Finding Temporary Accommodation in Luxembourg in 2023 and Life Update
When I look back at the past year, I have come to realize I was constantly on the move. Let me elaborate on that. At the end of last summer, I was wrapping up my time in Cabo Verde where I had moved to for work. When I had left the apartment I was renting, I moved between Airbnbs for the last few weeks. It ranged from a nice private apartment that had everything at your disposal to another in a shared house where the host did not clean the kitchen frequently enough that cockroaches were thriving (disgusting, I know, you do not have to tell me twice).
After leaving Cabo Verde, I headed to Luxembourg where my family home is. I stayed with my parents to spend more quality time with them while I figured out my next move. This meant travelling between Brussels (where my father worked) and Luxembourg every 10 days or so. And at the end of 2022, I decided to go on a trip to re-discover Southeast Asia after being about 25 years of away from the region. I stayed in private accommodations which best suited my needs at the time and also gave me the freedom to do my work in peace and in a space where I could do what I wanted.
The move between Luxembourg and Brussels came to an end at the end of April this year when my family moved back to Luxembourg for good. And during that time, I had explored the temporary accommodations that exist in Luxembourg. Now this is for all of you looking to set up in Luxembourg for some time or move altogether, but do not know where to start.
Finding a place to stay and eventually live in in Luxembourg, especially these days, is not an easy task and at times even disheartening (unless you have a lot of money to cushion your initial expenses). In Luxembourg, the expected way of securing housing is going through an agency who will show you what they have available through their website. Now, if you go with an agency, you will often have to put down a deposit of 1-3 months’ worth of rent, the first month’s rent and you pay agency fees equivalent to at least one month’s rent. It can be more and often it is as you have to pay VAT (about 17%). So, while you try and find something or for those staying in the short-term, this means you need temporary accommodation that can be quite flexible. But what is that like in Luxembourg?
In my experience, it is quite limited. For young people, you have youth hostels across the country but there is no guarantee that space will be available for the entire duration of your stay. This would mean you would have to bounce between accommodations and when you are already on the move, you do not really want this added hassle. Then, there are hotels (including hotel apartments), where the lowest amount per night (~€175) is not sustainable in the short-term. That leaves us to check Airbnb.
The Airbnb market is unsurprisingly expensive. Sometimes, it is just a reminder of how expensive it is to live in Luxembourg compared to, for example, its neighboring countries but ultimately, I noticed many European cities are getting expensive. So, what do you see on the Airbnb market for Luxembourg? Once again, many places are priced quite high especially for what they are that if you are going to spend that kind of money, you might as well stay in a hotel (I will not get into hotel vs. Airbnb discussion today). Here are some of the places I would recommend based on my experience:
This is a room in a shared house that meets your basic needs. Out of the rooms available in this house, this one was the favorite. It was quite spacious and got a lot of natural light. Room #1 was the one I stayed in the most due to availability and it would be my second choice as it was also quite spacious, but the room felt a lot darker. The last one, room #4, is smaller than the others and it only has one plug supplying the whole room which is not ideal if you have many devices to charge. The house comes with an equipped kitchen and each room has a dedicate spot in the fridge, a washer and dryer that you are free to use, and a shared bathroom for all the rooms. I initially thought I would face “competition” for the bathroom, but I never ran into anyone; I think it only gets busy at night and in the morning when people need to shower, get ready for the day or unwind for the night. Other than that, it is kept free, and the host cleans it about 1-2 per week.
Now why do I even mention this place? Sounds like an ordinary shared space. While it offers you the basics and the furniture looks very simple and even a bit run down, what makes this place is the price point. Among accommodation that starts at minimum €100 per night in Luxembourg, this one sits at ~€40 per night. For this price, you will look passed the basics and even embrace it. The second good thing about it is its location. Now while it is not in the heart of the city center, it is located in the second biggest city of Luxembourg, Esch. And when you hone in on Esch, it is only about a 6-minute walk from the train station. With transport free in the country, you can go just about anywhere, and the train is every half hour or hour depending on the time of day. Here is a recap of this place:
| Pros | Cons |
| – Low prices (~€40 per night) – Well located and connected in terms of proximity to groceries and restaurants, and train station to connect to other parts of the country – Basic amenities are provided (e.g. towels, shower gel, fully equipped kitchen) | – Run down home, not for those looking for something very luxurious – Some rooms can do with better lighting at night – Can get noisy or messy as it is a shared house after all |
Chambre avec salle de bains privative – Luxembourg
Just to give you some options, I wanted to add this one as well. It is a makeshift studio in the attic of the host’s house and it has everything you need – a mini fridge, electric stovetop, cutlery, dinnerware, pots and pans, desk, sink and shower and luckily for you, the toilet is in a separate room just outside the “studio.” You can also ask the host to use the washer and dryer. This place is a bit pricier but also giving you more privacy, sitting at €60 per night. It is located in Dommeldange in a quiet, residential neighborhood and a 4-minute walk from the train station, making it well connected. Dommeldange is quieter than Esch of course but it still has some places to eat here and there and a Delhaize supermarket within walking distance. The best part that I should have mentioned is the host’s dog who is super friendly and ever so slightly clinging. So, if you like animals, you will like the company. The downside to this place is that it is not always available with people booking it for about a month or so at a time.
In a pool of many expensive accommodations, I managed to track down some affordable places for those that intend to set themselves up in Luxembourg in the short-term. Maybe I am biased, but I do believe Luxembourg is often overlooked by many travelers visiting Europe and that there is a lot more to do especially for those willing to venture passed the capital and immerse themselves in the incredible nature the country has to offer. If you are travelling to Luxembourg or anywhere in the near future, make sure to take out some travel insurance to travel with peace of mind. I get mine with SafetyWing which I could not recommend more!