Ratgeber
Holiday apartment or hotel for families
A holiday apartment offers families space and flexible mealtimes, while a hotel takes care of cooking and childcare. Decide according to the children's ages, eating habits and length of stay. Swiss Vibes is a Swiss travel agency with video consultations and compares both options with you.
Von Family, Stand
Schritt für Schritt
- Note the family's daily routine and eating habits
- Decide whether you want to cook on holiday
- Clarify space needs and beds for everyone
- Check the location: beach, shopping, playground
- Compare price differences by season and category
- Check cancellation terms and extra costs
- Weigh up both options with your adviser
Checkliste
- Wish to cook and eating habits clarified
- Beds and cots confirmed
- Kitchen equipment and washing machine checked
- Shopping options nearby checked
- Location in relation to beach and playgrounds known
- Extra costs such as final cleaning clarified
- Cancellation terms checked
- Children's quiet sleeping hours taken into account
Whether a holiday apartment or a hotel suits your family better depends on your everyday life. If you value space, your own mealtimes and flexibility, the apartment is a good fit. If you do not want to cook on holiday and want to use childcare, you are better off in a hotel.
When is the holiday apartment worthwhile?
A holiday apartment gives families space. A living room, a kitchen and often several bedrooms mean the children can go to bed early while the parents can still sit up in the evening. For longer stays this is a real advantage. A living room also lets you receive visitors or invite the grandparents, which is hardly possible in a hotel room.
Self-catering also means flexible mealtimes. Especially with small children who do not want to wait for a buffet, this is relaxing. On Lake Garda, in Istria and on the Algarve, families find a wide choice of flats and apartments.
If you have toddlers, you will also appreciate the kitchen, because milk, baby food and snacks are easy to prepare. A fridge is then no luxury.
When is the hotel the better choice?
A hotel takes cooking, shopping and washing up off your hands. If you really want to switch off on holiday, that is a clear plus. Family hotels additionally offer children's pools, a children's buffet and often childcare. If you do not want to make decisions about menus on holiday, the hotel offers the clearest relief.
For short stays of a few days, the effort of self-catering is usually not worthwhile. On long-haul trips too, a hotel is often the simpler solution.
Large families also benefit from a hotel if there are connecting rooms. Then everyone sleeps close by, and you only have to organise one breakfast.
How do you compare the costs?
We do not give prices, as they vary by season and category. The comparison is still worthwhile if you look at the whole bill. With the apartment, shopping, final cleaning and extra charges are added, with the hotel meals and drinks. For the apartment, also allow for the deposit and check whether it is refunded on departure.
Ask what is included in the price. At hotels with half board, dinners are no longer an issue, while at apartments bed linen or towels may cost extra. Also ask about charges for air conditioning, pool or electricity, which are not included in the base price everywhere.
Which location suits children?
For families, short distances count. A beach, a supermarket and a playground nearby save journeys and nerves. Check whether the accommodation is on a hillside or whether the route is manageable with a pushchair. Also ask about parking or public transport connections, because with children the walk to the car is often a big factor.
Quiet plays a role too. A room on the main road or next to the bar is hard on children who go to bed early.
Ask about the position of the bedrooms. If the children sleep early, the parents need a room to sit in that is not the bedroom.
Is there a middle way?
Yes, aparthotels and resorts with apartments combine both. You have your own kitchen but use the complex's pool, restaurant and in some cases childcare. Especially for stays of several weeks and for large families, this is an option. It can help in particular with children of different ages, because everyone finds their own space.
Get advice by video call. We check your habits with you and compare suitable offers. Consultation takes place exclusively online.
How do you finally decide?
A simple question helps with the decision. Do you want to cook on holiday and have your own routines, or would you rather be served? Answer honestly, because many families underestimate how much shopping and washing up shape the holiday.
Take your length of stay into account. For a long weekend the hotel is worthwhile, while for two weeks by the sea an apartment is often more pleasant because you can settle in. Beyond a certain length, eating in restaurants also becomes a strain for children.
If you are unsure, choose the option where you have more flexibility, and book extras on top. A hotel with a kitchenette or an apartment with breakfast service are examples. In a video call we clarify what is realistic for you.
