Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Who typically stays at Larchmere Living?

Larchmere Living has provided furnished housing in Cleveland for more than 20 years, with many of our guests coming to Cleveland for medical and academic programs.

Our guests commonly include Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals medical observers, visiting physicians, residents, fellows, researchers, postgraduate students, and other medical professionals staying in Cleveland for several weeks or months.

 

How do I check availability for my dates?

Availability changes frequently, so the easiest way is to contact us with your exact arrival and departure dates.

Please include:

• Your name
• Program or institution
• Purpose of your stay
• Check-in date
• Check-out date
• Number of guests
• Preferred accommodation

You can contact us by email or WhatsApp and we will let you know what is available.

 

How much does it cost to stay at Larchmere Living?

Our typical monthly rates are:

Private furnished room: approximately $800 per month

Fully private apartment or suite: approximately $1,450 per month

Rates may vary depending on the accommodation, length of stay, and availability.

Contact us with your dates for an exact price.

 

What is included in the monthly rent?

Our accommodations are fully furnished and designed for guests arriving in Cleveland with minimal setup.

Depending on the accommodation, your rent generally includes:

Furnished bedroom or apartment

• Utilities
• High-speed Wi-Fi
• Kitchen access
• Laundry facilities
• Bed linens
• Towels
• Common-area furnishings

We will confirm exactly what is included with the accommodation you are considering.

 

What types of accommodations do you offer?

Larchmere Living offers several different housing arrangements.

These include:

Private Rooms
Your own furnished bedroom with shared kitchen and common areas.

Female-Only Accommodations
Private bedrooms in accommodations reserved for female guests.

Private Apartments and Suites
Fully private accommodations for guests who prefer their own kitchen, bathroom, and living space.

Because our properties are different, we will explain the exact layout of any accommodation offered to you.

 

Do you offer female-only housing?

Yes.

We maintain female-only accommodations for guests who prefer to live exclusively with other women.

This is particularly popular with international medical observers and students traveling to Cleveland on their own.

Please mention that you prefer female-only housing when you contact us.

 

Are the bathroom and kitchen private or shared?

It depends on the accommodation.

Guests renting a private room usually share some common areas such as the kitchen and, depending on the unit, the bathroom.

Guests renting a fully private apartment or suite have their own private living facilities.

We will always explain the arrangement before you reserve.

 

What is the minimum stay?

Larchmere Living primarily provides furnished housing for stays of 30 days or longer.

Many of our guests stay for one to six months while completing an observership, research program, fellowship, rotation, or other temporary assignment in Cleveland.

 

How do I reserve a room or apartment?

First, contact us with your dates and preferred type of accommodation.

If we have something available, we will send you the details, price, and reservation information.

Once the reservation requirements are completed, the accommodation is held for your agreed dates.

Because availability can change quickly, we recommend contacting us as soon as your Cleveland dates are confirmed.

 

What happens if my observership or medical program changes?

We understand that medical programs occasionally change schedules, delay starting dates, or extend a visitor's stay.

Please contact us as soon as you know your dates may change.

We will always try to work with you when possible, although changes and cancellations remain subject to the terms of your reservation.

 

How far is Larchmere Living from Cleveland Clinic?

Larchmere Living is located in Cleveland's Larchmere neighborhood, close to Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, and University Circle.

Many guests walk, bicycle, take the bus, or use a short rideshare trip to Cleveland Clinic.

Typical transportation options include:

Approximately 20–30 minutes walking

Approximately 10 minutes by bicycle

Approximately 15 minutes by bus

Only a few minutes by car or rideshare

Actual travel time depends on which Cleveland Clinic building you are visiting.

 

Do I need a car?

Usually not.

Many Larchmere Living guests stay in Cleveland without a car.

Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, grocery stores, restaurants, cafés, shops, and public transportation are all accessible from the neighborhood.

For guests who prefer cycling, bicycles and e-bikes may also be available.

 

Do you have bicycles available?

Yes.

Bicycles are available to guests for approximately $45 per month, subject to availability.

E-bikes may also be available for approximately $90 per month.

