Apt rental vs hotel room in Seville in May
 

We will be spending 4 nights in Seville in early May 2015, and I'm looking at the accommodation options. I'm trying to keep the cost to around $150/night. I realize that the "nicer" hotels in Seville are often more than that or are somewhat lacking in either space, charm or amenities. I've narrowed my hotel choices, so far, to the standard rooms in either the Alminar hotel or the Amadeus hotel.

But I do like space and the option to have a terrace. I also would like to stay in the Santa Cruz area. I started looking at the Veo apartment rentals and found several reasonable-looking apts for costs well within my budget. They're mostly Ikea-modern, but generally spacious, and the ones I like have terraces-- one even has a private dipping pool!

I'm curious what others think about apts vs hotel stays. On one hand, a hotel has staff who are there 24/7 to help and provide suggestions and recommendations, but rooms are often small and I've read many complaints about thin walls & sound .

Apts are generally more spacious, and while there may be minimal staff around, there's generally limited service. I don't need to have much in apartment way of service, but I know it can be nice to have someone there who is available when there are questions.

Right now, I lean toward an apartment. It seems like it would be great for 4-night stay, but it could go either way at this point.

What are your thoughts?

I don't think hotel vs. apartment decision relates to a specific place or time (Seville in May). I think you've beautifully outlined the pros and cons for each option.

You're right, of course, suze. I mention Seville as that would be the most likely place that we'd stay in an apartment as this will be a 4-night stay, and the longest period of time in one location. So if there is specific knowledge of Seville, especially info about apt rentals, that would be extremely helpful.

Paule

"On one hand, a hotel has staff who are there 24/7 to help and provide suggestions and recommendations, but rooms are often small and I've read many complaints about thin walls & sound". True, if you stay if any of the inexpensive dives some people seem to prefer over quality hotels. Your problem will be finding a quality hotel in Sevilla for $150 USD/night (€110 EUR) in May.

Personally, I would not opt for an apartment over a hotel room if I was staying less than a week, but four nights is doable, depending on the apartment. But overall, there are too many inconveniences associated with short term apartment rentals including check in and check out times and deposits.

You raise good points, Robert-- there is definitely the nonrefundable deposit to consider, and not an insignificant amount. And the checkin times are definitely later in the day, so that is also something to consider.

It's clear that if I want to stay in almost any of the Santa Cruz hotels that are even moderately boutique, I have to pay a bit more than $150/night. I have been looking into the hostals that get better reviews, and I just am not ready to stay in one of them, either. It's my beer budget/champagne taste, I'm afraid. The best I've seen, so far, is the standard room in the Alminar hotel which I think is @ £115. Of course, i may yet expand the budget, but am trying to keep it within a certain range.

Thanks for your feedback-- it helps a lot!

Check the Fontecruz. For a few Euros more, it may fit your budget. We stayed there in March and the room was large enough and comfortable.

Thanks, Robert,
I'll check it out.
Paule

We used Spain Select in Madrid and Seville. How big of an apartment are you interested in? I did not see mention of the size of your group.

We loved being in apartments in Spain - we did both apartments and hotels and liked being able to spread out, have snacks in the fridge and the terrace we had in Seville was remarkable.

https://sevilla.spain-select.com/en_...uerta-de-jerez

It is more than 150.00 USD - but it is a 2 bedroom.

We were exceptionally happy with Spain Select and their service.

adding we were there in May of this year... it is a spectacular time of year.

In May in Seville I would only rent an apt with a guarantee that it has excellent AC that you can control and a pool - since you will need both in the uber hot afternoons there.

guess what, you can have thin walls and sounds in many apartments, also. I've rented vacation apts that were much noisier than hotels (eg, one in Paris was in front of a cafe which played very loud Arabic music from a boombox all day and night, another was two feet from a neighbor's window who was extremely noisy, etc.). The last one I rented in Barcelona had neighbors who were about 3-4 young German men who were extremely loud and drank a lot (which made them loud, and they played loud music). So an apt is no guarantee of quiet, if that's your reasoning. A terrace would be nice, if it's a good view.

