Choosing between 2 apartments in Marais area...Help!

As far as location goes, I would choose the Rue du Bourg Tibourg. The apartment on rue des vertus looks much nicer furnishing and decorating wise. Have you looked at the website www.vacationinparis.com? We have used them and really loved the apartment #115 on rue des ormesson facing a beautiful little square marche ste. catherine. The location was great. It was one block up from rue ste. antoine and very near place des vosges and St. Paul metro. I have also used rentparis and they are reliable.

The second one's more "stylish" looking, but the first one (Paris Attitude) looks a little bigger. It's not much bigger -- 27 sq m versus 25 sq m, but it seems like the Rent Paris apartment is one big room with the sitting area and bedroom together, while the Paris Attitude has a separate bedroom area. I like having a little bit of space. The other reason I like the Paris Attitude one a little better is the metro stop. I don't know either of the streets that either apartment is on, but based on the Metro stop, I'd pick the Paris Attitude apartment as having a little bit of a better location. The Hotel de Ville is closer to the Latin Quarter area (one of my favorite parts of Paris) than the Republique stop. When I lived in Paris (20 years ago, so take this for what it's worth), the Republique area/metro stop wasn't the greatest section of town. The only other thing I'd mention is that the second place (Rent Paris) has an Internet connection. Is that important to you? If not, or if you're flexible, many Paris Starbucks have internet access for a fee. Bon voyage!!

I prefer the location of the ParisAttitude as well. But, where are the comfy chairs? A tad spartan isn't it? Has your friend limited you that that sort of budget? Is she traveling by herself - would a more pleasant studio work?

I am not crazy about either, to be honest, but I think I prefer the one on rue des Vertus. I would just be cautious about your friend's expectations, as they seem a little high since they want you to find an "ideal" apartment. Are they aware how small these are? Really, I think they should choose so they take responsibility for the choice. I know they can't know the location, but for the room and price, they should choose.

I don't like the looks of the Paris Attitude one, I think it is weird. All that wood paneling and the new modern white doors. Also, the sizes of the rooms are misleading, I couldn't figure it out at first. They claim the LR is 10 m2, the kitchen 10 m2 and the bedroom 12 m2. That totals to 32 m2 but they state the size of the apt. at only 27 m2. I finally figured out that since the LR and kitchen are just in the same room, they repeated that size twice and that one room (LR and kitchen) is 10 m2, BR 12 and then probably a bit for a bathroom and you get 27 m2. They say it has wall-to-wall carpet but none is there. ON the other hand, the bedroom chairs and setup look a little better than the other. It's hard to tell, I can't tell if there are any lights in the other one.

The second one isn't near the Republique metro -- well, it isn't too far, but the closest metro stop you'd be using is the Arts et Metier. It's also very near Square du Temple which is a park I like, and it's very near the Musee and conservatory des Arts et Metiers, of course.

The one on rue des Vertus says it overlooks a courtyard and the other one has a bedroom that overlooks the street, so in summer it could be noisier for sleeping as they'll probably have the windows open. It's about 100 euro a week more expensive, though, so if they really can't decide and think they are equal, that might be important to them.

I think both locations are basically fine, though, and relatively convenient. It is true the one in the Marais is closer to the Louvre, etc., and even a main dept. store, and the Latin Quarter, if they would like to walk places a lot.

Ozgirl07 - be sure to search for marais apartments on this site as there have been some wonderful and reasonably priced ones discussed. Fishee found a great one in December at an incredible price.

I found one I loved on VRBO so you may want to search there. I did find it listed with an agency for quite a bit more so the direct route can save money.

If it were me, I wouldn't select either one. I'd keep looking.

ozgirl i have just booked this apartment for april www.myparisdream.com check it out the owners are from California and have not long bought this as the website says its their paris dream. I have been so impressed with the communication from this couple I did not hesitate to book it. they couldn't be nicer people and I feel so confident that everything will be as they say. fantastic location also look up the street address on google earth. are you from Australia as your screen name implies? i am from South Australia. must be hard doing all this research and your not going! our first time travelling overseas and we are very excited! good luck let us know how you get on and what you choose in the end for your friends.

Thank you all for the feedback. I've passed on to my friend and as suggested left the dscussion in her and her hubby's hands.
Kerry....what a conincidence! I'm indeed from Australia and in Adelaide. Oh and that apartment looks stunning! But it's a bit higher than my friend’s budget. I will definitely be interested in hearing about it when you get back. And no I love the research and I'm making notes fr my next trip! I'm personaly travelling to Canada so I shouldn't complain..LOL. But ah Paris....well I could honestly live there. It's so beautiful!You will have an awesome time. The highlight i my last trip was visiting Giverny and Versaille. Happy travelling mate!!

ozgirl07 we are travelling to Canada also. will be staying with friends near Calgary 20th - 28th April then we fly into Paris. nice to hear from a fellow Aussie, we live in the beautiful Barossa Valley. cheers

We just rented a studio in the Marais on a review we found here. It was only 600 eu for the week & has a nice little balcony. Here's the address: http://www.vrbo.com/28993. Do a search here for the review.

