Apartment vs. Hotel experience ???

We are going to be in Paris either:

March 12-19th

or

March 15-21

Hotels and apts are both hard to find. But in either case, what do you suggest is the best experience for first timers?

I have been a few times and know paris fairly well, but am travelling with 3 people who have never been.

Any help greatly appreciated!!

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We always start with Hotel stays at any location, then we move to apartments for subsequent trips. From our experience, the hotel stay provides a secure, expected home base to explore the city. We then usually then find the neighborhood we want to stay in, and then rent that apartment with the foreknowledge of that neighborhood.

I have found this to work for us, regardless of where we travel. If you doubt the apartment experience in the slightest, go with the familiar. If you feel confident with the apartment, then dive in and be that traveler.

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I had an apartment (on Place St Andre des Arts) on my first trip to Paris and many times since - I only get hotel rooms when it%26#39;s a very short stay. Especially if you have been several times and know your way around, I would suggest an apartment because the others in your group will have an experience that gives them a bit of a feel for %26quot;living%26quot; in Paris rather than just being a visitor. (Also, it%26#39;s so much fun to shop in the street markets, etc., and then make a simple meal to enjoy with a good bottle of wine, some cheese, etc.!)

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For me, when comparing the space and expense of a hotel vs. an apartment, the apartment would win for 3 people for more than 3 nights.

The hotel is useful if you need or want the comfort of knowing someone in reception can help you with directions, assist with bookings, recommendations and therefore the best option for first timers. But if you are relatively comfortable with these things and familiar with Paris you may enjoy the extra space an apartment could give you, rather than sharing a triple hotel room.

Then again, if you are planning to spent next to no time in your room... it probably doesn%26#39;t matter.

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I think an apartment allows you to feel %26quot;more at home.%26quot; It is fun to feel like you live in Paris. I don%26#39;t think a hotel provides that. Also, there are so many wonderful markets. It%26#39;s fun to pick up good and then cook a simple dinner or even just eat part of what you purchased and refrigerate the rest for another time.

Also, apparently Paris hotels are quite small. Apartments aren%26#39;t exactly huge either but I am guessing you get more space in an apartment than in a Hotel.

I vote for the apartment. If you need advice you could always check with the rental company or the landlord. My landlord was extremely helpful and we have now become friends.

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I have no interest in renting apartments when I%26#39;m on vacation. I don%26#39;t want to %26#39;feel like I%26#39;m at home%26#39;, doing dishes, making beds. I want to relax, let someone else clean and have a resource should I need one. I don%26#39;t feel like sending deposits, waiting for keys, dealing with different household appliances...

Apartments are not automatically cheaper than a hotel - it could be true if you are accustomed to mid-higher end hotels, or if you are ok with a less-central apartment (think why the cheapest ones are north of Sacre Coeur!).

I agree that an apartment can be more comfortable if you are traveling with kids, espec. teens who seem to sprawl out wherever they are, like to sleep late, and so on.

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Agree, Travelnutty. We are renting an apartment for the first time this summer only because we have five in our family and we would need two hotel rooms, doubling the price of our lodging. I will glance at the kitchen, use the refrigerator, but most meals will be out. I will miss the daily cleaning of a hotel, beds made for us, and having a concierge in the lobby to help us navigate. Will report back after our trip!

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Consider the combo: apart-hotel (such as Citadines.) You get the extra room and kitchen facilities of a hotel, along with the front-desk support, maintenance, ability to change rooms, ets that you have in a hotel. we recently had 2 one-room aprtments at the Citadines St Germain des Pres, and it worked perfectly for our extended family of 6 (teens to grandparents.)

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I have become a big fan of renting an apartment on my last two stays. I think the biggest plus of sharing an apartment between 4 of you is the shared common area where everyone can gather in a comfortable environment. Sharing a glass of wine together before or after dinner, a little snack here and there, relaxing with each other without everyone piled on beds in a cramped hotel room. You may miss the daily cleaning and attention you%26#39;ll get from a hotel, but I%26#39;ve never found it to be a big deal for me. The one suggestion I would make regarding an apartment though, is to make certain you get something big enough for all for of you, meaning that I would search for something with two bathrooms, two bedrooms, etc., with your required number of beds. Sometimes an apartment makes it a little more difficult to find four separate beds than staying in a hotel room that will have two beds in each room. I have definitely found apartments to be a big plus when traveling with others. It%26#39;s just so much easier to have a living room to meet up in than a lobby.

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Arrowcapet%26#39;s point about a common space is so true. Much more pleasant to sit and review the day with beverage of choice in a livung room. And should you decide on a Sun. evening ,when many resto are closed, to get Asian takeout ....

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..I think a real toss up on a first trip (except with small kids for a week then a no brainer..apt or apt hotel). How well do you know these people? Do you need a getaway space? Who will take responsibility to wait for the owner if there is a problem ect? Oh and it is an illusion to think you are Parisien just because you are renting an apt. You aren%26#39;t nor am I (though I visit frequently, have lived in Paris and my SO is) and at times dishes just dont appeal! That being said, the right apt with the right people can be great.