I don't want to go to the bother for only a few days in any city, it's not worth the hassle with the arrangements, timing, deposits, etc. But some apts are less trouble than others (ones with private owners can be more hassle than one with an agency renting several in one building, for example).

I stayed in the Hotel Amadeus and it was nice enough, but the room I got also had some noise issues, their doors are thin. The room was nice though and quite large, although I booked a superior double. I would not book a std double in any hotel if I had a choice and there was more than one person to stay in it (at least not in Europe where rooms are smaller). You can't get a room there in May for US$150 at the current exchange rate, though. The superior doubles are around 130 euro in May, the std only 115 euro, though, so that's not too far off. I'd pay the extra 15 euro for a superior definitely.

Thanks, Christina, Momddtravel2 & nytraveler. Very helpful feedback!

There will be just the 2 of us -- my husband and me.

nytraveler-- good point about the pool.

I'm really looking at the range of apartments that are available; I'm even looking at some apartments that are listed on Airbnb that were recommended by one of the posters on TA. Some of the apartments look very nice and no more or less noisy than any of the hotels in the Santa Cruz area. Those with excellent reviews, good location, a/c & wifi are the only ones I'm considering.

I've been looking at Veoapartments - more "Ikea"-style, but spacious; and will look at Spain Select, although I think they are a bit pricier than the others.

For hotels, I'm considering the Amadeus & the Alminar as well as the Fontecruz, which Robert2533 recommended. Actually, if I do expand my budget, the latter looks like a good option because there is a senior discount which keeps the price comparable to a superior room in either the Amadeus or Alminar.

After 2 years of traveling to Asia for our annual vacation, I'm having a hard time readjusting to prime Europe rates!

We spent the month of May this year in Spain, and rented apartments in most locations. We had very good luck with all of our choices (except an apartment in Granada that was quite awful!)

Here's a link to the apartment we rented in Seville--we were very happy with everything--from the initial contact to the checkout procedure. It's in a great location, the bed was comfy, the wi-fi was excellent, it was very quiet and spotlessly clean! It was a bargain at about $95 US dollars a night.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/543350

If you have any questions-feel free to PM me.
Enjoy your time in Spain-it's a lovely country!

I, too, would not rent an apartment for only 4 nights.
We stayed at the Amadeus last year in a superior room. It wasn't very large but we had a king bed and a good sized bathroom, a good working air conditioning and it was very quiet, just as we had requested. I would definitely stay there again. I believe that the rooms in the La Musica building are larger, and some have a balcony.

Thanks queen & MyriamC. I love the fact that there are so many perspectives here!

In my moment-to-moment sway, I'm leaning toward sticking with the tried-and-true hotel stay, and will expand the budget to about €135/night. So far, the hotels in the Santa Cruz area that fit within that budget that get good reviews are the 2 I've mentioned; I also am considering the Fontecruz .

I'm sitting with this decision until I feel more sure, one way or another, but this really is helping me to feel comfortable in considering both apartments as well as hotels.

One other consideration in renting an apartment is the risk factor of not having the same guarantees you'd have with a hotel. Of course, hotels don't have the guarantee, either, but it's not on the same level of risk.

Thanks again-- any more thoughts?

I didn't say so in my first post, but I'm also in the wouldn't rent an apartment unless I was staying at least 7-days camp.

It's a lot more hassle (less straight-forward), often involves extra fees (cleaning, key deposit etc.), need to meet the landlord instead of just walking into a hotel and checking in.

I hadn't even thought of the weather. If it's hot and you have a change for AC and a pool by staying at a hotel... that's where I'd be headed!!

I do (happily) rent apartments when I take a beach vacation for 1-2 weeks like in Mexico or Hawaii. But for me touring around Europe, staying a few days in different cities, I have (so far) stuck with hotels myself.

Hello again progo--
In my opinion, the apartment vs hotel decision depends a great deal on your travel experience and comfort level. Some people are much more comfortable having the security of 24 hr "front desk" help if needed. We're two young-at-heart seniors, adventurous and fairly well traveled. We love the feeling of living like a local, and we also value the privacy that we have in an apartment.