I have been doing some research for a future Paris trip and am considering a stay at one of the lovely flats offered by www.parisbestlodge.com. They have many located in the Marais area. Their prices seem quite reasonable (650-800 euros for one week).

Hi,

Sparks - loved the apartment and contacted the owners ASAP but unfortunately they don't rent in July and Aug.....
But I will keep this one on my notes for my next trip.
Mrs Wilde - Thank you for the suggestion. I've passed the website on to my friend but I think at this stage the place in Rue du Bourg Tibourg is the front runner.

Kerry - wow that's going to be a huge trip but sounds great. Hope you have fun...

Just another Aussie saying hi!
(I'm from one of the other great wine growing regions, the Hunter Valley)

I will also be in Paris from 29 April for a week, and am staying in the marais on rue du Bourg Tibourg.

Mrs Wilde- I am renting the Bourg Tibourg apartment from Paris Bestlodge.
The owner has been wonderful to deal with, and the whole process has been very easy.
This owner and the apartments have a lot of glowing reviews, and my husband and myself are looking forward to our stay here, and our first time in Paris.

www.parisbestlodge.com Here is the website. The apartments do start at 650 euro and go up, so Ozgirl07 they may be too expensive for your friend, but it doesn't hurt to look.

Paris Hideaways also had some apartments in the marais(3rd arrondissement) that looked nice, and they did seem very helpful too.

If you want to look at some of the buildings near the rue du Bourg Tibourg apartment, go to www.parisbestlodge.com , click on Bourg Tibourg apartment, then go to the address and click on the words Bourg Tibourg, and photos of the street and shops will come up.

Hi,

Thanks for the eedback but the search is still on...
Just wanted to ask - what about this one?
http://www.vrbo.com/117217

Can't find much info about the area - Rue St Paul?

Any info or advice about the area?

Thanks,
Ozgirl

I wouldn't call rue St Paul the Marais - it's the other side of rue St Antoine. Well situated for public transport, but a fairly workaday street. Nothing wrong with it, indeed, they are trying to market the idea of "Village St Paul" - there are a number of furniture and antique-y shops there. You can see maps and pictures at www.pagesjaunes.fr

I booked this place in the Marais for Aug.

Check it out;

Bienvenue a Paris.

It is the one on Bourg-Tibourg

Hi,
Thanks Patrick. Had a quick look and seems ok area in pics. Hoping to get a bit of feedback from the fordorites.

Namaka, your apartment looks great! But expensive for me and my friend
Thanks.

Ozgirl07
the my paris dream apartment I mentioned in earlier post, the owners are actually very negotiable with the price if you were interested send email. they reduced our price for 5 nights quite considerably. other friends of ours are going in July and have just booked it also at the great rate we got.

Kaz11
I hope you enjoy your first time visit to Paris like us, we are very excited. I will google earth your address we could end up being close neighbours. might see you in the neighbourhood. we arrive on the 28th April.
Au revoir

Ozgirl07, The apartment looks great! I would keep this on one of my lists for future reference. Only thing I would be concerned about is there is no mention of what floor it is on & whether there is an elevator. That would be a problem for me, but may not matter for you guys. Also, if you don't get much feedback on it here, see if anyone on tripadvisor knows about the area.

that last apartment was 4th floor, no elevator

Well, personally i would not choose either of those two in your OP. i think they both look very weird. For the price they are giving, you could get a nicer hotel imo. I know some people are sold on the apartment rental, but for myself I enjoy the ammenities of even a simple hotel. Easier to book and know for sure what you are getting (or move if you don't like what you find which is not possible with apartments, you're in you're in).

I think this last VRBO on rue St Paul (or near it) is much better, as long as they don't mind the five flights walk.

I think the "village St Paul" is considered part of the Marais as it is called now as a neighborhood by many people, and it is one of the earliest main historic points of the Marais. There was a large cloister of nuns right in that area (and the basilica St Paul) which was built right on the border of the swamp. So I guess since the village St Paul was on the border, not actually IN the swamp (or Marais), it may not be in that sense. I do think the Marais is more officially consider the area north of rue de Rivoli/St Antoine.

However, it is known for the antique shops, and is mentioned a lot as part of the Marais by some--Michelin guides consider it part of the Marais. It's interesting, but I checked with the mayor's office of the 4th, and they don't use the term Marais for any part of the 4th as a quartier name. They consider that part the quartier St Gervais, all the way to the border of the 3rd arr. There are French websites that consider it part of the Marais, also, such as this one:
http://marais.evous.fr
The Hotel de Sens is right near there, which is an interesting example of a civil Medieval building.


Well, that's a sidetrack as I'm just interested in French architectural history and urban planning, but as I said, I think this new one is superior to the first two.

I'm basically in Suze's camp, though, in many ways, although those apts are pretty cheap so you'll get more space in one than a single hotel room, that's for sure. I just think for a first-time visitor to Paris and for a relatively short stay, a hotel is usually preferable in many ways (and a lot easier, and less risky), unless there are kids or a family involved. Especially given this is July and you won't get AC in an apt. But if your friends love the apt. idea, they may have different priorities than I do in accommodations.