simjay

I'm trying to narrow down my self catering apartment option for a stay in Paris at the end of June 2015. Having never been there before I need some advice please.We have found apartments in the following areas which fit into our budget. Please give me advice which will be the better options. We are a family of 5[kids age 15,12 and 10]

1. Small apartment on Ile St Louis

2. Choice of 2 apartments in Bastille area. One close to Bd Morland and the other closer to Place de la Bastille

3. In St Germain, close to St Michel metro.

4. The Marais close to Hotel de Ville

Hope that all makes sense!

Opinions please. Thanks

rosiecaro

I have stayed near Place de la Bastille, and it is nice, the metro is a good hub, lots to do right there, I could walk from Notre Dame back if I wanted.

TPAYT

IMO, as close to the Seine as possible, especially for a 1st time.

If you give us the websites of the apt.'s we can give better comment on areas.
With info above:
#1--St. Germain
#2-Ile St. Louis

Cathinjoetown

Agree with TPAYT.

DebitNM

#1 - Le Marais - stayed very close to Hotel de Ville on our first 2 trips, perfect location! Easy navigation to everywhere we wanted to go.
#2 - Ile St. Louis - picturesque but small apt with 5, not so much.

A lot depends on other factors ( air conditioning,what floor, , washer/dryer, price etc )...but just on location, the above would be MY vote.

simjay

http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p6099525

http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p192356vb

http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p6130127

http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p6003600

http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p6584969

denisea

#1 - St Germain
#2 - Ilse St Louis

janisj

>>1. Small apartment on Ile St Louis

3. In St Germain, close to St Michel metro.

4. The Marais close to Hotel de Ville<<

Any of these are VERY central and near the river.

I'd personally choose 6099525, it is large and looks comfortable

6003600 & 6584969 are in <u>terrific</u> locations but are much more cramped and I think too small for five people.

simjay

Thanks janisj.

What do you think of this one? Meant to ask about it as well

http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p516123vb

jpie

I haven't looked at all the others but I trust the others' opinions. The location of the last one is excellent too. What time of year will you be visiting?

TPAYT

St. Germain---4th floor walk up??? That will get very tiresome.
Ilse St. Louis---small, but location, location, location!

For us, we avoid Chatalet Metro station. It is so huge that you will walk further underground than if you walked to where you are going on the above streets. So the apt. near there, the Metro would be of no use to us. Just sayin'!

Many opinions, these are ours.

indyhiker

One issue no one has mentioned is air conditioning. By the end of June, you may want it. It doesn't appear that any of the properties you've linked to have it--at least not that I could tell. Now, that's not the end of the world, but I would look at each property with the idea that you'll have to sleep with the windows open. A couple (second and last maybe; I looked at each of these yesterday and can't remember exactly) indicate that they're on a courtyard. At least from a noise perspective with the rooms facing the courtyard, this might be better. I'd also consider heat when it comes to schlepping up multiple flights of stairs. I wouldn't want to climb more than a couple of flights at any time of year, but especially in the summer, I wouldn't. An elevator and/or a lower floor would be my preference (although from a noise and ventilation standpoint, higher might be better so take your pick).

FWIW, I like the looks of that last apartment the most, but it looks like one of your children would have to sleep on the couch. Would that be an issue?

justineparis

Look,, if you get an apartment on a top floor, or on a side of building that gets sun.. you will need ac.. however I had an apartment with no sunlight.. it faced an inner courtyard, it was on the lowest floor.. and had thick stone walls.. and it was ok without ac.. /( but it had a portable one anyways).

An apartment with no elevator and no ac.. forget it. I wouldn't even consider it ( unless it was bottom two floors and got no sunlight)

sanderskn

Assuming these are all the same price, I say Ile St Louis or the Marais. They are both good locations. St Germain is a great location but will be swarming with tourists near the St Michel metro stop that time of year.

KTtravel

Having stayed in Paris a few years ago during a terrible heat wave I would never again choose a place without air conditioning at that time of year.

simjay

Thanks for all the advice. Going to look into everything