Sheesh! Just got back to check the last couple of responses to my post. I certainly did not intend to insult anyone's preferences, nor did I expect my post to be taken as such. FYI sometimes we stay at apartments; sometimes we stay at hotels; sometimes we stay at b&b's; sometimes we stay with friends; sometimes we stay home. I really did simply want some input from others because we have not been to Italy before. Thank you for your helpful replies.

I like apartments since it gives everyone a little space! I also like the option to eat at home.

i just like to be left alone on vacation. i dont' need or like housekeeping service, i don't want to have to deal with a bellman, i like to cook some meals "at home" and i would never dream of ordering room service for breakfast in bed.

when i stay in a hotel, i wander around the markets and get depressed that i can't cook any of the fish, mushrooms, etc that i see on offer.

as others said, you feel much more like it's your own place.

While I can't cook a fish (!) I always set up my hotel room with a bottle of wine, a nice glass, bottled water, juice, and a few snacks. Sometimes even purchase a small square of fabric or a dishtowel and an inexpensive fruit bowl and make a 'kitchenette' in a corner of the dresser. I also often buy fresh flowers.

I didn't realize so many of you rent apartments. I am thinking of this for my journey next year - I like the idea of more room and a little kitchen area.

A hotel is OK for a night or two, but any longer than that and we like to have an apartment or flat. Like others, we like the added space and having a kitchen available. It's our little home away from home.

Well, guess NYTraveler and I are alike. I want a hotel. Do not want to cook, period. Opening up a bottle of water or wine is my limit on vacation.

Do love coffee in my room, sitting in bathrobe enjoying the serenity. Do not eat much for breakfast so no problem there.

Do not want to make the bed, dust etc.

Besides lingerie do not want to do laundry. Do not want to clean the bathroom.

But do always keep my hotel room picked up and I am respectful of the room and the hotel maids.

But I love hotels. It is interesting IMHO that we all have different thoughts as to what makes up happy.

Apartments often require longer term rental than we stay in most places.

Like others have mentioned, we don't want a kitchen, like having the room cleaned, beds made, fresh towels daily, etc.

Plus, we only sleep, shower, and change clothes in our room--so we don't need a lot of space.

Oh, and we normally stay in nicer unrated pensions or one-two star hotels, so it's usually less expensive than an apartment anyway.

some of this might be a european/american divide.

europeans tend to stay in houses or apartments more while americans generally are more likely to prefer hotels.

why?

don't know but perhaps europeans generally take longer holidays/vacations and americans take shorter ones and move around more during a visit to europe. If you move around a lot, an apartment is not practical as real rentals typically have one week minimums. Also while europeans have more time for their vacations, they often have a smaller vacation budget and rentals are usually much cheaper than hotels. Hybred hotel/apartment deals are the exception as they operate much like hotels and are therefore usually as, if not more expensive than hotels. I am talking about the rental that is typically rented from a person and has no on-site management or services.