Airbnb vs Hotel?

There are pros and cons with both.

Airbnb's--they are usually cheaper, though not always. They may come with amenities that hotels charge for, such as washing machines. However, their biggest issue is the lack of objective reviews to guide you how to choose the right Airbnb, which shuts down negative reviews. Airbnb is a dirty business. To protect their image, they try everything to not post negative reviews. Also, Airbnb's lack professional standards as they are unregulated. They are very inconsistent. Some are very good. But some can be old homes with weed smokers or noisy old pipes. One home even gave me bed bugs (and I had to move out in the middle of my trip). I never chose cheap Airbnb's, by the way. I have stayed at Airbnb's over 50 times, but I stopped using Airbnb's three years ago. By the way, the home that gave me bed bugs was not in some third world country, but Singapore, one of the cleanest places in the world! After I moved out (I didn't have to pay anything for my stay, luckily), Airbnb did not give me a chance to write a review on the owner.

So, if you want an apartment, try using booking.com. The reviews are much more objective. Alternatively, some hotels or B&Bs are equipped with washers that you can use for a reasonable fee.

In Paris, you can stay in most areas, just avoid those in the far north and the far east. No matter what, be careful with your belongings. Crime has increased significantly over time.

SeaTraveler, a fair amount of hostels offer single rooms so depending on the business, you don't necessarily have to give up your sleeping privacy/distancing for socializing at other times of the day. Some of them will also offer attractive amenities such as laundries and coffee bars. I'd just get on hostelworld's website and look at the best-rated of them closest to center (I'd look at 4th, 5th and 6th arrondissements for starters) that offer private rooms.

SeaTraveler, a fair amount of hostels offer single rooms so depending on the business, you don't necessarily have to give up your sleeping privacy/distancing for socializing at other times of the day. Some of them will also offer attractive amenities such as laundries and coffee bars. I'd just get on hostelworld's website and look at the best-rated of them closest to center (I'd look at 4th, 5th and 6th arrondissements for starters) that offer private rooms.

Yeah just don’t want to socialize with people unless they require masks in the hostel social area. But maybe I should give it more of a chance since I’ve never been in a hostel. Just wanted to know of any hotel or airbnb recs

Edit: just checked hostelworld. There are literally only 4 hostels available in a private room. The rest of the results were hotels.

Hi Barkinpark,

I might just checkout hotels then instead of Airbnb’s

Right now I think a kitchen is a very good amenity. What’s your comfort with indoor dining? I prefer outdoor but will do indoor if I find a restaurant that seems uncrowded. But what if it’s rainy and you can’t find one you are comfortable with? Also how does the hotel handle breakfast? Is the breakfast room somewhere I feel comfortable eating?

Having a kitchen is a good backup even if all you do is pick up a few picnic-style things (fruit, bread, yogurt, cheese, etc) and eat it at your apartment table.

Paris hotels are often very strict on no eating in the room, which is a problem for me so I always go apartment in Paris.

Five years ago I would have said AirBnB, but now it is flooded with semi-professionals and there is no way of telling what the experience will actually be. These days I would look at getting an aparthotel

We always check Air BandB as well as Kayak.com for hotels and B&Bs. Air B&B is great if you have a lot of people, but we have found for two persons that we do better at B&Bs or small hotels, since rented apartments are usually away from the city centers.

Be careful which neighborhood you pick in Paris, some areas are not safe, especially on the east and north edges of the city.
If you stay in the city center, you should be good.
Try finding accommodations near the sites where you most want to visit.

Kayak.com is great, and it includes Booking.com which many always seem to recommend. Also, check TripAdvisor, since it has a great map feature for locating your lodging.

Also, watch you wallet and valuables, pickpockets are terrible in Paris, especially on the RER and Metro.

SeaTraveler, have you spent time with any guidebooks? If not, Rick's "Europe through the Backdoor" has some pretty good general advice on traveling frugally. And other guidebooks like Lonely Planet and the Lets Go series (target cheap student travelers) have lots of advice to share, including lodging recommendations and cost guides. I've never stayed in an AirBnB, but from what friends tell me, I think I'd only be comfortable if (1) I was an experienced traveler, and (2) I was staying somewhere for a week or more. I like hotel services, and they have staff on-site who are experienced with dealing with tourists.

Europe is not like the US, where all cheap hotels is synonymous with shabby and unsafe. Many small hotels are perfectly fine, just cheap because they are older, have less features, and not associated with big chains.

