Apartmens versus hotel in Paris
 

Hi

we're going to be first time in Paris this Summer. I heard that to rent an apartment is better and cheaper them hotel. Is it true??

Any suggestions? What area of Paris is most convenient for tourist?

Appreciate all suggestions.

Thanks

Just be aware that many rentals on sites like Airbnb, etc. are illegal rentals. It is YOUR responsibility to do your own due diligence to make sure the apartment you rent is a legal rental.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/ar...ing-stays.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Short-...ental-in-Paris

I like the space of an apartment, but I also appreciate the full service at a hotel! As far as price is concerned, I think they are similar. Location is the key, IMO. I spent a week in the 6th Arrond last July. It was an easy walk to the Louvre and tourist sights.

Definitely prefer it for me... I've rented 3 so far in Paris and have had great luck. One was with Paris Rental Connections, service was great. They don't have a big selection though, so their apartments are often booked.

My 2 last rentals were with Paris Address. I find the site very easy to navigate and they have a lot of nice, not too expensive choices. I'd go again with them without hesitating.

One thing to remember though is while you can always contact the agency during your stay, you won't get the contact with hotel employees (desk clercks and/or concierge) so it's one of the disadvantages, if you can call it that.

If I am staying more than a couple of days in any place I prefer an apartment mostly for the space but also for the kitchen facilities. For the same price you will likely get more space in an apartment.

There are people who prefer hotels because they can get help from the front desk with things like restaurant reservations and directions and because they like to have their rooms made up for them every day.

There are recommendations for apartments in this long thread that was started several years ago, so some may be out of date, but it is still helpful:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...m#last-comment

Some people (us) just prefer hotel services. True hotel rooms in europe are usually very small (we usually get a suite) and an apartment can provide more room - and is often a good option with kids. (You can do breakfast, snacks and even light dinners more cheaply.)

As long as one is comfortable without any of the support/help hotel staff provde. (That's not why we do hotels, we do want concierge and room made up every day, but also want on-site bar and restaurant, room service for breakfast and just prefer the hotel ambiance).

thank you very much.
What would you recommend Arrondissements wise in Paris?? which ones the most convenient for tourist??

"but also for the kitchen facilities"

LOL, that is exactly why my wife does NOT want to rent an apartment Nikki. As she says, she does not travel to end up cooking meals.

"but also for the kitchen facilities"

LOL, that is exactly why my wife does NOT want to rent an apartment Nikki. As she says, she does not travel to end up cooking meals.

Doesn't mean you have to cook. Just means you can store the stuff you pick up at the markets, all the wonderful prepared foods, cheese, drinks.

If you're going to be somewhere for 5 to 7 days, then renting an apartment makes some sense, but it all depends on what you are looking for. One of the problems in renting an apartment for a short stay of only a few days is that check in time is normally mid to late afternoon, check out time is usually mid-morning, to give them time to clean the apartment before the next tenant arrives.

As far as renting apartments in Paris, we use Paris Perfect.

Central Paris arrondisements that are very popular are 1,3,5,6,7. Probably include 2 and 4, but I'm thinking of places we've spent the most time in over the years. Personally, I also like 9 and 11. You will love walking in any of those, and the Metro and bus system is very easy to use.

I've never stayed in an apartment in Paris, but would certainly consider it for a stay of a week or more. Since our 4 last visits were before or after longer trips to other parts of France, it was nice to feel taken-care of at a hotel. Earlier visits we stayed a week in a small 2* half-way between Bastille and Republic (our first, so in many ways it will always be our favorite) and a week in the 7th, which we also enjoyed tremendously. Otherwise it has been 2 or 3 nights wherever we got a good deal. We have never been disappointed, anywhere in Paris.

Renting an apartment isn't necessarily cheaper than a hotel at all, obviously it depends where you stay. For a single person, in particular, they can often be more expensive. For a large family an apt would usually be cheaper. But lots of people rent very very expensive apartments, such as the above suggestion. You don't stay in Paris Perfect apartments if your reasoning is you want something cheap.

I don't use typical hotel services much at all (never use room service), but it is just a lot more nuisance to rent an apt and so I only do it if I'm going to be in a place at least a week, usually. At least in Paris, apts are often better deals in other cities. I know where I want to be in Paris, and there aren't great cheap apartments compared to a hotel for one person. I don't want to cook on vacation at all, I want to eat out in French restaurants. And I really don't want to hole up at home in the evening, or eat take out, except for breakfast. But I don't usually eat breakfast anyway, I do like making real coffee, that's about it. And hotels are a lot more convenient in terms of arrival and departure. There are often too many unpredictable surprises with apartments, also, at least cheap ones. Now the summer is a prime example, most Paris rental apts have no AC, so you pay a premium and have a limited choice of ones that do. Virtually all 3* and above hotels ini Paris have AC, and rates fall at end of July, so I get hotels very cheaply then, with AC.

