Paris Apartment vs. Hotel for First Timers to Paris??
False
France
Paris Apartment vs. Hotel for First Timers to Paris??
Hello All, Needing some helpful advice as I've been researching options for accommodations in Paris. We are a group of friends (6-7 adults) traveling early May to Paris for the first time. While sear
Needing some helpful advice as I've been researching options for accommodations in Paris. We are a group of friends (6-7 adults) traveling early May to Paris for the first time. While searching for hotels, I started coming across options for renting an apartment and after doing the math - it seems we would pay about the same in costs and would probably be more comfortable in an apartment. Having never done this before - it's hard to know where to begin. I've looked through some of the other forums for Apartment agencies recommendations - however I'm still uncertain as to what location would be best for first timers. We are all in our late 20's early 30's and would like to be in a lively area with easy access to public transit, cafes, shopping, sights...etc.
Any other advice? Thanks for your time and expertise.
Apartments give you much more room, larger baths, (usually), the ability to cook some meals in and save a bundle on food. TV's are better, most have wifi access, and there are chairs and couches to sit on. Since there are so many of you, you might want to rent two apartments in the same building. Having two bathrooms might be important. If you decide to go the hotel route, Etap has cheap rooms that sleep 3 per room, ensuite. Two on a bottom bunk bed and one on top. Ibis does the same, but costs more. Look at accor.com and search the Etap section.
Although apartments are usually roomier than hotel rooms, it can be difficult to find an apartment that comfortably accommodates 6 or 7 adults, especially if any of the adults are paired in romantic couples and/or are hoping for romantic engagement in one of Europe's most romantic cities.
A lot of apartments that advertise they sleep 6 or 7 count bunk beds, sleeper sofas, futons or sleep chairs, or even fold out cots. Sleeping in the living room without privacy, even if the entire group is all one gender, wouldn't be fun for me, nor would sharing a bed with a friend -- even not my sister! Getting enough bathrooms for 6 adults is an issue too.
This apartment has 3 real bedrooms and 2 baths. Two of the bedrooms have queens, 1 has twins and there is a queen sleep sofa.
I've never stayed in that apartment and so you would need to try to track down reviews for it and the agency renting it. There are hotels quite near that apartment, so you can go on Tripadvisor or Booking.com and get some idea of whether the neighborhood would work for you.
If you really don't imagine yourselves cooking while you are in Paris, you can sometimes save money and have just the beds you need by looking for a small hotel with shared baths. It is likely that your group could end up being the only people on one floor with two baths to share, but you'd have a lot more privacy per person and be paying a much lower rate per person than you would booking rooms at a hotel with private baths. Just make sure whatever you book has excellent ratings and reviews. The Guardian UK website in has a travel section with a city guide to Paris that recommends several budget hotels with shared baths.
For a group your size and age, I don't think you need a hotel desk. You'll brain out together how to get places. The metro is really easy to use and sometimes the areas that are not smack dab in the touristy core have a lot more young professionals in them, and thus nice bars, cheaper restaurants. But you all should bring cell phones.
I truly appreciate your advice and will take everything into consideration. Mushroom, you brought up a good point about the bathrooms and privacy. I surely have my concerns about that situation. Well, my research will continue. Again, thanks a million! Kara J
I agree that you should be thinking about two Paris apartments. 6 or 7 people will be hard to accomodate in one Paris apartment. They do exist, but usually they are in the luxury category. Not a problem if money is not a concern.
I would never stay at a hotel in Paris. I've been going twice a year to Paris for many years and once I discovered apartment rentals, I never turned back to hotels.
Many of the companies you find on the internet are reliable. And no matter where you stay (if it's within the 20 arrondissements) will be close to public transit, shopping, restaurants. Paris is a small city with a great transportation system, so you're never far from the main monuments and attractions.
Following Diane Shaskin's point about two apartments: over the years of searching, I've noticed that there are many listings for more than one apartment in the same building (mostly, I believe, because an owner has seen a good investment). If you don't find a single apartment the size you're looking for, you might either search out the multiples for yourself, or ask one of the agencies about it.
Another thing to consider is: how long will this trip be? I ask because I keep running into people who are going all the way to Europe for a long weekend.
If the trip is less than a week, you might as well stay in a hotel. An apartment is much more worthwhile for a long stay. There are wonderful hotels in Paris in all price ranges.
Since you first timers and I presume will mainly be out in Paris doing stuff, and not at home cooking meals, so I don't see the big attraction of an apt myself. The main disadvantage is it's a lot more trouble, mainly. You must prepay, can't cancel usually except way far in advance, and there are usually significant deposits. And you have no one to ask questions or book a taxi for you. And then there are the issues of arrival and departure, things to work out there (may involve meeting someone, some way you have to give back the key at the end, etc.). And of course you will need to book a couple apartments for that group. I just think a hotel is easier in your situation and don't know why you are considering an apartment, you don't say why it appeals to you, you say you will be more comfortable, but not sure why. If it's a living room space, I can see that. But a lot of vacation rental apts have uncomfortable, cheap furniture, so don't count on it literally being more comfortable in terms of the bed, for example. And I disagree with someone above who claimed vacation rental apts have better televisions and larger baths. If you don't know French, it may not have English channels (I rented one that did not, which was okay as I speak French but not fluently, so I would have liked to watch BBC news occasionally or something for a break). And some vacation rental apts have crummy bathrooms, you are less likely to have a shower, for example. But all of that depends on your budget, of course.
The best apts will be booked up by now for May, anyway, although I'm sure you can find something, but trying to arrange that for 6-7 adults would be too much trouble for me, in any case. You'll have to manage financial terms among all those people, someone could get stuck.
I too recommend a hotel. I have stayed twice at the Hotel Residence Chalgrin (Ave. De La Grand Armee near the Arc de Triomphe) and have always been very pleased. If you are going to Paris for the first time the last thing you want to do is buy groceries and cook meals in an apartment. Also, each couple can get their own room and relax when not doing group activities. I would not be interested in an apartment personally unless I was staying for a long time.
Thank everyone for all of your advice. It is very helpful. I'm not particularly interested in cooking while in Paris - but we are a mixed group of male and female friends and relatives (no couples in this group) so that is why (@ ChristinaW) we were considering an apartment. Maybe to just even to have the ability to use a microwave or have a fridge (which I'm not sure if any of the hotels will offer). Anyway, I wanted to leave our options open. However as we draw closer to our travel date and I have researched the prospects of an apartment - it seems it may be more than I want to deal with at this date and for this short trip. Possibly on another excursion. @ Mattboat - Thanks for the tip. I will look into the Hotel Residence Chalgrin. @Diane - Thanks, I was wondering about the different arrondissements and which ones are close to the center of things.
A chacun son gout...Some people like to settle in and feel more permanent, others like living in hotel rooms with service. I don't think, for Paris at least, that it really has much to do with first timers or not, though. There is certainly plenty of assistance, in many languages, for most things a first-time tourist might want...you don't need a hotel staff for that. I'd probably feel different about Shanghai...
Personally, for us, one of the things we DO want to do is find the local markets with different produce, cheese and meat varieties than we have at home, and cook some of our meals. We also love (me) running out early to buy fresh bread and rolls, and then having a leisurely breakfast before starting out.
Doesn't make us better or worse than hotel fans...just different taste. Go with what feels right.
The Arrondisments are numbered with the lower numbers corresponding to the center of the city. There are things on the outskirts that you'll want to see too, but for example the Louve is in #1, The Latin Quarter is in #5, the Marais is #3/4, etc.
