Forest168

Planning our first trip to Paris. Hubby and I are looking at renting Parisperfect studio apartment, Kir OR should we go with Ira's favourite Bonaparte Hotel OR Hotel des Grandes Ecoles OR Hotel Chopin, which my daughter stayed at in June and loved it. Would like to keep a hotel room budget under $180 Canadian. Like the thought of being able to cook breakfast, make coffee and snacks in the apartment. We plan to be in Paris for a week. Open to all suggestions.
Kim

Patrick

This is difficult for us to answer for you. As much as I like apartments in Paris now, I must admit that my first 5 or 6 times in Paris, I made good use of the services of the front desk, even though I thought I was well armed with plans, maps, and guidebooks. There's something to be said for your first visits being made easier by the ready availability of someone to help you make restaurant reservations, tell you where to get your metro tickets, call you a cab, or even answer very basic questions.

While I use the refrigerator to keep some juice and maybe some cheese, I have to say that I don't save any money by cooking in. What's more the great joy of being in Paris to me is sitting at a sidewalk cafe having my morning coffee and fresh baked croissant, and not sitting inside my apartment doing so and then having to clean up afterwards. But maybe that's just me.

Travelnut

Personally, I don't get the whole apartment thing (exception: if you have children)...No attraction to me to 'cook' anything on vacation, nor to make my own beds, nor the financial aspects (advance deposits, meet someone for the key, etc)...You aren't really "living like a Parisian" you're just in a different kind of room, on your own, similar to being in a hotel room, on your own.

You have to really look over an apartment - what pieces of furniture are there ? (comfortable chairs, a real bed, not a futon, etc)..some apartments seem to be &quot;cheaper than a hotel&quot; but what's <i>in</i> the apartment and where is it located? and compared to what hotel(s)?

Just my thoughts as I sip my ~o)

Patrick

Travelnut, I'm basically with you on this. We don't save money by doing an apartment -- we feel we usually pay about the same (hopefully a little under $200 a night) but we like nice apartments just like we appreciate nice hotels.

We do like to stay a week at a time in a major city. A week in a small hotel room gets old. There are rarely if ever a pair of comfortable chairs to sit in and read, watch TV, or relax. I'm not big on lounging on a bed. With two of us, it's nice for one to be able to go to bed, turn off the lights, and the other to stay up to write in a journal, read up for the next day or whatever (yes, that's me).
We don't rent studio apartments, because that doesn't accomplish anything for us. We want a separate bedroom.

Making the beds? Please. We don't change the sheets and it really is no chore for me to pull up the covers in the morning -- which takes maybe 10 seconds.

Cooking? No way. We laugh that last summer for the first time in 9 years of rental of our same flat in London I had to figure out how to turn on the gas stove. I wanted to boil water to make tea for iced tea. I had never turned the stove on before. But I do like being able to keep cheese and juice and milk there.

To me the main advantage of an apartment over a hotel is simply the comfort of being able to stretch out a whole lot more. But again we don't do it if it means pull out bed or futon or uncomfortable and tacky furnishings.

Incidentally the price comparison thing really varies from city to city. In Paris I feel we get about the same &quot;quality&quot; in an apartment that we get in a &quot;similarly&quot; furnished hotel for the same price. In London we pay about $200 a night for a wonderful huge stylish loft style apartment in the heart of Covent Garden filled with good art and book collections, nice furnishings, and a few antiques. There's no way we could begin to approach a hotel in London for anything that is even half so nice for that price.

Patrick

Oh, and I failed to mention the &quot;luxury&quot; of a washer and dryer in an apartment. When traveling for long periods of time, it's sure nice to be able to throw a few things in a washer and keep up with clean clothes -- and not have to schedule a trip to a laundromat, or wash things out in a sink and hang up all night to hopefully dry.

richardab

I just reserved a apartment rental for the first time thru http://www.parisbestlodge.com

It seems to me that if you rent an apartment you get more space and have the convenience of a refrig and stove for simple things like making tea and coffee and storing cold snacks. In many of the apartments you also get a washer/dryer which I think is a ++.

There are a lot of apartment agencies out there so choose wisely and do your research. I got some good references about parisbestlodge.com so i feel comfortable with them.

suze

For me, I love hotels and that would be my pick. Especially on a first trip to a city, I rely heavily on the assistance of the front desk and hotel staff for information. I just seems more like a vacation to me. I always set my hotel room up with snacks (if there's a minifrig even better) and keep a bottle of wine, some crackers, etc. As already mentioned I'd much rather be sipping coffee with a pastry in a sidewalk cafe than cooking my own breakfast.

