Various possibilities

Renting apartments is an option that's becoming popular and is also more and more appealing.  Apartments may be found in the city or in the countryside, in the mountains near winter sports or not far from the beach, and the type of accommodation is quite varied.

Apartment residences are basically large buildings containing a variety of apartment types.  Essentially there are two apartment options: studios, and suites with two or several rooms.  The studio is a large room with an area for sleeping (one or two beds), a kitchenette and dining area, plus a bathroom with toilet. Suites will have several separate rooms, consisting of a living room with a dining area and kitchenette, one or more bedrooms, and a bathroom with or without a separate toilet.

Condos:  this term is an abbreviation of the term "condominiums," which is used in North America to indicate a self-contained housing unit within a building. The owners have a trust company to take the care of renting the apartment for them.  In some cases the condos are marvelously equipped and include as many bathrooms as there are bedrooms.  In the United States, they general contain all the conveniences that Americans have invented to provide every element of comfort, including air conditioning, gigantic refrigerators, garbage disposal, several gadgets, etc.

Villas are houses that also provide access to a garden and sometimes a private swimming pool, in addition to conveniences available in an apartment. Many such villas can be found in the United States, in the Caribbean or in Tuscany (Italy), with the latter often available at astonishingly low off-season rates.  While apartments and condos are usually located in downtown areas, villas tend to be located outside cities.  It is thus a good idea to find if a car or transportation might be a necessity.

Country cottages are not that different from villas, and in theory the distinction one of quality, style and materials used for their construction.  Typically, a country cottage would be built of wood and provide for rudimentary comforts.  There are in fact all types of country cottages, built out of wood or traditional materials and with furnishings that may be very simply or perhaps quite elaborate and comfortable. Facilities and locations may be just as varied as the number of cottages, and very often you'll find them completely surrounded by nature, in wooded areas, at the edge of a lake or in the mountains, out on the trail or in a village.  Country cottages may be enjoyed in any season, just for a quiet stay or as a place to go on vacation with family or friends.

Renting in an apartment residence

Whether through from an apartment chain or a private establishment, an apartment rental usually includes the same general services: Security, with monitored entrances and a reception area.  Comfort, with heating, air conditioning, elevators and televisions.  Cleanliness, with cleaning and/or sanitary disinfecting between each rental. Fax and telephone services, including reception and sending.  Certain residences provide additional facilities, including swimming pools, playgrounds, sports areas, libraries, shops, animation, etc.

Some residences offer hotel services for their rentals (i.e. beds made upon arrival, linen changes and cleaning every day) or residence services (weekly linen changes and cleaning).

Day of arrival

It is important to know whether you can arrive on any day or if a specific day is set by the residence.  In the latter case rentals are generally from Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday.

Don't be surprised if apartments that are free the day you arrive are more expensive than others.  Those that fix the day of arrival can maintain more control over their level of occupancy, thus remaining 100% full in season, with one client arriving just after another has left.  Those residences allowing free arrivals cannot maintain the same level of profitability.  For example, if they accept your reservation for Wednesday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 12, they would have to refuse a customer who wanted to rent from Saturday, May 1^st to Saturday, May 8.  It is thus normal that this residence might charge higher rates.

Advantages

Among the advantages of renting an apartment, we should first mention that you can save quite a bit of money.  If you have a family with children or are travelling with friends, renting an apartment with several rooms will cost much less than renting several rooms in a hotel.  Thus, an apartment in Cannes capable of sleeping 5 persons would rent for US$ 315 per week, in October.  This means US$ 45 per day, or US$ 9 per person.

You can also save a great deal of money by preparing your own meals, especially in Europe.  Grocers are numerous and markets sell an abundant supply of wonderful products, at relatively inexpensive prices.  The situation is quite different in restaurants, where prices are higher and they can bite quite a chunk out of your holiday budget, especially if you have to eat there morning, noon and evening.

The other advantage to renting is that you're in surroundings that are much more friendly and family-like, and thus more pleasant that in a hotel.  You get your own key and you can feel at home.  If you rent directly from the owner (as in Tuscany where the owner generally lives nearby) or if you exchange houses, you get to meet people from the country, and you'll also get to see and understand how they live.

You may not be at all interested in preparing your own meals, or attracted to the idea doing your own housework, as you do at home.  You then might want to choose the guesthouse option?