The deciding factor for us is usually our length of stay. For us, 3 nights or more & we look for an apartment. We generally travel for about 4-5 weeks at a time--so longer stays are the norm for us.

We have found that most hotel rooms in Europe are quite small, so we appreciate the extra space an apartment gives us. I LOVE having my morning coffee right when I wake up in the morning! (well, actually it's a medical necessity!) We are fairly budget conscious, so having even a small kitchenette to prepare breakfast and the very occasional dinner save us quite a few Euros!

Whatever your decision--I'm sure you'll have a great time in Spain!
TVQ

Wonderful comments and you give me much food for thought.

TVQ, we are young-at-heart seniors/nearly seniors, too, and I'm also budget-conscious, though will splurge when it feels right to do. We don't yet have the leisure time to travel for longer than 3 weeks in an annual vacation, I do want certain comforts in my accommodation. The dilemma about the apartment vs hotel stay is an interesting one-- I like the idea of the spaciousness of an apartment, while the safety of a hotel still beckons...

Suze, thank you, too for your thoughts. You're right-- coordinating with the owner could be a bit of a hassle, although iit seems so many people are renting apartments that owners are increasingly accommodating to renters. We did rent an apt in Paris several years ago, and it was a great experience.

Thanks, once again!

Paule

I question your reason to limit yourself to the Santa Cruz barrio. I found that area most crowded with tourists and, although it is atmospheric, it is not much more so than other areas close to the center. It is so easy to walk within the center from area to area that I do not think it wise to limit yourself to Sta Cruz. Most of the better eating places that I found are not within the Santa Cruz area.


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-malaga.cfm

Please check the Hotel El Rey Moro, right in the midst of Santa Cruz but on a narrow alley less than my arms' width-span so super quiet; every room is different; second floor rooms all along a balcony and overlook lovely central courtyard below. Help was wonderful, easy walk to Alcazar, Cathedral, and to the delicious San Marco and Vineria San Telmo restaurants. We were there due to no vacancy at Amadeus and its sister hotel but so glad we were steered here. Think it's at or close to your intended budget, was favorite of our 3 wk Spain trip.

ekscrunchy, I do think about the idea of staying elsewhere, though, as a first-timer, I find it hard to stay someplace other than the Santa Cruz area. I do think about less central places, but it seems that most folks staying for the first time like being in the very center of the old part of town, and I do lean toward doing this myself, as we are only there for 4 nights. But I will consider other places, and appreciate your comments. I love your thread, by the way, and have saved it for planning our meals! Great information and I will definitely try to include some of those places when we go.

aliced, I've noted the Hotel El Rey Moro in my research over the last couple of months; right now, though, I'm unable to access the website at all. On booking.com, the rates are much higher than they've been in the past. I don't know if this is because there is a huge change in their rates or the rooms for May 2015 haven't been released yet, and the shown rates are a fluke. I will keep my eye on this place to see if there are any updates, as it looks like a good option.

Thank you for all the help!

Paule

In Sevilla if you want a great Italian meal with the best Sangria we had in all of Spain Osteria L'Oca Giuliva was fabulous! It is located at Mateos Gago, 9. Enjoy :-)

Momd,
I just looked at SpainSelect -- there are 5 1-bedroom apartments listed and they are beautiful, but it looks like the a/c is limited. One lists an a/c unit in the living room, but doesn't mention any other a/c, and the others don't seem to mention a/c. I just sent SpainSelect an email to clarify, but without a/c, no rental!

PS, thanks for recommendation for the restaurant! I'll add to the list.

progol - we had a/c that worked great in our apartment with Spain Select - they are super prompt on emails so hopefully you will get an answer quickly.
What time of May will you be in Sevilla? We were mid-May and it was getting toasty :-)

We loved our Triana airbnb.com apartment in March. Tile floors, AC, good cross ventilation, cool neighborhood away from hubub.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1748727

Progol,, I understand your desire to stay in Sta Cruz. But please be aware of limiting yourself to that area in a search for hotels and apts. You could literally be one block away from Sta Cruz and be able to walk there in a minute or two. The city is fairly small, so just keep that in mind.

