Apt vs Hotel...decisions, decisions

[mtngrl]

I posted an "I'm Back" thread in the general forum this morning. In a nutshell, I loved all the help I got here planning our last trip last summer, then got busy and didn't post. Well, I'm back, lol!

DD (who will be 18) and I are headed back to Paris next June (2009) for a week.

I cannot make a decision. This will be our 3rd trip. Can't decide whether to go with an apt so we have more room and a kitchen or go with a hotel with maid service. Trying to keep it fairly low cost.

Anyway, the pros for me for an apt is the room, having a kitchen...although we won't cook but it would be to keep things in the fridge or do take out. But finding a place with twin beds and a/c and with decor that I find appealing (ok, yes I am totally superficial and admit it!) is tough.

The pros for a hotel are that I really do like the maid service. I love coming back and having the room cleaned and made up and fresh towels. And I like getting suggestions from the staff for nearby restaurants and such, and having them arrange a shuttle back to the airport.

Ok, after reading this, I realize I sound like a total primadonna, but hey, it IS vacation and I want to be pampered a bit

Anything I am missing or overlooking here?

BTW, one hotel that I really, really like the looks of is the Hotel Beaubourg, so that gives you an idea of what I like. Although I was first looking in the 5th or 6th.

Last summer we stayed at both the Muguet and the Britannique. Loved both, but want some variety this time and a different area.

[ray]

Going by what you said in your post maybe a hotel is the right choice for you.
It isn't for me, as I like that feeling of coming home an apartment gives, (so I can imagine I'm a local even if it's just for a week.)

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Personally, I would always get an apartment (and depending on your budget, there are some with optional maid service for an additional fee). But if you're going to get a hotel, you might take a look at the Henri IV Rive Gauche (on rue Jacob), and see whether you can get a triple room. If so (I think there are two or three of them), you would have lots of room for two people, plus (at least based on the one we had, on the top floor) you would have a view of the ET and St Severin church, and a large (by Paris standards) bathroom as well. It really was a very comfortable room, significantly larger than a normal double room. It also is very well located, just a few minutes walk from bd St Germain, Notre Dame, Ile St Louis, etc.

[mtngrl]

Ray--I know, I think an apt would be nice for that. But since we have not done an apt yet, I think I am a bit intimidated by it as well.

Becky--That hotel looks great, but the price is a bit high for this trip. I promised DH that we would not spend as much as last summer, lol!

Maybe this will help me narrow it down. If I can decide which area I like better...the Marais or the 5th/6th. Can you all share your opinions on those, or if certain areas in each you would avoid...that sort of thing. Since this is just DD and myself, we don't want to be walking down too quiet of streets at night, but I am used to cities so am not a nervous nellie either.

[Jody]

ust a small correction, Henri IV Rive Gauche is not on rue Jacob, but on rue St Jacques.

I know the trepidation you are feeling. This Nov is the first time we'll be renting an apt. and I'm hoping having the extra room will make up for the maid service.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

. . . I knew that! Sorry, I get those "J" streets mixed up sometimes (rue Jacob is the continuation of rue de l'Universite, and ends at rue de Seine - and is the location of my favorite shop for oil and pepper and other spices).

[mtngrl]

Thanks demarais:)

I found this place and really like it! I sent off an inquiry. Does anyone have any firsthand info on this apt, or any comments?

www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_125.htm

[Jody]

mtngirl..I have their St Andre des Arts apy rented for November. i LOVE THE AREA, AND IT'S CLOEST TO SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES S, so I'll let you know how it goes!''The main reason I liked them was I could pay in US dollars on a credit card and get FF miles!!!And they send you the key so no worries about meeting up with their agent.

[mtngrl]

demarais--Yes, I like that too about VIP. Making it easy for us apt newbies (or just clueless people like myself,lol) is huge! Although, if I do book this apt, I will fret about my decision for months. Pathetic, yes...

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

That apartment looks lovely!