Many guests find biking a convenient way to reach Cleveland Clinic and University Circle.

 

Is the Larchmere neighborhood safe?

Larchmere is an established residential and commercial neighborhood with restaurants, cafés, shops, galleries, and long-term residents.

As in any major American city, guests should use normal city precautions, particularly when walking alone late at night.

One important point for visitors unfamiliar with Cleveland is that choosing housing simply because it is extremely close to the hospital does not necessarily mean it is the best location.

We encourage guests to consider the neighborhood, transportation, accommodation quality, and overall living environment when choosing where to stay.

 

Is parking available?  Yes and it is free

We have our own parking lots

If you will have a car during your stay, please let us know when you inquire and we will be happy to explain the parking arrangement during your stay with us.  Our parking is free.

 

Can my husband, wife, partner, or family member visit me?

Visitors are generally possible, but the rules depend on the accommodation.

Private apartments naturally provide more flexibility.

In shared accommodations, particularly female-only or male shared housing, overnight visitors may be restricted so that we can respect the privacy and comfort of the other residents.

Please ask us in advance if someone will be staying with you.

 

What about late-night arrivals?

Normal arrival and check-in times are generally between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM.

We understand that international flights sometimes arrive late.

Late arrivals can often be accommodated by prior arrangement. A $50 late-arrival fee may apply.

Please send us your flight or expected arrival information in advance whenever possible.

 

Is laundry available?  Yes.

Our accommodations have access to laundry facilities, so guests staying for several weeks or months do not need to rely on a laundromat.

 

Can I extend my stay?

Often, yes.

Medical observerships, research programs, fellowships, and rotations are sometimes extended.

Please tell us as soon as possible if you think you may need additional time.

If your room or apartment has not already been reserved by another incoming guest, we will normally try to accommodate the extension.

 

Still Have Questions or Want to Check Availability?

Send us your dates and we will be happy to tell you what accommodations are available.

Please include:

• Name:
• Program / Institution: Cleveland Clinic / University Hospitals / CWRU / Other
• Purpose of stay: Observership / Clinical Rotation / Research / Residency / Fellowship / Other
• Check-in date:
• Check-out date:
• Number of guests:
• Preferred accommodation: Private Room / Female-Only Private Room / Fully Private Apartment / Other
•  

WhatsApp: +1 216 254 9848

We look forward to welcoming you to Cleveland.

 

WHERE SHOULD YOU STAY WHEN VISITING CLEVELAND CLINIC?

More to Read

 

Where Should You Stay When Visiting Cleveland Clinic?

 

 

 

For an international medical observer arriving in Cleveland for the first time, finding a place to stay can seem simple enough. Open Google Maps, find Cleveland Clinic, and look for housing as close to the campus as possible. That sounds logical. In practice, it may be exactly the wrong way to choose.

Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus is enormous, stretching across many city blocks, and the neighborhoods surrounding it can change considerably within a relatively short distance. A rental advertised as a “five-minute walk to Cleveland Clinic” may certainly be close to the hospital, but that does not necessarily make it the best place to live for a month or several months. That matters particularly for international visitors who have never been to Cleveland and are trying to judge a neighborhood from photographs and an online listing. 

 

Over the years, we have seen medical visitors arrive after booking inexpensive apartments immediately around the Clinic, only to discover that the property, neighborhood or amenities were quite different from what they expected. Some moved shortly after arriving.  There are, of course, good properties near the hospital as well. But the better ones immediately surrounding the Clinic also tend to be among the more expensive choices.

 

With the Cleveland Clinic Student Housing Portal now being discontinued, visitors will have to do more of this evaluation themselves. And one useful rule is simple: Do not choose your Cleveland housing by walking time alone.  For visitors who want to stay in an established neighborhood and still be able to reach Cleveland Clinic without a car, two areas are particularly worth comparing: Little Italy and Larchmere Blvd area.  Most people may already know Little Italy by its name itself. It is lively, attractive and filled with restaurants and cafés. It has long been popular with students and medical visitors.