The OP doesn't relaly say for how long and when this stay is, so that affects things, also. Since there is a we, there are at least 2 people, so it can make sense for more space but there is the AC issue in the summer.

rebk,

We always go for an apartment. I can't imagine going back to hotels.

It is always cheaper than a similarly located hotel and has at least twice the space (we don't go for luxury apartments like Paris Perfect, however).

Clean, roomy and well located are our only requirements.

We use an actual vacation rental agency with their own apartmnents (though we would have no issue with an AirB&B type organizations either).

This one: http://www.vacationinparis.com/ (as do many others here).

As to which area is best for a first timer, I would suggest the 1st, 4th, 5th, or 6th arrondissements.

For a first visit to Paris, the concierge and front desk in a hotel can be very helpful with directions, making reservations. Rent an apt on subsequent visits when you know the lay of the land better. How long are you going to be in Paris? We rent apts there when we stay for a week or more.

I would agree that since this is your first time, a hotel could be a better choice if you want advice from the front desk, etc. For years we stayed in a hotel, but about six years ago we started renting apartments and we love it. For us, the apartment has been a less expensive option, plus we don't have to go out for breakfast or pay for a pricey hotel one. Since we're now staying for longer periods of time, there are times when we bring food in. I don't cook on vacation, but I will heat up :-).
For me, staying in an apartment lets me feel like I'm living in Paris, not just visiting, even if it's only for a while. Yes, I've given up A/C for fans, which worked for me even in the 90 something degree temps we had last year. I do have to make my own bed...don't care. I like having a washing machine in the apartment, but again, we're there longer than a week.
For me, the best arrondissements would be 1, 2 (my new fave...the Montorgueil area is fab),5,6,7th. My caveats with the 5th and 7th is that they can get pretty far from center, but after all these years, I've learned where I prefer to be.

Our first time in Paris we stayed in a hotel - I appreciated the help of the front desk. (in the 1rst an only for a few nights) the second time was for closer to 10 days or so and we stayed in the 5th in an apartment.

Like many I prefer an apartment for more than a few days - not because I want to cook but I do like to pick up breakfast foods, snacks, I just get tired of eating out every single meal most of the time.

We are currently in Spain and have done a mix of hotels and apartments and I have enjoyed both but do like the front desk help in places I have never been.... I am not sure they are always "less expensive. :-?

I personally don't recommend apartments for 1st timers to any city. I prefer a hotel so you have the support of front desk staff to help you with things.

I only do apartments myself for a stay of longer than a week and only in a place I've been before.

I love staying in apartments. I have found that most of the apartment managers or hosts give me more assistance and guidance than any hotel front desk ever has. Frankly, it's a pain to try to cook an entire meal in an apartment. There's usually something missing by way of spices, condiments or cooking utensils. But I love having snacks, breakfasts, coffee... And I love the space. And I find I feel much more like a local than in a hotel.

I've rented through feelslikehomeinparis.com several times and they provide you with maps, tips, suggestions, guidance, free phone calls to US and internet... even an iPhone to use while you're in Paris.

Apartments and Hotels are different products with different value propositions. I would caution against comparing these two products under a simple "better and cheaper" umbrella.

Some people always use apartments because their usage model matches what the apartments offer. Even if experienced people recommend apartments, it does not automatically mean than an apartment meets YOUR requirements and constraints.

The terms are usually unique to each apartment and are significantly different from hotels.

Many apartments are offered by referring agencies. The agencies do not require that the properties offer the same terms. For example, the cancellations. Some do come with terms allowing no cost cancellations with sufficient lead time. Most often you will lose deposit even if you decide to cancel right after you hit "reserve." You can also be dealing with a properly requiring full non-refundable payments. Some people come to this forum fuming that the property offered no refund even though they were cancelling months in advance. If the term said no refund, that is what they have to deal with.

If an elevator is an essential requirement, read the offering very carefully. Apartments don't have to offer elevators. If the only elevator become non-functional, good agencies would try to find an "equivalent" property meeting your need. However, they can also give you binary options: take it or leave it.

Apartments usually come with more restrictive check-in/out time windows. Unlike hotels, they offer less, if any, options to leave luggage before you can check-in or after check-out.

In return, you usually get more options to house large number of people in one unit at lower per person cost than if you booked multiple hotel rooms. With just one couple, the per person cost difference might be smaller unless you are staying longer time.