bendigo

As per previous post, our accommodation from trip in December 2012:

Almost finalised arrangements for our three weeks in Europe - leaving late next week.

Thought some of you might be interested in the accomodation we have chosen.

Self, wife and three kids - Daughters 20 & 18 and son 16. Three weeks of such togetherness will either bring us close as a family, or ensure it is the last holiday we ever take together!
It's going to be a busy time, but we are all so excited that it is nearly here - our daughters have both finished end of year exams in the last two days, and our son finishes his this week.

7 nights
http://www.thelondonagent.com/Super-...ll-Home-2.html

5 nights
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_18.htm

overnight
Paris - Venice Night train 6 berth couchette (fully booked all 6 berths)
https://www.thello.com/destinations/Horaires/index.html

2 nights
http://www.hotelmarconi.it/hotel_mar..._venice-en.htm

3 nights
http://www.hotelscoti.com/index.html

4 nights
http://www.rentalinrome.com/campodef...ricalapartment

All travel between locations by train:
Eurostar London - Paris
Trenitalia high speed services Venice - Florence and Florence - Rome

cmeyer54

We'll fly from Rome to London on a cheapo airline. I looked at the train and its a full day+ which could either be relaxing or boring, depending on how its viewed. By my calculations, an apartment is about $60/day more expensive than two hotel rooms so the decision becomes...is that amount going to be saved by eating breakfast in each day, potentially doing prepared take out from local deli's and worth having the extra space, wifi and laundry available? My guess is that, yes, it will be worth the extra money.

annhig

cmeyer, forgive me, but i don't know how we can help you make that decision unless you post the links to the apartments and hotels you are considering.

tuscanlifeedit

One more opinion and experience: for two, we like apartments because in our price range, we get much more for our money in Rome than we could in a similarly priced hotel.

For four, I want two bathrooms. If you can afford two hotel rooms, why not? The bathrooms would make all the difference to me.

Finally, the extra one hundred dollars often makes a big difference to me. If I stay for a week, it could mean the difference in where I eat, when I can return, etc. For some of us, a hundred a night can make a huge difference.

Oh I said "finally" but I lied. For 4 people, I would really want two bathrooms no matter how I had to get them.

stokebailey

We just spent 10 days in a Paris apt with daughters 21 and 22 yr old, frequent hair washers, and then 10 days in London hotels. I liked them both.

Hotel pluses: Clean towels! Clean sheets! and we all enjoyed the conviviality of London hotel breakfasts and lounge.

goldenautumn

I agree with Tuscanlifeedit that if you have found hotels that meet your needs at a less expensive rate than apartments, it makes sense to book the hotels.

nytraveler

Must admit that when not traveling alone we ALWAYS get separate rooms - even for DDs - since they were 11 and 14. I am not sharing a bath with 2 tween/teen girls for ANY amount of money.

We do not do apartments since we prefer full service: breakfast in bed, rooms service, nice bar in the hotel and concierge. But if money were a big issue we might get an apartment.

We have considered renting a villa (Riviera or Costa del Sol) with a group of 4 or 6 - but somehow the timing never works out.

cmeyer54

@annhig - this was a general question. 2 hotel rooms are running around $1500-1600 for 7 nights; a 2 bedroom apartment is running around $1900-2000 for 7 nights. I was just wondering if that was the norm.

Seamus

Can't speak to experience in Rome, but in London we have enjoyed both hotels and apartments. The one thing I do miss in an apartment is the hotel fitness center, but there are public gyms (at an additional cost.) If the pivotal issue is cost - yes, it is possible to offset $60/day with four people. Hotel breakfasts alone can get expensive.

If the deciding factor is comfort - not so cut and dry. The additional space and acceptability of jammies for pre-ministration morning coffee and evening lounging are, IMO, priceless. Having to throw my own towels in the washing machine is no big deal. Two bathrooms if traveling with more than just the two of us is nice but we have survived with just one, even when accompanied by a Sephora addict. With four people, not sure I have not become too spoiled to tolerate. (Then again, I grew up in a house with 10 people and one bathroom. See: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/qu...tme137226.html)

Seamus

You found a hotel in London where you can get 14 room nights (2 rooms x 7 nights) for $1500??? Are you sure that is not quoted pounds? And is it a place you would want to stay?

Jinky

>>You found a hotel in London where you can get 14 room nights (2 rooms x 7 nights) for $1500??? Are you sure that is not quoted pounds? And is it a place you would want to stay?

I was thinking the same thing. WHERE?!