I rented through Spain Select, and the Sevilla apartment (along with one I rented in Barcelona from another company) was among the most lovely I could ever imagine. I was there in cool season so not sure about a/c, though.

Sevilla is a city that you do not need to be too worried about location...it is small enough that anything in the center of the city should be fine..I just did not want you to confine your search too much.

Barring mobility issues, you should be able to walk all over the city...to Triana, etc. In the week we stayed there most recently, we took a taxi only to and from the train station. We had so much to do and see, and eat, that we never even made it to Cordoba, which I had planned as a day trip. Hopefully you will be more energetic than we were!!!

Sevilla is one of the gems of Europe and I hope you will enjoy your visit as much as we did on our return in 2011. Inch for inch, it is one of the richest architectural cities in the world, I would think. People are marvelously friendly, and tourists somehow do not overwhelm the local flavor, even in Sta Cruz. And the food is beyond wonderful!!

Hotel or apartment, you will not go wrong with either, especially if you have laptop or some online device to book restaurants and research timetables, etc.

Thanks for the thorough explanation of Santa Cruz and the general central area - that's very helpful in understanding the city and allows me to expand my options. I do like the Spain Select properties although the selection of 1-BR apts in Sevilla are pretty limited.

Momd - Thanks for your encouragement in using Spain Select, too. I'm actually surprised how reasonably-priced many of them are.

stokebailey - Thanks for the link! I'll check that one out, too! What time of year were you in Sevilla?

Thanks again, all! I'm liking the idea of getting an apt in Sevilla!

PS - that first paragraph was directed to ekscrunchy - thanks for taking the time for writing such a good explanation of the area.

Paule

stokebailey - the apartment gets wonderful reviews! The hosts seem to be very responsive. I

I like the look of that place and it is certainly very affordable. like that the front terrace has a good view while the bedroom is described as quiet.

Did you find any disadvantages for you not staying in the Santa Cruz area? How long does it take to walk there from the apartment? Any safety concerns?

Recommend the very local feel San Vicente/San Lorenzo district, some 15 minutes walking from Santa Cruz. http://www.donquijote.org/travel/gui...itinerary5.asp

Apartments: http://www.veoapartment.com/rent-sev...n-vicente.html

Some of the best tapas bars/restaurants in the city are in San Vicente/San Lorenzo, such as
- Eslava: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/2008/02/eslava/
- Bodega Dos de Mayo: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html
- and La Azotea: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

And be sure to see the lovely Triana district just across the Guadalquivir river: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/seville/triana.htm
This gives you an idea of Triana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fwfz0FLae0

progol, check out my TR on Sevilla/Triana.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-left-bank.cfm

For my money, Triana was perfect. We were there the second week of March this year. Maybe 15-20 min walk to the Barrio Santa Cruz. Excellent marketplace a long block away, tapas places, riverside dining and bars up the street.

The bedroom was very quiet, and not much street noise near open front windows if someone's on the foldout couch. My 22 yr old daughter and I felt perfectly safe walking at all hours. The only time I was even approached by beggars was in the tourist areas across the river. Maria, the hostess, was lovely.

I don't know whether you've dealt with airbnb, but a drawback for some would be paying the entire amount up front.

Thanks, stokebailey, after I posted this, I found your TR. I'm starting to get very overwhelmed with the options and probably need to chill out on this mission for a day( or so my husband will tell me!).

Thanks for the comments about airbnb's payment requirements; I've never used them before and will pay attention to their cancellation policy before I consider booking a place. I see that there are a range of policies and some I've viewed are moderate and others are strict. Given how far in advance I'm looking, I won't consider any that have a strict policy.

I love your TR, by the way - wonderful details and a great feeling for the place.