SeaTraveler, I'm a fan of VRBO to get small apartments when I travel and want to avoid hotel crowds (like this year). I've scored a couple of lovely places in Paris through them. As for neighborhoods, my favorite place to stay in Paris is on the Ile Saint-Louis, which is pricy but the views are wonderful along the river. The Marais is where a lot of folks prefer, and the Latin Quarter might be a lot of fun for a single traveler (and also I think it's less $$).

Let me also bring up the notion of Aparthotels or extended stay hotels.

They usually are like an apartment but run as a hotel. (There is a front desk, housekeeping, etc). Most have full kitchens and a laundry room in the hotel if not in the room. I've stayed in many. Two chains to look for in Paris are Citadines and Fraser Suites. They each have numerous locations in Paris.

This way, if you are not happy with one room, they can switch you to another. They are also reviewed like hotels because they are hotels.

And while this goes against the theory of Rick Steves, look for American chain hotels as many offer at least a small refrigerator in the room. While you can't cook, you can go grocery shopping or get restaurant takeaway.

Another suggestion, bring along a set of Lexan cutlery (knife, spoon, fork). They are allowed in carry on bags as they are made of a heavy plastic material and very difficult to break. I got mine at REI but you can find them at almost any camping store. I never leave home without them. A spork might work as well.

These days you must be very careful about using Airbnb or other platforms like that in Paris. Over the last two years or so Paris has really cracked down on illegal rentals--of which there used to be very many; owners of those properties are being assessed very large fines; when they are discovered, the illegal rentals are immediately taken off the market lest the fines keep increasing.

Any legal rental should have its 13-digit registration number included in the listing. If you arrange to rent an apartment that isn't registered, there is a risk the authorities will discover the rental property before you arrive in Paris and you will have to scramble to find another place to stay.

Seatraveler, with your exciting sightseeing schedule, it might be just as well to do the hotel (with minibar and kettle for coffee and tea preferably). I’m a fan of Citadines aparthotel during the pandemic, but not sure if the pricing is right for you. Have a great time in Paris!

As a female solo traveler, I prefer hotels for safety, consistency and friendly/informative front desks. If I want to eat in my room, I stop at a grocery store for a prepared meal. I don’t cook on vacation. I don’t want a kitchen. I don’t want to be isolated in an apartment. YMMV

For the neighborhood, you need to see what calls to you. I have stayed in Montmartre, St Germain, Rue Cler, and near Arc de Triomphe. All good for different reasons. And there are so many more I hope to try. Read about the neighborhoods and come back with where you think you might want to stay, and then we can more easily give you the pros and cons.

You will find you meet people because you are traveling solo.

I'm traveling with 2 others to Paris this time and chose AirBnB as 3 is impractical for a single Paris hotel room. Once I land next week I am hopeful that the apartment lives up to the photos. That being said, you have a broader choice of accomodations in each arrondissement with AirBnB, in my opinion.

Everyone I know who has spent any appreciable time in Paris has their own favorite arrondissement. You should base yours on what is more important to you. The 5th & 8th (north end) are nice and not too touristy. And to give some perspective, the 8th covers a HUGE area, from Place de la Concorde to Parc Monceau, and as far west as Arc de Triomphe. My suggestion would be to do a lot of research on where you want your Paris visit to be, based on your interests and needs. There is no easy answer.

I ended up booking a hotel at Citadines Saint-Germain!

SeaTraveler, the Saint Germain Citadines is one of their best. Those Seine River views. Very central and convenient to public transport.

I’m an Airbnb person 100%. I travel a lot. A lot. Covid slowed me down last year, but I always use them. Going to Bilbao Spain, Prague, Paris and Madrid in a few days. Staying in Airbnb’s for all except Paris, since my brother and sister in law live there. I also do my research, so I have had nothing but great experiences with them.

I have also used Air BnB all over Europe with no problems- except for one property in Madrid that was not up to par- however Air Bnb refunded me partially as I wound up staying and I did get to leave a honest review…I do my research and read all the reviews, as well as making sure they are legally licensed. I have only stayed in Paris in hotels- but there are many great arrondissments to choose from as well as inexpensive places to choose from- there are plenty for every budget. St. Germain is a great area- but Ive stayed in the 5th, the 9th, the 17th, the 7th , the 1st, and loved them all