Where I stayed: Los Angeles
Where else you can stay: In one of their 50+ apartments in four US cities: New York, LA, San Diego, and San Francisco. (Company reps told me they have plans to add hundreds of new units this year and expand to more cities soon.)
Minimum stay: At least 30 days.
How much it costs: Rent typically ranges from around $3,000 to $6,000 per month.
How it works: You browse Anyplace’s network of remote-work-ready apartments via the site or app. If you’re ready to rent, you submit an application; approval can take a few days. There’s no membership fee, Wi-Fi and utilities are included, and an Anyplace rep will help get you situated when you arrive. Once your term is up, you have the option to extend your stay—if your rental is available—or move on to another unit in the Anyplace network.
The perks: Like the other companies on this list, Anyplace offers short-term apartment rentals with Wi-Fi, modern decor, and amenities like gyms, outdoor spaces, and in-unit laundry. But their next-level workspaces are what set the company apart: Standard features include an adjustable standing desk, an ergonomic office chair, a large monitor with a separate webcam, a keyboard and mouse, computer speakers, a laptop stand, and ultra-high-speed internet. Many Anyplace apartments also include regular cleaning services (though in some cases it’ll cost you an additional fee).
My experience: Not surprisingly, the “luxurious home office” in my Anyplace apartment was by far the best setup for working remotely. Basically, I felt like a YouTuber—and since I was hosting a virtual career panel for SELF during my stay, I extra appreciated all of the tech upgrades listed above.
The rest of the apartment was also pretty impressive—the beachy-chic decor got me in a Southern California state of mind, and the building had a two-story fitness center and a pool so, like, cool. Other than the out-of-my-budget price—the unit I stayed in goes for around $4,000 a month, while one-bedroom luxury apartments in the same neighborhood are in the $2,500–$4,000 range—and the fact that your city options are limited, I honestly don’t have anything bad to say about Anyplace.
Remote-work rating: Five stars
Final thoughts
I still haven’t decided where to move, but my experiences above certainly informed my ever-growing pros and cons lists—the decision paralysis hasn’t completely subsided, but that’s on me, and I’m working on it in therapy. And when I finally land on a location or two, I’d definitely consider renting from Landing, Sonder, or Anyplace for a month or longer while I look for a permanent place or to help ensure I’m making the right choice (a week wasn’t necessarily long enough to give me a full feel for the cities I stayed in).
If you don’t want to feel like you’re living in someone else’s space and/or you appreciate the convenience of accessing a bunch of remote-work-ready, well-decorated (all of the units I stayed in lived up to their online pics) apartments across the US, I can attest that the above companies can help you feel at home while you handle your business.
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