I like hotels especially if it has a nice breakfast which can last us through lunch on a busy day sightseeing.
We like hotels for concierge assistance and a fitness center is nice.
The hotels we chose in Stockholm and Berlin had fitness centers.
All 3 hotels had inclusive breakfast buffets which we really enjoyed. Not having to leave the hotel and eating a large breakfast allowed us to have small lunches or snacks (fikas) and then a nice leisurely dinner.
The Berlin hotel had laundry facilities which we like mid-trip.
On a previous trip, London, Paris and Barcelona, we rented a small, centrally located apartment for our middle stop, Paris…specially for the washer and dryer. On that trip (again, about 5 days per city) we traveled with 2 carry-ons per person (Osprey and a tote bag or backpack) …no checked luggage. This time each of us had one large checked bag and one carry-on. Personally, I preferred checking the luggage.
The one time we went to Europe we stayed mostly at Pensiones and were nearly always on the top floor with no elevator. We would not be able to schlep our stuff to the top floor now, decades later. The luggage alone would be OK–just manageable, but with my luggable oxygen, it would be too much.
^ We were on the 5th floor with no elevator. We were able to get the luggage up and down but it was not easy.
I prefer hotels, too, but we often rented apartments when we traveled with our daughter… Triple rooms are often just too crowded, and an apartment cost about the same.
I also enjoy meeting other travelers in the hotel and at breakfast, or in the bar, and that doesn’t happen when renting an apartment.
I’m looking forward to staying in a hotel again for our next trip.