Sure if I had a couple *months* to spend in Paris, I'd get an apartment and settle in.

missypie

I've done both. We rented an apartment when we traveled there for a week with our three children. It was great to have a little kitchen, to be able to eat breakfast in staggering shifts while others were getting ready. We also really needed the room!

However, if it was just my husband and I, I'd find a romantic, small hotel.

richardab

P.S. A few things I learned to look for when renting apartments...

1. If the apartment is on an upper floor, look for an elevator

2. What is the deposit, down payment and refund terms?

3. How and when do you pay?

4. If it is a summer rental, does it have air conditioning?

5. Is the price all inclusive? Some places tack on an electric bill at the end....

6. What is the sq footage of the apartment?

7. What are the agency fees?

Also, there is another place that I like but I didn't rent it because of the cancellation terms... The owners are American so all exchanges are in US dollars. Their apartment looks really nice and the Place Bourg-Tibourg apartment is in a great location!

http://bienvenueaparis.com/

Suzanne2

The first 4 times we went to Paris we always stayed in hotels. Having a front desk to assist you is very handy. Especially if you are not very fluent in French. On our trip last year we got an apartment. I will not sleep on a pull out couch or a futon or a platform, so we ended up spending about the same as a hotel. I liked the apartment because I could do things the way I do at home. I sip coffee while putting on my makeup. I don't care for french coffee so I brought my own. We could have hot chocolate before bed. We could come back and take a short nap in the afternoon without worrying about the maids coming in. We always go to Paris in the fall or winter and it is dark and cold fairly eary, so a few times we got chinese takeout or a chichen and had dinner in the apartment. The convenience was worth it, to me anyway. I don't know how well we'd have done on a first trip though. My only complaint is that they don't give you enough towels to last the week. My husband won't reuse. the washer in the apartment is small and takes forever. We ended up washing towels at the laundry mat down the street.No big deal. After years of camping with 3 kids I can't complain

Jocelyn_P

I think so much of it depends on personal preference and your lifestyle while on vacation. Here are the reasons we choose an apartment whenever possible:

CLAUSTROPHOBIA: My husband gets claustrophobic in those tiny European hotel rooms. He loves being able to spread out on a couch and have a table with chairs to eat breakfast on and write in our journal.

WE'RE BIG BREAKFAST EATERS: I have never &quot;cooked&quot; in an apartment, but we always go to the local markets to stock up on fruit, cheese, ham, juice, and yogurt, then there's always a bakery nearby to grab some fresh bread/pastries in the morning. That kind of meal would cost a fortune if we ate out.

LAUNDRY: We pack super-light, and the washing machine is a must.

Luisah

I've done both and enjoyed both but for two people for a first visit for a short stay, I'd vote for the hotel for the same reasons as other posters -- service and ease of renting.

Yes, the hotel room will be smaller but how much time would you spend in the room? And how much time are you going to spend watching French TV? I listened to BBC news while soaking in the bathtub (while sipping a glass of wine) after walking all over the city, and that was it for TV.

I don't think having a washer and dryer available is a plus for one week's stay.

I've never stayed at the Bonaparte but friends have and liked it very much. I've seen it and it is in a great location. Fantastic bakeries and patisseries, cafes nearby. Forget about cooking breakfast -- have breakfast at the hotel or go to a neighborhood cafe and have cafe au lait or espresso and a buttery, flaky croissant-- or an omelette.

I'm not familiar with the Chopin but know the location of the Grandes Ecoles and think the Bonaparte location is a bit better.

Whatever you decide, have a great time and write to tell us about your first time in fabulous Paris.

twk

It does come down to a matter of taste. If you are self-reliant, and enjoy trip planning (in other words, you don't want or need the services of a hotel concierge), then an apartment may be for you if:

1. The price is right--which depends on a number of factors, including the number of people in your party. The economics of apartments are multiplied for a group, but a couple can benefit if you find the right situation.

2. The location is right--regardless of whether you are in a hotel or an apartment, location is important, though for a person using the Metro in Paris, the most important location may be the number of steps to the nearest Metro station (usually not more than 300 or 400 metres, but it's nice to get a place really close).

