Basic accommodation vs something nice

[repfi]

Looking at going away for a week in the sun in the south of France.

I want to stay in a specific small area so there are not many options left for the summer.

Option 1: A basic studio apartment. No swimming pool. Self catering. It's pretty reasonable so we could afford to splash out on nicer meals.

Option 2: A fancy B&B in a small French manor, run by an older couple. Beautiful gardens and swimming pool but rooms nice but not outstanding. Almost twice the cost of Option 1. We would need to watch where we eat out.

Do you have kids? If so I’d say a pool is invaluable. Unless you plan to be at the beach most days. Even so, you’d save some of the extra cost by staying home some of the time and splashing in the pool instead.

If just adults… hmm depends. I might pick the studio and splash on nicer meals out. Although I’d want to be able to swim in the sea or a local pool occasionally.

Do they both have a/c??

Also just check the pool rules… some bnbs have rules hidden away that you can only use the pool every third Tuesday morning… or that kids aren’t allowed.

Personally I would never stay at a B+B for a weeks holiday. I'm afraid I would feel far too "watched" and on best behaviour lest Madame catch me doing something that was forbidden in the rule book!

Studio apartment every time. Freedom and possibly a little balcony that you can sit on, or maybe it's near a square in a village/town where it's easy to wander.

I value privacy and independence much more than fancy curtains and a four poster bed in a manor house

Depends if you like swimming/are near a beach.

I absolutely hate staying in a B&B or guest house where the owners are in the property.

Has option 1 got air conditioning? Absolutely essential atm. Are you going with kids and how old are they? Also, where in the south - near the coast or a big city?

I'd hate a shared pool anywhere regardless of the standard of accommodation.

Guest house where the owners are elderly and leaving in? I’d rather live on the streets ….

Depends on what you want from the holiday.

Sun tan and splash the day away go with the B&B

Out and about doing stuff do with the basic option once it has good reviews for being clean and quiet at night.

But I am assuming you picked the location for what you want to do?

If so I would always pick clean and cheap bed and spend on the days out.

Plus the fridge / kitchen gives you the option to eat at home morning or night and is a private space during the day if you want a quiet lunch and snooze to avoid the heat.

Thanks all. In the end, we went with 5 nights in the studio when we can do our exploring of the local sights, and then 2 nights relaxing in the B&B before our flight home.

Wouldn’t do either. Studio basic and no pool - miserable in the heat. B&b - not practical for a full holiday.

change plans to a location with more than 2 options, and arrange to go back to this place another time.