Whether it is your first visit to France, or the French capital is already home from home, choosing the right place to stay can make all the difference to your Paris vacation. So what should you consider when choosing from the diverse range of available Paris accommodation ?

The first aspect to consider is, as always, location, location, location! With so much to see and do during your Paris vacation, accommodation which is close to the heart of the action will make a huge difference to your enjoyment. If you have time before you go, use a guidebook to plan an outline itinerary of the key sights you would like to take in. Many of these are likely to be in the central Paris districts (or arrondissements) and so it makes sense to look to stay nearby, or at least in an area with direct transport links by Metro to where you will want to be. Think about your evenings too. After a busy day of sightseeing, you’ll probably want to be able to stroll safely to nearby restaurants and bars.

You may feel that central Paris accommodation is financially out of reach. However, there are ways to make your Paris vacation more affordable. If you are coming to the city alone, centrally-located youth hostels can offer a cost-effective option, with dormitories coming in around 30 euros per night and single rooms from around 50 euros. Check websites such as hostelworld.com or hostelbookers.com for locations and availability.

For couples or larger parties, renting a holiday flat in Paris can work out as an attractive and cost-effective alternative to traditional hotel accommodation. Many Paris holiday apartments are located in attractive residential streets in central arrondissements and are often air-conditioned, furnished to a high standard and serviced with linen and towels. Apartments will also usually include a kitchen, laundry facilities and TV/telephone/internet connections and, although, some Paris apartment rentals are available only on a weekly basis, many owners now offer flexible packages for shorter or longer stays.

Staying in apartment accommodation in Paris not only gives a taste of what it would be like to live in the city, with early morning trips to the local boulangerie and late evening alfresco drinks just a stone’s throw away from your front door, but can also offer friends and family the chance to spend time together as a group, sharing experiences over a quiet meal or drink at ‘home’. Moreover, renting a Paris holiday flat will generally cost much less than it would to stay in several adjacent hotel rooms. You can also save by preparing simple meals yourself and by avoiding potentially expensive hotel service charges for calls, films or laundry.

Further details about holiday flats in Paris can be found at generalist sites such as Owners Abroad or VFB or through specialist Paris operators such as Pad-a-terre (http://www.pad-a-terre.com).

View all James Burgess's articles

---

About the Author:
Paris holiday apartments to spend your vacation at Paris, at Pad-a-Terre, availing the benefits of the best Paris accommodation .

More Vacations articles