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Hi all, I'm looking to book an apartment in Paris. My partner and I will be travelling with our six month old baby (wish us luck!). What neighbourhoods would you recommend? We would like to be in a safe neighborhood that's in either close proximity to sites and nice cafes and restaurants or in a neighborhood that will allow us to travel to the sites easily. If there are particular apartments that you would recommend I welcome those suggestions. Thanks so much. Anid2004
Paris Apartment with Six Month Old Baby - suggestions? Areas?
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Sorry - we don;t do apartments so I don;t have any specific recos - but Ido have a couple of things to think about.
You don;t mention when you will be there - if in the summer be sure to get an apt with AC - most don;t have it.
With an infant, stroller and all the stuff yo uhave with a baby either get a building with an elevator (again many only have stairs) or be sure you are on the ground or first (what we would call the second) floor.
If in decent weather I would also want a place near a playground/park so the baby will be able to get time outdoors without sitting next to a busy street.
I will be there at the end of spring. I think I'd like some ac in case it does get very hot. I dont want an uncomfortable (and fussy!) baby. An elevator is also a must. I also want a one bedroom so we have room for us and all the gear we'll be bringing for the baby.
Reputable apartment websites would also be appreciated.
Thanks!
I can't help with an apartment but have one piece of advice - leave room in your luggage for the darling baby clothes you will see in Paris.
If you do a search above for Paris Apartment you will find ALOT of threads on this so you can likely get a lot of info that way.
Here is one with 432 replies that should get you going with lots of rental websites etc:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/paris-apartment-thread.cfm
We stayed in the Cherche Midi one bedroom from Paris Deluxe apartments with our two kids in October. Ideally we would have rented a two bedroom but it was a last minute booking so we did not have that luxury. I will try sending the link tomorrow, I am having trouble getting it now.
The first (ground) floor is a trade off because it is noisier down there but it is nice to avoid the stairs. This apartment is on the second (European first floor); no elevator. It was a nice apartment and the rental people were lovely. They provided us a pack and play. the apartment was safe for a baby to wander around - nothing breakable - and had a washer and dryer. I would add that to your list of requirements. I think it had AC but we didn't need it.
We have rented a few apartments in France with our kids and generally the French do not let you (or appreciate your) leave a stroller in the common area. We took a very lightweight stroller and just carried it up the stairs with us.
If you like to walk, I would recommend staying as central as possible and walking everywhere with the baby in the stroller. The Metro is misery with a stroller. We took cabs when we couldn't walk and it was money well spent. The taxis do not have carseats and you cannot reasonably bring one around with you on a daily basis (what would you do with it when you are not in the cab) so you have to hold the baby on your lap. I would put the baby in the baby carrier (I often brought a baby bjorn in the stroller basket) and put the seatbelt over us both.
I would highly recommend a good quality lightweight umbrella stroller. We have used a Maclaren on three trips to Europe and around town (boston) and they are great - sturdy, comfortable, lightweight and very compact. A jogging stroller is easier to push but they are too cumbersome for travel both in terms of transport and when you are trying to sit in tiny cafes and shops.
If you have any other baby travel questions, please post and I will respond.
I
I should have added that the apartment is right on the border of the 6e and 7e on rue cherche midi. it was two blocks from Le Bon Marche Epicerie which was great for a few meals in the apartment (and has baby food) and there is a large supermarket with more basic baby supplies - diapers, etc - a few blocks away. We walked to a lot of things but Paris is a big city so you can't cover it all on foot. At least not with a four year old and a baby.
We had great success with Paris Perfect Rental. The apartment was very accommodating and we stayed in the Latin Quarter. The street was Rue de Rivoli and walking distance to Notre Dame, Louvre and Museum de Orsay. Lots of shops, boutiques, cafes, outdoor markets and a small super market. We loved the location and it was down the block from my favorite cafe Bar du Marche.
We really like staying in the 6th Arr. We've been to Paris a couple of times with our daughter(when she was 4 and 6) and found it to be a most convenient location as there were a lot of restaurants in the neighborhood, a real grocery store to get supplies(what we would do is when either my husband or I would wake up first, that person would go to the nearby Champion(supermarket) and get some yogurt, fruit, etc. while the one who is left in the hotel/apt could start preparing and my daughter could sleep in. When she awoke, she would then have a little yogurt or bread(again from the neighborhood bakery), and then finally leave the house, where we can then get a proper breakfast.)
We walked EVERYWHERE from here. It's a very vibrant neighborhood, even at night and we didn't find it noisy at all - lots of nice little boutiques and independent shops, bakeries, restaurants, cafes, even neighborhood laundromats if you need to do that. We stayed in the area close to Rue du Buci, Saint Andres des Artes area. The hotel we stayed at was huge for Paris standards - Villa de la Estrees one time and the Hotel Left Bank another.
Good luck!