How to Feel at Home Anywhere
Whether you're here for a week or a few months — for work, travel, or a fresh start — these are the tips that make temporary living feel less temporary. We've learned these from hosting thousands of guests in our apartments.
Your First 24 Hours
Get settled fast
Stock the kitchen on your way in
Stop at a grocery store before heading to the apartment. Grab coffee, milk, eggs, bread, and a couple of easy meals. Having food ready when you arrive eliminates the 'where do I eat tonight?' stress and makes the apartment feel lived-in immediately. See our city-specific grocery recommendations below.
Unpack completely — even for short stays
Resist the urge to live out of your suitcase. Take 15 minutes to put your clothes in the closet, set up your toiletries in the bathroom, and put your laptop on the desk. This single act transforms a 'place you're staying' into a place you live.
Walk the neighborhood
Before you settle in for the evening, take a 20-minute walk around the block. Find the nearest coffee shop, pharmacy, and restaurant. Knowing where things are reduces decision fatigue for the rest of your stay.
Connect to WiFi and test your setup
If you're here for work, get your laptop set up, test the WiFi speed, and do a quick video call to make sure everything works. Better to troubleshoot on day one than during an important morning meeting.
Set up a small 'home base' on the kitchen counter
Keys, wallet, charger, sunglasses — give them a home. When you're in a new space, having one spot where your everyday items always live prevents the daily scavenger hunt.
Building Routines
Make it feel like home
Find 'your' morning spot
Whether it's a coffee shop, a bench by the river, or just the kitchen table with a good podcast — having a morning ritual anchors your day. We've listed the best WFH coffee spots in our Minneapolis and Cincinnati city guides.
Establish a laundry day
All our apartments have laundry access (in-unit or on-site). Pick a day — Sunday evening works great — and make it routine. This is what lets you pack light and still have clean clothes all week.
Cook at least a few meals
You don't need to cook every night, but making coffee in the morning and cooking 2-3 meals per week makes a huge difference. It saves money, reduces decision fatigue, and makes the apartment feel like a real home.
Move your body
Travel disrupts fitness routines. In Minneapolis, the riverfront trails and Chain of Lakes are incredible for running and biking. In Cincinnati, walk the Smale Riverfront Park or explore OTR on foot. Many of our guests also use local gym day passes — we can recommend options.
Say yes to one local experience per week
It's easy to fall into a hotel-room mentality. Push yourself to try one new restaurant, visit one attraction, or explore one neighborhood per week. These are the memories that make a work trip feel like an experience.
Groceries & Essentials
Where to stock up
Every city has different go-to spots. Here's what's near our apartments in each market.
Minneapolis
Target — Downtown
Closest full-service store for groceries + household essentials. 10 min from NE properties.
Aldi — Central Ave NE
Budget-friendly groceries, surprisingly good quality. In the neighborhood.
Lunds & Byerlys — NE / Uptown
Upscale grocery with prepared food section. Great for quick dinners and nice ingredients.
United Noodles — East Minneapolis
The largest Asian grocery in the Midwest. Incredible selection and prices.
CVS / Walgreens
Multiple locations downtown and NE for pharmacy, toiletries, and quick essentials.
Cincinnati
Kroger — Downtown / OTR
The main grocery option near our properties. Full-service, good selection.
Findlay Market
Not a grocery store per se, but fresh produce, meats, baked goods, and specialty items. Open Tue-Sun.
Jungle Jim's International Market
Worth the 30-min drive. One of the largest independent grocery stores in the US. An experience in itself.
Target — Newport (across the river)
Full Target just across the river in Newport, KY. Easy access from downtown.
CVS / Walgreens
Multiple downtown locations for pharmacy, toiletries, and quick essentials.
Practical Stuff
The boring details that matter
🚗 Getting around
Minneapolis: car helpful but not essential in NE (most things walkable/bikeable). Nice Ride bike share everywhere. Good bus system. Cincinnati: very walkable downtown and OTR. Free Connector streetcar. Car useful for exploring beyond downtown.
📱 Apps to download
Uber/Lyft for rides, DoorDash/Uber Eats for delivery, Google Maps (download offline maps for your area), Yelp for finding restaurants, Nice Ride (Minneapolis bike share), Transit App for bus routes.
🏥 In case of emergency
We provide emergency contact info at check-in. Both cities have major hospitals within minutes of our properties. Walk-in urgent care clinics are available in both markets for non-emergencies.
📦 Getting packages delivered
Most of our buildings accept packages. Check with us on delivery instructions for your specific apartment — we'll provide the right address format and any access codes needed.
🔑 Smart lock access
All our apartments use smart locks — no physical keys to worry about losing. We'll send you your unique access code before arrival.
📞 Need help during your stay?
Text or call us anytime. We respond quickly and can handle most issues same-day. Our number is in your check-in instructions.
The Right Mindset
Reframe the experience
You're not 'stuck' somewhere — you're living somewhere new
The language you use matters. 'I'm stuck in Minneapolis for work' hits different than 'I'm living in Minneapolis for a month.' Same situation, completely different energy. Lean into the city you're in.
Temporary doesn't mean uncomfortable
The difference between a miserable business trip and an enjoyable extended stay often comes down to small comforts. Unpack your bag. Buy real groceries. Find a coffee shop you like. These tiny investments in comfort pay massive dividends in quality of life.
Talk to people
Bartenders, baristas, the person next to you at the brewery — locals love sharing recommendations. Some of the best experiences come from a casual 'what's your favorite restaurant around here?' You'll discover places that never show up on Google.
Document it
Take photos. Keep a short journal. Even if you travel for work constantly, every city has something worth remembering. In five years, you'll be glad you captured what it felt like to live in that apartment, in that neighborhood, during that season.
Ready to feel at home?
Our apartments are designed for exactly this kind of stay — comfortable, practical, and thoughtfully equipped. Book direct for the best rate.