Apartments or Hotels?

For three or more nights we usually choose an apartment for several reasons:

1 - it's usually less expensive

2 - we can make coffee as soon as we wake up instead of waiting for breakfast at 8:00 or 8:30

3 - there's a little more space, somewhere to sit other than the bed, room to unpack

4 - we can prepare a meal when we get sick of restaurants, even if it's just to have wine, salumi and cheese.

We find apartment hosts to be a font if information when required, but they are not omni-present.

Personally, it's not a vacation if I have to make my own bed. On the other hand, staying for the amount of time you have for each city, apartments make sense.

A friend who rents apartments for 5-10 days at a time does this: she stays in a hotel the first night, and avoids the stress of keeping the apartment owner/manager waiting due to a late plane, train or something, She also stays the last night of her trip in a hotel, so checking out of the apartment is already done the day before (another stressor for her). The trade-off is two more changes of accommodations per trip

In your case, I would prefer apartments with a washing machine. That means I can pack less and clean and re-wear my clothes as I go on my schedule.

I don't know - I don't stress about making my bed when on vacation...it takes about 30 sec to toss the sheets over. To each his own ;)

Hubby and I generally do a room with airbnb (with the owner present) or a 'traditional' bed and breakfast. Last year, we had apts in Atrani, Rome and Venice because my mom was with us and we needed more beds. I actually quite liked it...to be able to spread out, sit on a couch, eat breakfast at my leisure, pick up breakfast and snack items for our stay, cook supper if I felt so inclined - which I did a few times in Rome. Hubby could sleep in behind the closed bedroom door while mom and I ate breakfast..

I would say for a longer stay if you do decide on an apartment, you should look for one with laundry machine, or make sure that the linens and towels will be changed part way thru (if that bothers you).

We stay in apartments as much as we possibly can on any trip. I don't worry about making the bed. That's my husband's job! And if he doesn't do it, no biggie. We can close the door to the bedroom and not see it.

We like apartments for the same reasons many others do, but primarily because he's a late sleeper and I'm an early riser. I can have my coffee and sometimes even breakfast before he's out of bed. He doesn't miss breakfast because he slept too late.

We usually have breakfast at home. Oddly, even if we have almost the same thing everyday, our breakfasts at home in the apartment are less boring than they are for several days in most hotels, even if the hotel has a good spread. We often have our big meal at lunch and also eat a light dinner at home.

When we are looking for apartments to rent, we have some requirements that have developed over time and experience.

1. There has to be a usable electrical outlet close to each side of the bed. My husband uses a CPAP.
2. We will pay for cleaning after we leave, but we will not clean the place ourselves.
   
3. The TV has to be flat-screen. These days, anything else is useless.
4. The fridge must be something bigger than an under-counter one and there must be a freezer.
5. There must be a decent coffee pot (preferably Nespresso).
6. There must be a microwave.
7. The bedroom must have a door that closes so that I don't disturb my husband while he is sleeping.
8. The bathroom has to be outside the bedroom, i.e. not ensuite, for the same reason.
9. The shower head must be high or with a hook for it high on the wall. A tub is wasted on us.
10. There must be a clothes washer, even if there is only a drying rack or lines out the window and no dryer.
11. There must be Wi-Fi.

I'm sure there are other things that I've forgotten, but these may not all be mentioned in the listings. You may have to look closely at the pictures, pay close attention to the reviews and email back and forth with the owner about them or about anything else that is particularly important to you.

About the Wi-Fi, we have not stayed in an apartment ever that didn't have it. It was usually better than Wi-Fi in many hotels. In fact, it seems like the more expensive hotels charge for it and have the worst Wi-Fi service!

Many thanks for the input - much appreciated.
I think apartments win out.
Happy Travels
Kevin

The only thing I will add to the other comments is that staying in apartments lets me pretend I live in the area - at least for a little while. Going to grocery stores and cooking even a little gives me a glimpse of life in Europe. Once you stay in apartments for a trip, you will find it hard to ever rent hotels again. And - I love the process of researching apartments to rent. Enjoy your trip.