3. If your lifestyle makes it favorable--do you like eating a big breakfast with eggs, sausage etc, or do you like a &quot;continental&quot; breakfast? Do you enjoy fancy french meals, or does a little of that go a long way? If you like a big breakfast, and aren't necessarily looking for three hour restaurant meals two or three times per day, an apartment is a big plus, and shopping at the corner pattisserie or boulangerie can be a fun experience (and these folks can provide you the same restaurant reccomendations that a hotel clerk would). However, if eating in French restaurants is the main point of your trip, having your own kitchen or dining area might well be useless.

richardab

&quot;I don't think having a washer and dryer available is a plus for one week's stay.&quot;

Wrong! I love the idea because then I don't have to drags as many pairs of jeans and can save room for shopping in my luggage!

cabovacation

I'll put in another plug for my home away from home in Paris. www.lacigaleparis.com
When alone, a nice hotel is great. With a few people - and for me it could be my daughters, my sisters, friends - we have found that having the apartment was more fun. While we did not ever &quot;cook&quot; - why would you? - we did enjoy sitting at the dining table together having wine and cheese from the Mouf - sometimes having coffee and croissants in the morning - playing cards. So here it is: a large living room with cable tv, two bedrooms, two gorgeous bathrooms, a full kitchen, a telephone, a cellphone, and a wonder sort of concierge/property manager/ driver/ friend - who is available 24/7 for all the help or information you need. The apartment is completely remodeled. It is a few steps from the Metro. Easy. Owned by Americans who go there frequently - and now they own one or two other equally nice places.

Scarlett

We always stay in hotels and I am a hotel lover, would not mind living in one lol. But this past March, we rented an apt from ParisPerfect, our son met us in Paris and an apt seemed the best way to manage to have the most time together comfortably.
The ParisPerfect apts are lovely and you wi;ll be well taken care of, if you need any assistance.
But, for a week, I would stay in a hotel.
The laundry does not matter to me for a week, I like room service and coming back to a room that is all made up with fresh towels, etc. I can live without making breakfast, or snacks for a week, let someone else do that for me
For longer than a week, though, an apt is, IMO, a great idea.
Btw..ParisPerfect apts are generally the same price or more than hotel rooms a night..add the extra price of food/groceries and you won't be saving money.

Christina

I don't really understand why so many people want to rent apartments for a short vacation, either, unless there are children considerations. If you are somewhere a long time and need lots of space to lounge around in the evenings, I can see it, also, but those kind of apts. aren't cheap. The season is a big consideration, as you won't find many with AC, at least not cheaply.

I don't want to cook in, and don't snack a lot or eat a big breakfast. I want to eat breakfast out in Paris, such as it is that I do it (maybe a cup of coffee and occasionally a croissant). I really enjoy having coffee in a cafe in Paris, otherwise, I'd just stay at home if I wanted to eat in and have snack food.

In any case, the monetary considerations are considerable, including prepayment and deposits.

In this case, that Kir apt. is about the size of a hotel room and doesn't have a real bed, only a sofa bed, and has no washer/dryer. It's only 160 SF and rents for $160 a night which is right about 180 CAD. I wouldn't pay that just to have a microwave oven and minifrig my first time in Paris for a week.

ira

Hi F,

If christina is right about the Kir apt, you would be better off at the Bonaparte.

You will have a table and 2 chairs for bkfst, a real bed, a minifridge, TV, a large bathroom, maid service and you won't have to do dishes - for slightly less per night.

OTOH, the Pinot looks very good, but its $339/nite

Enjoy your visit.

SAnParis

I'll try &amp; shed some light on the Apartment thing, but let me preface this w/your first trip to Paris, stay in a hotel as you don't need the possible added stress an apartment (although Paris Perfect is certainly the way to go). I have children &amp; European hotel rooms are notoriously small so space is a factor. In addition, some of us do like to cook &amp; take advantage of the markets, etc. This is also cheaper. With the luxury of a washer &amp; dryer you don't have to pack as much, also a big plus when dealing w/children. We still do all the things mentioned on here but the attention span of a child is not so great as an adult. Even w/out the children, it allows me space to feel like I AM residing in Paris, if only for a week or two. I know my way around, don't need front desk help, etc. All that being said in favor of an apartment, first time visitors should use a hotel, that way they have a knowledgeable source of info close at hand, if they need it.

Luisah

&quot;I don't think having a washer and dryer available is a plus for one week's stay.&quot;

&quot;Wrong! I love the idea because then I don't have to drags as many pairs of jeans and can save room for shopping in my luggage!&quot;

Sorry, I should have made my reasoning clearer in my first message: There are many good reasons to rent an apartment but since there are budget constraints involved and I believe that an apt. with a washer/dryer would cost more than $180 CAD per night, I don't think it's a valid reason to pay more than for a nice hotel room in a great location to have a w/d for ONE week's stay. Wouldn't it be cheaper to go to a laundromat once to wash jeans if you need to?

Regarding luggage space for &quot;shopping&quot; I always pack a lightweight, lockable duffle to use either for new items to carry on or to stuff the used clothing into and check through.

Forest168 has lots of advice to consider. I'd love to read a trip report when they return.

Bon voyage!