 

Larchmere is less well known to people arriving from outside Cleveland, but it offers many of the same advantages: restaurants, cafés, neighborhood shops, grocery options, public transportation and the ability to reach Cleveland Clinic on foot or by bicycle.  And surprisingly, the difference in walking time is very small.  Using the same destination in the center of Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus, Google Maps shows a walk from Little Italy of about 30 minutes. From Larchmere Living, it is approximately 34 minutes.  Four minutes.  That is important because Little Italy furnished housing can often be more expensive, while comparable accommodations in Larchmere may provide more space or better value.

 

There is another reason those Google walking times can be misleading.

Cleveland Clinic is not one building.  A guest working on the eastern side of campus may have a much shorter walk from Larchmere than the 34-minute estimate suggests. The dialysis area, for example, is roughly a 10-minute walk from Larchmere Living.  At the opposite extreme is the JJ Building, one of the farthest Clinic buildings from Larchmere. It can add approximately another eight minutes. For many international observers, however, JJ is primarily associated with first-day orientation. Their regular department may be considerably closer.  Google Maps also tends to route pedestrians around some of the large Clinic buildings. Once you know the campus, pedestrians can often enter from the east and continue directly through the medical complex.  So perhaps the better question is not, “How far am I from Cleveland Clinic?”  It is:  “How far am I from the building where I will actually work?” 

 

What about Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights? 

Both are attractive residential areas and very good places to live. But they are generally farther from Cleveland Clinic.  Depending on the exact address, commuting can take considerably longer, and a car may become necessary or strongly preferred.

That makes them somewhat different from Little Italy and Larchmere, where living without a car is realistic for many visiting medical professionals.

 

And one Cleveland geography point is worth clearing up: Larchmere is its own neighborhood. It should not be confused with Shaker Square or Buckeye, even though online descriptions sometimes incorrectly group them together.

 

Walking isn’t the only option

For guests staying at Larchmere Living, there is another inexpensive alternative.

Regular bicycles are available for $45 per month, and e-bikes for $90 per month.  For someone who does not feel like walking half an hour twice a day, a bicycle can turn the trip to the Clinic into a much shorter commute without the cost or inconvenience of renting a car.

 

Public transportation is another option, particularly during Cleveland winters when snow, ice or bitter cold can make walking less attractive.  In that respect, Little Italy and Larchmere are fairly comparable: both allow a visitor to combine walking, transit and other transportation rather than depending completely on a car.

 

There is also something to be said for living with people who understand why you are here

An international medical observer has rather different housing needs from a typical tourist or long-term apartment renter.  Most arrive with luggage, not furniture. They may stay for only one or two months. They are often unfamiliar with Cleveland, American transportation, local neighborhoods and even basic things such as where to buy groceries.  And many arrive alone.  Larchmere Living has housed international medical observers, physicians, researchers and students for many years. That creates a different environment from simply renting an anonymous furnished apartment.  There is a good chance that the person in the next room or next apartment is also working or studying at Cleveland Clinic and dealing with many of the same questions.  For a visitor arriving thousands of miles from home, that can matter.

 

And what if Cleveland becomes home?

Some visitors eventually stay much longer than they expected.

For physicians, researchers and other eligible employees who establish themselves in Cleveland, both Larchmere and Little Italy are also located within the Greater University Circle housing-assistance area.

Programs such as Greater Circle Living may provide qualifying employees of participating institutions with assistance toward renting, buying or rehabilitating housing in the area.  So these neighborhoods can make sense not only for someone staying for a month, but also for someone who eventually decides to remain in Cleveland.  Four minutes can be a poor way to choose a home  If Little Italy is a 30-minute walk to your part of Cleveland Clinic and Larchmere is 34 minutes, the decision probably should not come down to those four minutes.  Where will you buy groceries?  Can you walk to dinner?  Will you need a car?  What does the neighborhood feel like after work?  Does the housing provider understand short-term international medical visitors?  And, perhaps most importantly, what are you actually getting for your money?  Those questions are harder to put into a Google Maps search.

 

But when you are going to live somewhere for the next month, three months or perhaps much longer, they may matter considerably more than being able to say your apartment is “five minutes from Cleveland Clinic.”