For a mid-range apartment in most cities, you will pay about the same per night as for a standard double room in a three or four star hotel, even though the added benefits of privacy, self-catering facilities and more space.

A holiday apartment is a flat in which you tend to your own needs in your own way. It offers you all the modern conveniences of home and kitchen provides you with the leisure to cook or prepare snacks at any time. You can wake up in the morning at your leisure, make your own coffee or tea and lounge around.

You are living in a neighborhood in a foreign country as a part of the local life. You are experiencing the life, culture and economy of the country and people.

Barcelona Apartment rental vs Barcelona Hotel

- You save money renting an apartment. Not many other tourists think of staying in a holiday apartment while the high demand for hotel rooms has pushed up its rates.

- It can be easier to find available accommodation in an apartment during the peak holiday seasons when most of the hotel rooms are booked up.

- You will also be able to find apartments in Barcelona locations that are difficult or too expensive to find a hotel e.g. the beach area.

- When there are more than 2 people in your group you will save even more as the average apartment will cost less than the price of a double room in a hotel.

- Staying in an apartment can work particularly well for families. Instead of all being holed up in one bedroom, as is normally the case in a hotel, adults and children can sleep in separate rooms. Having a sitting-room means that the children have somewhere to play during the day if they get tired of sightseeing. It also means that you have somewhere to relax in the evenings after they have gone to bed.

- You have a landlord to contact if you need assistance.

What's the downside? I guess the downside of staying in an apartment is that you have to be your own concierge, ticket agent and cook.

How to find your apartment

- The internet is full of agencies with detailed information on reserving properties.Guidebooks contain the names and addresses of agencies booking hliday apartments. The government tourist offices also use to have that information.

- Study the area you want to visit and decide where you do not want to stay, e.g. if there is a high-crime area or an expensive area. Check maps to see if the area has ready access to the subway, buses, and train stations. If you plan to rent a car be sure there is parking nearby.

- Make a list of what you need to make yourself comfortable: internet, washing machine, diswasher, dryer.. Remember: The more appliances you need, the more you will have to pay for the apartment.

- Get information on several apartments before making your final decision

If you try it, a stay in a holiday apartment will surely prove to be the best vacation you ever have.