Ha, thanks progol. My daughter and I had a great trip, loved our week in Seville. It does seem to be an unusually good town for airbnb; some, like London, aren't especially.

Always paying careful attention to the reviews, which are allowed only by people who've rented the places, we've had good luck with airbnb in the US and abroad.

Hi Paule: we rented an apartment in Seville (and anywhere else where we were staying for at least 3 nights). Our reasons may have been a bit different from yours - we were traveling as a family and really like being able to be all together instead of separated in two separate hotel rooms - but we loved renting apartments. We liked having a kitchen to fix breakfast and have wine and cheese in the afternoon, having the ability to do laundry (that was a huge benefit!), having the extra space, and we found it much much cheaper than two hotel rooms. Also, it makes us feel a little like we are living there, which we like.

We looked at Spain Select and their apartments looked incredible! I wanted to rent one of them, but we had trouble finding one with two showers - which we needed with two older teenage daughters! We looked at apartments with pools and would have loved one, but the dates didn't work for us. We finally rented HomeAway # 1177097. It was direct through the owner, and managed by the owner's sister (who lives in Seville) which was a bit less professional than some others we had rented that are managed by a company, and there were some personal items of the owner's in the apartment (even in the refrigerator!), which we found a bit odd. Also, the sister's English was not as good as the owner's - I was glad I had Spanish speaking DD to communicate with her. That was the only apartment we rented for which we had that issue. But the apartment was extremely well located - right off the Plaza de San Francisco - and very comfortable, with good AC. My DDs said it was their favorite of the trip. My only complaint was no usable outdoor space. I like to sit outside with my coffee in the morning!

I agree that AC is key, and renting an apartment is less convenient at check in/out than a hotel. I also agree that you can walk everywhere in Seville, and we did, but we liked being centrally located. Some things are a bit far away from each other. All the apartments we rented said on the website that there would be a charge for late check in or early check out, but none actually charged, even though we sometimes arrived pretty late in the evening. We just stayed in touch by cell phone and they were all very accommodating.

We rented through veoapartments in Granada. You saw my description in my trip report of how that apartment was stocked and supplied. A little sparse, but very nice and professional staff.

I'm trying to get back to finishing my trip report, and will write about Seville!

Hi there:
Just wanted to chime in on Seville.-it was one of our favorite cities in Spain. Our favorite tapas restaurant of the trip was probably in Sevilla called Eslava:


http://www.espacioeslava.com/en

They also now rent apartments so you could consider those. The neighborhood is great much more "local" than tourist but not too far from the center. The bus system in Seville is great-basically runs around the center of town mostly in a circle line.

We found finding reasonably priced rooms in Seville harder than in other cities. We were a couple traveling with my (single) sister so usually we were were looking for 2 rooms but in Seville that was pricey. So we ended up finding a duplex room in the Eurostars Regina that worked our well for us-it has a lovely interior staircase with a lower level room and an upper level room and lovely terrace. They call it a Duplex Quadruple Room and you can see photos best on booking.com http://preview.tinyurl.com/m76ql3n

Booking shows it starting at $108 per night, so a reasonable alternative to an apartment.

Great information, CGS & jpie! It's very helpful.

I'm more inclined now to rent an apartment in Seville as so many of you have found it to work very well and easily. The interesting thing about Seville is the huge number of apartments that are available througgh airbnb, while there are only 5 1-bedroom apts through Spain Select but veoapartments has a large selection. Perhaps veoapartment is the way to go; prices are very reasonable, too.

By the way, about that desired pool -- most hotels don't have one either, including the lovely and popular Hotel Amadeus.

Thanks all! You've given me confidence to try at least one stay in an apartment during the trip!

Indeed no pool at the Amadeus. They do have a whirlpool on their rooftop terrace. We didn't use the whirlpool but we very much enjoyed the rooftop terrace for our after dinner drinks.

Oops, forgot to mention ... not only for our after dinner drinks but also for breakfast.

Myriam,
Thanks for the info - I forgot about that whirlpool. If I go the hotel route, the Amadeus is definitely my top choice. Still early to make a decision.

Paule