Where to stay for long periods of the year (8)
I believe the answer is:
quarters
'periods of the year' is the definition.
'quarters' can be an answer for 'periods' (quarter is a kind of period). I'm not certain of the 'of the year' bit.
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for quarters that I've seen before include "Rooms, lodgings" , "Place (for married soldiers) to live" , "Change for American" , "Subdivides" , "Four equal parts" .)