the University of Cambridge, Harvard University, Vanderbuilt University, George Washington University, Princeton University, Baylor University, UT, UT Dallas, University of Dallas, Texas A&M, University of Houston and Rice University.

Book your intern apartment with Lodgeur

Search for your perfect intern apartment in Houston with Lodgeur, and book it online today. Prepare for your stay in Houston by checking out our City Guide so you’re prepared to experience America’s fourth largest city like a local.