Hotel rooms in Paris tend to be small and quad rooms are scarce and expensive. For a family or group of friends, an apartment can be not only much more comfortable, but also a better value.

An apartment might also be the right choice for a couple who want the comforts of home. I love to stay in apartments.

Apartment listings abound on the Internet. If you don’t speak French, you may find it faster, easier and safer to deal with an apartment network, such as HomeAway, ApartRental Paris, or Yellowstay.

As you peruse the listings and photos, keep in mind that they will accentuate the positive and downplay the negative (who wouldn’t?). Study the details and camera angles carefully, and if you aren’t certain about what you would be getting, send an e-mail requesting more information.

There are a lot of things to consider, especially if you haven’t rented an apartment in Paris before. Here is a checklist to help narrow down your selection:

• Is there a minimum stay? Some companies have varying requirements for the apartments in their inventory.
• What is the total cost, including any required deposit, service fees, and tax? (The French VAT tax rate is 19.6% at the time of this writing.)
• What are the cancellation and other terms of the rental?
• What is the configuration of the space? Will it accommodate the number of people in your party?
• Is there a separate bedroom or bedrooms, or a sleeping alcove? Are the beds double or single? Mattress and boxspring, or a sofabed/futon?
• Is the apartment air conditioned? (A/C is important if you are visiting during the summer. A fourth floor apartment can get HOT, even if the outdoor temperature is fairly mild.)
• Is it located near some of the sites you plan to visit and/or public transportation? Or, if you are driving (not recommended in Paris), where can you park nearby and how much will it cost?
• What’s the neighborhood like? A street full of restaurants can be noisy at night.
• Is there an elevator, or is it a walk-up? I stayed in a fourth floor walk-up. It was a great apartment, but it would have been a nightmare for someone with bad knees or with toddlers in tow.
• Does the bathroom have a shower, a tub, or both? If you care, find out, don’t assume anything.
• Does the local contact speak English (or another language in which you are fluent), and how available will the contact be during your stay?
• What are the check-in and checkout hours, and what happens if you arrive or depart outside those hours? Also find out the check-in location, it is usually at the renting company’s office.
• Are laundry facilities available? If so, are they in the apartment, or on another floor?
• What amenities are included? TV/cable/DVD, internet (hookup only, or with a computer), refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, local phone, etc.
• Are linens provided? How often?
• Is cleaning included? How often?
• Can you pay by credit card? This may be negotiable. The terms of my rental contract stated that I was required to pay the deposit by credit card and balance in cash on arrival. To avoid having to carry large amounts of cash and to have the weight of the credit card company behind me in the event of any problem, I arranged to pay by credit card a couple of days before we left.

Bottom line - know what you are getting ahead of time. Read the fine print and be a careful consumer, but GO FOR IT. An apartment can provide a mix of comfort and economy not available in a hotel. ■

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Cheryl Lyon relishes living in a house in the woods in rural central New York, but loves to travel elsewhere in the world, especially to places of natural beauty. She also enjoys trips to major cities to “get culture” (not to mention French pastries). Cheryl is a freelance writer specializing in travel and personal development articles, and a life coach for women who want to live what she calls “a winged life.”