Paris hotel vs apartment

I'd go for an apartment. I think it would be cheaper and more comfortable for all of you.

I agree with Lee. Hotel rooms in Paris are generally pretty small, and you would have to find a hotel that has 2 triple rooms. Otherwise you would need 3 doubles. There are plenty of apartments that you can rent for 3 nights.

I agree with the other postings, an apartment would suit you better. Just the savings on breakfasts for 6 people alone can add up.

I am using vrbo for this fall on Paris. I have used them and homeaway before with great results. I am looking forward to shopping at the market for actual meal prep, mind you, it will be a simple meal, since I am on vacation! French cheese, fresh fruits and veggies in season and a reasonable priced wine, ah, heaven. If anyone drinks diet soda, it is astronomical in cafes, but easy to find in groceries.

Enjoy your trip.

I've used VRBO 3 times in Paris, including my upcoming trip in October. I have also used it in many other places, both in the U.S. and in Europe. In addition I've used Homeaway, their sister site. You have to do your due diligence and read the reviews. In my search for apartments on my trip next Fall I've seen places I really liked the look of, but with no reviews. Even though I took a chance with my first Paris rental that didn't have reviews and it worked out, this time I'm passing on those places.

You don't have to cook, just because you are in an apartment, it can be a big savings to have coffee/tea at home in the morning and even have breakfast in if you want.

For three nights an apartment is not likely to be very convenient. You really want to stock up a kitchen for 3 nights? And most apartments will also charge hefty added cleaning fees for short stays.

We always use apartments in our travels, but have recently abandoned that for stays of 3 nights or fewer because the hassle factor doesn't outweigh the advantages. Something as simple as only having one or two keys for 5 people is annoying. If there are any apartment issues or difficulties checking in, it really eats into a short stay.

We rented an apartment for 3 days in Paris, and loved it. We used vacationinparis.com, which we were very happy with. You pay before you go, so you don't have to worry about getting a lot of euro to pay in cash once you're in Paris. Also, they send you the keys before you leave the U.S, so once you get to Paris you can just go straight to the apartment. We did have to pay a "short stay surcharge" of $90 since we were only there 3 days, so just read the fine print and see what extra charges you may incur. Even with the surcharge, we thought it was a good deal.

No one said anything about stocking a kitchen. It is not required to eat in when you have an apartment, it is only an option. I have rented an apartment for a little as 2 nights. I have never been charged extra for cleaning.

With 6 people I think you will find that an apartment will be less expensive than 2-3 hotel rooms. Hotel rooms are rented out per person who is occupying the room, not by how many people can be crammed into the room.

We normally prefer apartments because we can spread out, use the kitchen if we want, do laundry (usually), and have a little more sense of actually living in the city instead of just visiting. For a larger group the spreading out is worth more, for instance if you sleep different hours. The downside is no desk clerk to help you with sightseeing, more hassle if something doesn't work. Janet makes a good point about possible timing issues re keys, or even the number of keys. Whether the apartment or multiple hotel rooms cost more depends on circumstances, you can make your own comparisons.

On balance I'd probably not pick an apartment for a three-night stay, not worth the potential time and hassle of dealing with an off-site owner, however friendly and helpful. For a week I would. But I'm not planning for six people either.

We once stayed in Paris in a hotel with one triple room on each floor. My husband and two kids were on the fourth floor and I was on the second with the other two. The only problem was when the 7-year-old went to visit the other room and locked the key inside and I had to explain this in French. (This was the same trip where I had to explain in French that my 4-year-old son was locked in the toilet in the women's bathroom in the train station...)

My rule of thumb is: Less than 5 nights = hotel

Reason: Check-in/check/out takes much longer. Just get the keys. No necessary explanation as to how the TV
Heat or AC works, dishwasher, etc. No need to have the elec. meter read on check out. In/Out in an
apartment can take at least half an hour (usually more) and you'd better pay close attention to how the appliances work!
That, plus the need to work out the payment for the apartment, having lots of Euros on hand, etc. on arrival.
I ALWAYS rent apartments when I stay a week, however, as I enjoy the 'local' experience.

That's just my opinion.

P.S. Hotel Eber Mars near the Eiffel Tower has triple rooms with three single beds. It's not 'swanky' but it's in a
great location, and the owner is very nice and helpful for tourist advice.

I agree with others that finding an apartment for only three days might be difficult. We love hotels for short trips because we want to make sure we have time to site see and not have to worry about cleaning up or being responsible for someone's personal property. Plus for me a smaller room makes for get out more and eat local food.

In most cases, I recommend renting an apartment (as I do) when visiting Paris. But for only 3 days it seems like a hotel might be easier. But I'd make sure all the rooms are close to each other (not different floors) and that there are multiple keys so you don't have the "locked out" misadventure described above. Warning - triples are often VERY cramped. If you do decide on an apartment, though, I've used Vacation in Paris multiple times, VRBO one time (all good experiences) and have one set up for this Fall thru Air BnB. Whatever you decide, have fun!

We're also travelling to Paris this summer with a family of 5 plus my mother in law. We're staying four nights but opted against an apartment for that short of a period. I did find several hotels with connecting rooms (mil didn't want to be in a room on her own) and decided on Hotel Villa d'Estrees. It's a block or so from the Seine, across from Ile de la Cite. They have a family apartment which is essentially two connecting rooms. They've been great with email and the hotel gets great reviews. We booked in January for our July trip.