I've been planning our trip to Paris, and was curious if it's better to stay in a flat or hotel?

These are the hotels/flats I were thinking of:
Hotel: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
Flat: http://www.vrbo.com/3250798ha OR http://www.vrbo.com/75476

Have you been to Paris before? If this is your first trip, a hotel might be preferable as it is nice to have the "support system" hotel staff provide.

I have yet to visit Paris, but my father and mother (who are coming) have been to Paris many, many times.

>> hotel might be preferable as it is nice to have the "support system" hotel staff provide.<<

IF you typically use a support staff. We don't.

But I agree - hotel, if it is your first time in Europe. There is some "overhead" to an apt/flat. Also, a hotel can serve you breakfast - which we don't take (we like croissants on the run) - but many others do.

We are foodies and always end the day with a fabulous dinner. But day after day of restaurants is too much for us. We always rent gites or apts, so we can go to markets, buy food, and do a fabulous meal at "home". We also like the added space most apts provide.

Stu Dudley

We always do hotels - but we want hotel services: concierge, bar, room service and preferably spa services. True you can get more rooms in apts and european hotel rooms are typically small - but if we are staying for more than one night we always get a junior suite or similar so we have a relaxing area. Also - we would never cook ourselves - and you can get a mini-fridge in most hotels (enough for the beverages that are all we want).

BUT, this assumes that you have more than a modest hotel budget.

If you won;t use those hotel services and have more than 2 people apts often make more sense - even if you don;t cook full meals.

Since your parents have visited many times, I should think an apartment would work well. The first one you list above does not have any reviews which always makes me a bit cautious.

The second one looks very nice if it is within the budget.

What do your parents prefer?

At the philosophical/conceptual level, previous posters covered it. Since your parents have visited previously, the availability of staff would seem less important.

At the practical level - the second of the vrbo properties (in the 3rd) would absolutely be my choice. Have stayed in that area several times and find it good both for the immediate environment as well as ease of getting around. The place itself also looks quite good.

The Marais (your 2nd apt) is one of the most popular areas in Paris. The Place du Vosges is our favorite square - we try to swing through there on every trip to Paris. Lots of vendors in the area where you can purchase roast chickens and other stuff for a "home" meal. About 5 years ago, we stayed in an apt for a week that's a block from the Place.

We loved the Marais when we were in our 30s & 40s, but we like it less now that we're in our mid 60s. It's quite "alive" most of the day & into the night. We now stay near the Eiffel Tower in the 7th, and welcome more peace & quiet.

Stu Dudley

Thank you so much to everyone for your help!

Our budget for the week in Paris (for hotels/apartments) is about $3,500-4,000. Does this seem reasonable (Paris does not look cheap!).

Regarding the Marais area, is it extremely noisy at night? We like staying in vibrant areas but prefer if club music wasn't playing throughout the night. I especially like the second apartment (as it seems most of you do- I agree, the lack of reviews on the other one makes me wary).

Second apartment all the way for location (I'm not crazy about the decor, personally, very Pottery Barn). If you're worried about noise, ask the landlord/rental agent about any bars nearby. Bring earplugs just in case, but I almost always stay in the 3rd and have never had a problem with noise. The location of that apartment isn't in a particularly bar-heavy area. Bedrooms on the courtyard are usually the most quiet.

We've been going to Paris once a year for the past 17 years - oh my! doesn't seem that long, but I just checked my journal.
We stayed in a hotel the first time, but since then, we've always stayed in apartments. I love to cook, and find the open markets in Paris to be exceptional sources for the very finest produce, meat, seafood, etc. For the first years we stayed on Ile St. Louis, which we enjoyed, but then the area became so filled with tourists that we decided to go further afield. So now our favorite neighborhood is Batignolles, in the 17th. It isn't "central" like the areas you are considering, but metro or bus access is very convenient, and we enjoy the neighborhood atmosphere. In the mornings, we must choose among some 5 nearby bakeries for our croissants and pain au chocolate, and the covered market there is perfect. Ah, Paris...we will be there in 3 months...can't wait.

It depends where you are in the Marais, so hard to say. Of course it can be noisy in some spots. The streets are really small and narrow there, which doesn't help. I don't really like the Marais for a lot of those reasons, too noisy and congested for me, but a lot of people like it. It's too expensive for my taste, also.

I don't know what currency you are quoting as $4000, I am going to assume USD, so up to $570 per night for two double rooms??? Yes, you can certainly get something for that price, I have never spent over around 150 euro a night for a double room in Paris, but I tend not to stay in the expensive areas or hotels, and I often get discounts in summer (hotel rates often drop after 7/14). It seems like the usual hotels I stay in now are charging around 165 euro for a double room in the peak months (nice 3* to low 4* in one case).

If you all want to stay together, an apt might be nice for a group. That VRBO 75476 looks very nice, it's hard to tell the price as I'm not sure when you are going but it sounds like maybe 3000 euro a week or $4000. It isn't really on place des Vosges, which I would consider a good point, its about a block north of the Chemin Vert metro stop, apparently, and it looks like it is right on bd Beaumarchais. That is a very big, busy street, so I'd want details on that issue.

In general, I like the Left Bank and the area around Luxembourg Gardens better (the location of the first VRBO), but I admit it isn't as nice as the Marais one. Of course, it's about 1000 euro a week cheaper. Hard to be specific about location as the owner won't say exactly where it is. Could be great, could also be on a very noisy big street (eg, bd St Michel).

I don't really understand why owners don't want you to know where their apt is more specifically, I just don't get what bad things can happen if people know.

Didn't notice the apartment price was in Euros. Now I'm thinking more like 4500 USD, as our hotel budget per night, per room is ~320 USD for each of our destinations (Paris is by far the most pricey). I'm still trying to figure all of this out.

>>I don't really understand why owners don't want you to know where their apt is more specifically, I just don't get what bad things can happen if people know.<<

Because these short-rental apts are illegal in Paris - just like they are in San Francisco, near where I live. NYC also, I believe. The owners don't care if "you" know the location of the apt, then just don't want any Paris "officials" to know.

Stu Dudley

On that note, will you get fined for staying in an apartment in Paris (short-term)?

We haven't - and nobody else I know has been fined. The owner would be in trouble anyway - not you. Your only problem is that there might be a "raid" on the owners apt that could happen after you have paid & before you arrive. I have never heard of this happening either. The owners "problem" is that some jealous city official might go on a vendetta and do a "sting" & put some owners out of business. Therefore, most owners show precaution.

Stu Dudley

The proprietor of your Marais place was the "agent" on House Hunters International today.

We have spent 6 weeks staying in her apts, and are trying to reserve for 2 more next year. My wife helped her stage & photograph several of her apts. We have no financial connection to her, however.

Stu Dudley

Anecdotally, the apartment owners who are having actual troubles with the authorities seem to be Americans who own flats that they rent to other Americans. Other owners in the building inform the authorities because it is a pain in the ____ and just a bit scary to have strangers in the building. This is why it is illegal in NYC and SF.

But this is anecdotal, so take it for what it is worth.

We have happily rented in Paris from a Harvard professor, an Englishwoman, and four or five times from French owners. We will do it again.

In Paris, illegal short term renters (which are most in Paris) are caught by the authorities by other people in the building going to the their local town hall.

Rental agencies are of course very cautious how much information they give.

>> The owners "problem" is that some jealous city official<<

Should be
owner's "problem" is that some zealous...

Stu Dudley