[suzanne]

That apartment looks really nice. I have rented from them a few times and was happy with what we got for the money we spent. They are super easy to deal with too.

To be honest I could be happy in either a hotel or an an apartment as long as it is in Paris. I prefer the apartment though. Nice to have freshly brewed coffee as I get ready to go out in the morning. Sometimes we like to take a little "nap' in the afternoon. No need to worry about the maids barging in as they have been known to do.

It only takes a few seconds to make up your bed in the morning. If I have a washing machine I just throw the towels in right before we go out and they are done when we come back. I rarely do much cooking so the keeping the kitchen clean is no biggie.

[Shoesy]

What a coincidence! Gitte showed me the link to that St. Honore apt. last month in an attempt to try to convince me that renting an apt. is better than paying more money for a tiny hotel room. I still think my hubby and I would feel more comfortable in a hotel.

[mtngrl]

Suzanne--I am good about making the bed as soon as I get out, but DD is definitely not good at that. She will get the loft where I don't have to see it, lol! But I would love to have fluffy towels each day. Might just need to toss them in the dryer each day.

Shoesy--Well, if we get this apt and you are there when we are, you can come check it out!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Psssttt - Shoesy - I saw on the VIP web site that it's possible to get maid service at an apartment, if that's what you would miss about not being in a hotel Seriously, I think if you tried an apartment you would never go back, because it's just so nice to "play house" in Paris!

[Happygoin]

mtngirl, I love that apartment. Those tall windows letting in all that Paris light! Gorgeous!

I really wish I could help you lay your fears to rest about the apartment so you can enjoy planning your trip. VIP gets high marks for reliability. I've used them four or five times, all with really good results.

[Shoesy]

Becky - It's not the maid service that I would miss in an apt., and aside from that, I would only want to eat out so having my own kitchen is of no importance to me. Furthermore, I'm very conservative and cautious by nature (my hubby is as well), and I would be afraid of encountering a problem, perhaps electrical or even a flood , which I wouldn't want to have to deal with in a foreign country. Obviously, in a hotel such problems would be taken care of by the staff.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Shoesy, a good apartment agency (perhaps less so, an individual owner as in VRBO) would do exactly the same for you in the event of an emergency. I don't know whether the price range would put you off, but I can say with completely certainty that if you rented from Guest Apartment Services or a similar company there would simply be no issue like that. (I think the same is also true of Vacation in Paris but they aren't so high end and "luxury oriented", and they don't have their own office right in Paris.) Well, never mind - if the collective good experiences of this group's apartment dwellers doesn't convince you to give it a try, then you most likely will be happier continuing to stay in hotels - and if you can't be happy, what's the point? So - no more pushing from this quarter to give it a try! ;D

[luckyluc]

Shoesy, you could also remove some fears by asking the owner, or the agency all the questions that you might have "What should I do if there is a power outage?" What should I do if there is a water break? or any other concerns you might have. In our case the concierge greeting you actually live in the building and she give her cell. number to our clients, so it is the same services you might get at a hotel.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Luc's point is a very good one - in addition to any agency rep that may be in a Paris office, most buildings have a concierge who lives in the building and is available in case of problems.

[mtngrl]

I got the apartment! I am SOOOO excited....YIPPEE!!!!!

All night long this was all I could think of. So I called this morning. Got it!

Shoesy--I have those fears too, but after a camping trip with the kids last week, I know I can deal with anything. DH couldn't go on our planned trip due to work, so I took the kids by myself. We normally backpack, but this time did a campground. Well, one morning at 4 am a bear decided it wanted to feast on the blackberries right next to our tent. Then decided to feast on our food, which was hung to avoid that. Did you know that bears really like hershey bars and marshmallows, but get mad at hamburger buns? Anyway, after having this bear brush the tent, right smack over our heads, and rip bark from a tree about a foot away, I have never been so scared. I coped (and didn't pee myself, lol!) and after that I figure I can handle anything, ROFLMAO!