If you are spending a few weeks in a country with the aim of finding a holiday home, you can do no better than to hire an apartment for the duration of your stay. It is going to be a crazy few weeks in your life as even if you have found the property, there will be so much to arrange such as opening a bank account, sorting out the notaire and visiting the French mortgage broker.
If you are planning to spend more time in the area by buying a second home, an apartment, rather than a hotel or B and B, will give you more of a feel of the area. It will almost be like a trial run of actually living there; so unless you have committed on a property then this may be your last chance to decide if you like the area and can see yourself returning year after year. It also gives you much more flexibility in your arrangements.
You can come and go when you want; you are not on holiday as such, you will be busy so you want to come home to somewhere that is relaxed and welcoming rather than the restrictions of a hotel.
You can also get to know the local supermarkets and traders – you will get a good idea of what amenities are in the local area and the opening times. You will just get more of a feel for the place in your rented apartment.