Aparthotel, residence, hotel: these words crop up side by side all the time on travel sites and in property listings. For holidaymakers the difference is a matter of convenience. For anyone thinking of investing in one of these properties, though, understanding the format is the first step towards knowing what you are really buying.
What aparthotel means
The word is a blend of apartment and hotel. You will see it spelt in several ways: aparthotel, apart-hotel, apart hotel or apartment hotel. In Portuguese it is apart-hotel, in Spanish apartotel, and in French the closest idea is the résidence de tourisme. They all mean the same thing:
a hospitality property made up of self-contained living units, with a kitchen or kitchenette, but run like a hotel: reception, housekeeping, fresh linen and shared facilities.
The model began in holiday resorts aimed at families, who wanted more room than a hotel bedroom without giving up the services. Today it is also popular with couples, remote workers and people staying for weeks or months.
Aparthotel, hotel, residence and holiday let compared
| Hotel | Residence | Aparthotel | Holiday let apartment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space | room | apartment | suite or apartment | apartment |
| Kitchen | no | yes | yes, or a kitchenette | yes |
| Reception and welcome | yes | limited | yes | usually not |
| Cleaning and linen | daily | on request or weekly | included, as in a hotel | up to the host |
| Shared facilities (pool, bar, gym) | often | sometimes | often | rarely |
| Who runs it | the hotel | the residence operator | a single hotel operator | the owner or an agency |
| Typical stay | short | medium to long | from a few days to months | short |
In short:
- a hotel sells rooms and services, and many of the services are charged separately;
- a residence mainly sells space, with more basic services that are often shared;
- an aparthotel sits in between: the space of a home with the management of a hotel;
- a holiday let is a private home, and the organisation is left to whoever lets it.
Rules and categories differ from country to country, and sometimes from region to region: some places have their own classification for serviced residences that is close to the aparthotel. To know how a property is classified, what always counts is the local licence.
Who chooses an aparthotel as a guest
- Families, who want a separate sleeping area and the option to cook.
- Couples and friends, looking for more privacy than a hotel room.
- Remote workers, who combine work and holiday and need space and a good connection.
- Long stays of weeks or months, when a hotel becomes expensive and impractical.
These are the very guests who come to Boa Vista today: European families, couples, kitesurfers, people escaping the winter. That is why the format works well on the island. The tourism figures are in the guide Tourism in Cape Verde: the growth figures.
From the investor’s side: why an aparthotel is different
In a conventional hotel the building usually has a single owner. In an aparthotel such as those built by the group, by contrast, the units can be sold one by one to different owners, while the management stays single and professional. In the English-speaking world this model is called a condo hotel.
For the buyer this means:
- a real property, registered in your name, which you can sell or leave to your heirs;
- no day-to-day management: guests, cleaning and maintenance are handled by the operator;
- shared rules to follow, for example on furnishings and periods of personal use.
How it works in practice, step by step, is explained in the guide What an Apart-Hotel is and how it works as an investment.
A real example on Boa Vista
On the island of Boa Vista the group has already built an aparthotel: the White Hotel in Sal Rei, 4-star, with all 69 suites sold and now in operation. The new suites have gone: only resales by owners remain.
The new project is The View: 65 suites on the beach at Praia Cabral, designed by the architect Giò Gozzi, with 98% of the suites facing the ocean and prices from €90,000. Each suite has its own kitchen and living space, while the property has a reception, pool, bar and a single operator. Handover is expected at the end of 2028; you can follow the work on the live building site.
If you are wondering whether an aparthotel or a traditional apartment suits you better, try the comparison between an apartment and an Apart-Hotel.
Frequently asked questions
Are aparthotel and apart-hotel the same thing?
Yes. They are two spellings of the same word, as are apart hotel and apartment hotel. They describe a property with self-contained living units run like a hotel.
What is the difference between a residence and an aparthotel?
Both offer apartments with a kitchen. A residence usually has more basic services, often on request, whereas an aparthotel offers the typical services of a hotel: reception, cleaning, fresh linen and shared spaces looked after by a single operator.
Does an aparthotel have stars like a hotel?
It depends on the rules of the country and region where it is located. Many properties of this kind are classified in the same way as hotels: the White Hotel on Boa Vista, for example, is 4-star.
Can you buy a suite in an aparthotel?
In some properties, yes: the units are sold to individual owners and the management stays with a professional operator. That is the case with the White Hotel and The View on Boa Vista. Before buying, read the management contract carefully and have it checked by a professional.
Would you like to talk it through with a person?
Book a video call or message us on WhatsApp: we will answer your questions about Boa Vista and The View.
