paris apartment or paris hotel

What services not required would you be paying for? If this is your first time to Paris I think a hotel would better suit your needs. The next time you go, as experienced visitors, an apartment would be great fun.

Hi Sharon, I agree with Norma. My in-laws, who are in their late 50s, stayed in an apartment for their first trip to Paris a couple of years ago. In retrospect, they would have appreciated the services and staff of a hotel. I think they felt a little isolated in the apartment and, like you, felt that a hotel would give them more resources if they needed any help. That said, you're right that hotels in Paris can be expensive! But if you're willing to search for deals, you can probably find a price you're comfortable with. Emma

The best search engine I have found for hotels (thanks to another Rick Steves)reader is venere.com. It will give you the straight scoop on hotels and you can choose by price, stars, etc. and let you read honest reviews of hotels. Hotels in Paris come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges so have fun in Paris.

Only you know what services you want or need - but we always go for an apartment. We do not need the concierge services, the bed turn down, the mini bar, the intrusiveness of the staff etc. We love the privacy of our own ´home´, having a separate bedroom, shopping locally, having breakfast and some other meals in the apartment and having it available anytime we want it. It is generally much cheaper but that is not our major motivation. I am sure you will find most owners or rental agents quite responsive to your needs and they will certainly have had many guests significantly older than you. Most apartments we have rented have had quite detailed suggestions (in English)of where to eat, where the supermarkets are, maps, guide books etc. As well as full instructions as to how to use any appliances, tv and so on. You would generally be met at the apartment by someone who can answer any questions and we have always had a number to call if we had any problems. The only one I recall was when the kettle died and they brought over a new one within hours. If you have any particular requirements - e.g. not too many stairs - be sure to do your research well and make that clear when asking questions or seeking clarification. I personally love researching cottages and apartments but understand some don´t - our major considerations are location, noise and size,as well as cost. Some things we will pay a premium for - e.g. in summer we will pay more for a terrace and probably airconditioning. We will rent studio apartments but prefer 1 bedroom, will not sleep on a sofa bed and a washing machine is important. Re size - apartments in cities such as Paris or Rome can be extremely tiny - though bigger than most hotel rooms. To be honest, I think travellers fall into 2 categories - those who will generally go for hotels and those who go with apartments.

I like hotels,, I go on vacation to enjoy myself, see the sites, not cook, clean, take the garbage out or do laundry. I also think for many first timers a hotel really is the best choice,, even if they subsequently choose an apartment on their next visit.

A hotel would be better. An apartment is good if you have been to the city before or have a large group, a long stay etc. A first time traveler would be better in a hotel.

I do find the "intrusiveness of staff" an odd observation,,, I have never found that an issue. I do think there us sometimes a form of travel snobbism that goes on,, those who stay in apartments think they are "living like locals"and are "travellers" and those of us who perfer hotels are "tourists". Since I am fortunate to have relatives in France and England,, I find this amusing. I do stay with them ,, but never more then a few days, ( I do prefer the releif of being on my own schedule when not with others) so I can assure those of you who think you are "living like locals" .. that you aren't.. you are enjoying yourselves and that is great.. but its "Disneyish realality" to think buying some foood in the market and making your own dinner is quite the same as "living" somewhere( which some expats will assure you is very true) I do think apartments are great if one has kids with them though,, a room for them to sleep in and a seperate room for adults to stay up.. that would be expensive if one tryied to find a hotel suite like that.

I've done both in Paris (two trips in hotel, one in apartment) and I really think this is personal preference. In a hotel, the pro is that there are staff there who can help you with problems (e.g. arrange for a taxi, recommend neighborhood restaurants, etc.). The con of course is that you have less space and no kitchen. With an apartment, you generally get a kitchen and more space. However, don't expect any other service during your stay. Length of stay also makes a difference. Many apartments have a minimum stay requirement. If you rent an apartment, do your research so that you know what to expect. For example, the flat I rented was 4 flights up with no lift; I knew this in advance. Personally, I preferred the apartment, but can understand why some choose hotel. I rented through vacationinparis.com and was very pleased with their service prior to my trip. I paid via Paypal with credit card. They mailed the keys to me prior to my departure and provided good information on the apartment. I did not contact them during my stay in Paris. On return, they refunded by deposit promptly.

I've done both and really, really enjoyed renting an apartment for a month in Paris this summer, and will happily do it again - however, I still prefer staying in a hotel. It feels more like a "real" vacation to me. And a hotel is definitely better for help with any question, need, or problem you may have. When you rent an apt, you are on your own. I agree with what Pat said in many ways. I had to laugh about the cooking, cleaning, laundry - because it is so true. And you're also right, Pat, about the myth of "living like a local". No, you are an American/Canadian, on vacation, renting an apartment!

If this is your first time to Paris, I agree with the posters above who recommend finding a nice hotel. I've rented several apartments in Paris, but I think you need to know a bit about the city in order to make a good choice. And their may be issues with an apt. that you don't want to deal with. One time we had to cut our afternoon touring short to return to the apt. to meet a plumber. So if you want to have a nice relaxing first time, I'd go for a hotel.

A couple of years ago we (two friends and I) were lent a very posh apartment by some ex-pats, complete with a maid who came in every day. It was a very nice experience but all three of us had been to Paris many times so we had no need of advice from hotel staff on which metro to take, how to get a taxi in the early morning to go to the airport, how to get a doctor in the middle of the night, etc., etc. It was all very grand but seniors, perhaps inexperienced in foreign travel, may not be as comfortable and confident. In short, go to a hotel.

One possible halfway house is an "apparthotel" which is a French concept halfway between the two: you have a kitchen and can self-cater but also have reception staff to help if necessary, and cleaning services. There are two big chains: Appartcity and Citadines: I've used the Citadines Bastille Gare de Lyon in Paris a couple of times and been very happy.

My husband & I are both in our sixties and we always get an apartment. I use Vacation in Paris. They give a lot of information and are US based. You have the keys before you leave and you can call and ask them questions. I just used Rick's Paris book and we got metro passes, museum passes, and spent the first day on the Hop On Hop Off bus to get our bearings. We loved having a kitchen and our own place. I agree with a previous poster than stays shorter than 4 or 5 days are better suited for a hotel.

I agree with Ambrosia. My husband and I (55/56) went to Paris for the first time in September. We rented a 1 bedroom in Rue Cler(7th) from Vacation in Paris and loved it! We did have to walk up 3 flights of stairs, but it was the same at our hotel in London & B&Bs everywhere else we went. Our "landlady" lived upstairs and was very helpful. We felt like temporary locals instead of tourists on vacation.

If it's your first visit to Paris or Europe, I'd suggest a hotel rather than an apartment. It's really for the convenience and peace of mind knowing that there are people around to ask, in case you need help: booking taxis, getting to places, if you happen to lose something or have something stolen from you, etc. My mom and dad are seasoned travelers, but I would certainly prefer them to stay in a hotel now that they're getting older. Choose your hotel carefully, maybe go for one that other travelers have commended for friendly service. And not forgetting the convenience of an elevator and good transport links.

THANK YOU ALL RICK STEVES TRAVELERS FOR YOUR HELP! This is not our first trip to Paris but surely wish we were 10 years younger. We will take all your comments into account when we make our decision. Whatever we decide it will be "April in Paris" and how bad can that be!!!
Thanks again, Sharon

And I quote: "I do think there us;" "I do prefer the releif" "but its "Disneyish realality"
"to think buying some foood" "that would be expensive if one tryied" No disrespect intended, Pat. Does anyone else have trouble reading the 3640 responses from Pat in Canada? Maybe they speak differently or their grammar and spelling are different from in the US? Or maybe they don't have spellcheck? I don't tweet so maybe she does and this is special code. I am familiar with LOL but that's about it. Like I said, no disrespect intended. My father is Canadian, part of the 48th Highlanders that liberated Holland in WWII. Just an observation.

Well, in Miss Pat's defence(correct BR/CA spelling BTW), I don't think it's her spelling - I think it's her typing. If I just typed a reply that I did not go back and check and correct before I hit post - no one would recognize it as English. My spelling is excellent - spelling is (or was, in the 50s and 60s - stressed very highly in Canadian (Ontario)schools. Typing, however, was NOT, unless you went to a vocational collegiate (that's HS to you Yanks). (I had to correct 19 typos in that line(and 4 already in this one) and I bet I missed several!! ;-)

Philip from the UK really had the best suggestion of anyone. Citadines is a great option if you decide you want the extra space, basic kitchen facilities to cook a meal, and access to laundry. But you will still get some of the better "hotel" perks such as 24/7 staff that can answer questions or help in an emergency, maid service (and if you don't want housekeeping to intrude on your privacy, there is always the "Do Not Disturb" sign you can hang on the doorknob to your apart'hotel), internet access, and air conditioning (something only a fraction of the Paris apartments offer). And you avoid having to pay upfront a security deposit and cleaning fee like you would if you rent an apartment through an agency. Sure, you will get that security deposit back eventually, but why tie up money you might prefer to have available for your trip? You don't mention your budget for an apartment or a hotel. Another cheaper option you may want to consider would be a private ensuite room for just the 2 of you in a hostel. At the more modern hostels, you will see many offer similar perks - 24/7 reception staff, internet, laundry and kitchen access. Very few hostels have upper age limits these days, so seniors are welcome. Whatever you decide, you should check to make sure there is an elevator/lift on site. Lugging suitcases up 3, 4 or 5+ flights of stairs is probably not something you want to do as seniors.

CHERYL,, what possible connection does my nationality have to do with my posting mistakes( a bit bigoted are you?) No, I do not have or use spell check, and yes, I do hit " post " before proofreading all my posts,, get over it. It is actually acknowledged on most forums that mocking someones spelling, typos , or grammar is petty. My points were still clear , and someones opinions are not more or less valid based on their posting accuracy. Grow up.

I'd like to weigh in on behalf of my fellow Canadian, Pat, who was roundly ticked off by Cheryl for her spelling and typos. Cheryl twice says "no disrespect" was intended and it reminded me, sadly, of my first husband. When my feelings were hurt by his rudeness and insults, he was always astonished and claimed he "was only kidding" and accused me of not having a sense of humour. N.B. The "u" in humour is not an error and used to be in the word in American English, too, until Mr. Webster decided, in his wisdom, that it should be spelled humor.

I'd like to give a big shout-out to Pat. She wins the board's award for most improved keyboarding. When I started to read this a few years ago, she was unfamiliar with the punctuation and shift keys. Now Pat's just a-capitalizing and a-punctuating like the big kids! Pat, you've come a long way, baby! ;) & lol!