Stay near Paris

Old Apr 15th, 2014, 12:39 PM
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Stay near Paris

I will be staying in the outside of Paris for 2 weeks ( June-July) for Business, and I am looking to a better option than a Hotel. It could be an apartment or a B&B. The thing is that I will be working one week in Buc and the other in Rueil- malmaison . I would like if possible to find a place where I can commute by subway any other public transportation to any of these places, that would be clean, reasonable on price, secure and comfortable. Any recommendations? Of course, I am also looking to experience the French culture and to practice my French.. I would really apreciate any help
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 01:34 PM
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I'm not one able to help you very much, not being familiar with either place you will be working, but in general it seems to me it would be better for you to base yourself in Paris. From what I can tell, most transport heads into Paris like spokes on a wheel. Nothing I see would easily connect between Buc and Rueil-Malmaison, other than catching the RER in Versailles, then changing to another RER line to Rueil-Malmaison.

I'll go away now and let someone who actually knows something help you.
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 01:40 PM
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nuke - you're making perfect sense to me.

You'd have the evening activities in Paris. Some sights are open late at least one night and there are cafes to sip an evening wine or coffee. Wandering around looking at the lighted buildings is a wonderful way to end the day.

Since you want to experience French culture and practice your French skills then you're better off in the city rather than in the suburbs where the sidewalks roll up early.

If you have an address for your offices you can look up transportation time and routing and make a more informed decision. Without knowing exactly where your commute will be I don't think anyone can really help you with logistics.

I've been to Malmaison and would much prefer to stay in Paris.
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Old Apr 16th, 2014, 09:35 AM
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Nukesafe has a point: suburbs are not well connected to one another, everything springs from Paris so I am afraid you won't find a place that is convenient for both.

Adrienne is right that there won't be much night life in a suburb but you will definitely have a more authentic French experience in a suburb than in Paris. Paris is a cosmopolitan city used to seeing tourists and foreigners. In the suburbs with no tourism you get a complete different experience with the locals: first they are less likely to speak English and they will be more curious. That being said, Rueil does get international tourists and visitors and many of those western suburbs are full of expats and international schools and French businessmen who travel around the world every week so you will be less of a curiosity there. They are just wealthier, less urbanized (to semi-rural) extensions of Paris in that respect. Quite snooty too

Buc doesn't have any train station from Paris so the week you are there you should definitely stay in or near Buc along a bus line. What is your office's address? The second week I would stay in Rueil-Malmaison itself if you want an urban environment with a little nightlife or Le Vésinet if you prefer a quieter, less urbanized, greener suburb. Croissy-sur-Seine is lovely too with the river banks. Same thing, what is your workplace's address there? Or as suggested before you could stay in Paris itself as Rueil is easily accessible. It depends what type of experience, atmosphere and environment you want.

Here are some B&Bs in Rueil-Malmaison: http://www.rueil-tourisme.com/EN/heb...es_0_2_11.html
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Old Apr 16th, 2014, 01:09 PM
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I just came out of work and really apreciate the comments and advices. I donnot exactly the adresses of the places, I will look for them. Thank you very much!!

I don't want to pass as a Tourist and would love to live those 2 weeks as a local, But if Buc is such of a difficult place to commute, I just can adjust my visit to few days to Buc and the rest to Rueil-Malmaison.

Now, is it hard to commute from Paris to Rueil-Malmaison?like take several busses, metro, etc?
If looking into renting an appartment for these 2 weeks, would you recomend any web-site? and I guess if staying in Paris, I should perhaps stick to the north-west.. any areas you would recomend?

Thank you Again
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Old Apr 16th, 2014, 01:30 PM
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>

I'm enjoying the differing views. When I travel I am so happy to be a tourist without the responsibilities of home. I never want to bring that with me which is what living like a local means.

I don't want to push my views on you but what are you going to do in the evening if you're in the suburbs? If it's anything like the area I live in there would be nothing to do for someone who did not live in the area.

You'll rush home from work to get to the shops before they close, cook dinner, and then what? Some French TV (if your French is good enough), maybe a movie if there are any in VO.

Admittedly, my R-M experience is very limited. I was only there once on a Sunday afternoon in October. Once I exited the RER at La Defense it was another world. I saw perhaps 10 people until I re-entered the RER to return to Paris.

Perhaps I'm just a city girl at heart.
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Old Apr 16th, 2014, 01:39 PM
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You can start with vrbo.com

There have been many apartment rental agencies listed on this forum. Search on Paris apartments and you'll find lots of recommendations.
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Old Apr 16th, 2014, 02:38 PM
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Ange,

Rueil-Malmaison is served by RER A so it's a very easy commute from Paris. If you decided to stay in Paris you would not necessarily want to stay in the north west but you would want to be along RER A or a métro that connects with RER A. Here is a map, RER A is the thick east-west red line: http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

However the Rueil-Malmaison station is located on the northern edge of the town so if you were in another part of town it would not be convenient for you to stay in Paris as you would have to take a bus from the RER station. Rueil has a beautiful, vibrant downtown so in terms of nightlife you would at least find restaurants and cafés to keep you busy in the evening. I suppose that since you are there for work you won't be clubbing till the we hours anyway But you would need to stay near the town center as there are also very quiet and residential neighborhoods although walking along the Seine in Rueil-Malmaison can be a lovely evening activity if the weather is nice. It won't get dark till 11 pm that time of year. The thing is it's impossible to make a decision until you know where in Rueil-Malmaison your workplace will be.

Buc is just a tiny semi-rural place so it will be absolutely dead in the evening but since you cannot commute between Buc and Paris the only way to have night life would be to stay in Versailles.

Once you know your addresses in Buc and Rueil I can help. I am hardly ever on Fodor's but my husband is and he told me there was a thread for me - meaning a thread on the Paris suburbs
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Old Apr 16th, 2014, 02:58 PM
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Oh and as far as evening activities go in Rueil you can also go to the cinema to perfect your French There are two.
The tourist office website that I linked to in my first post may give you other ideas of things to do and see. It also lists apartment rentals.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 09:23 AM
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Hey Guys.. Thank you again. I think that I will be working in Ruel and pass in Buc ( I can dod that . I got the address or area where I will be working from.
It is on Rue Lionel Terray, Rueil-Malmaison.

I am not a party person, but kind of enjoy both world, I work-out. Like to walk, exercise, etc. I am not that trill about going to a Cinema by myself .. but I can see my self walking around either Paris or Ruel. But If I go to Paris one or other day, I don't want to be restrain on what time I need to go back so I don't miss trasportation back.
I am working but once I get out of my office definitively will be looking for a place .. and will look at teh RER line map... Thank you .. thank you .. thank you
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 11:04 AM
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If you won't go to the movies by yourself will you eat dinner in a restaurant or cafe by yourself?

As far as I can see, no one mentioned anything on this thread about being a party person (I guess you mean going to clubs?).

The metro/RER runs late, there are late buses, and taxis.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 12:36 PM
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If you won't be working in Buc for a week then that would solve the problem. Rueil probably has the most beautiful and charming downtown of all the Paris suburbs and the banks of the Seine are very pleasant for walking, jogging or cycling so I think you would be very happy there.

I see your street is in the southern part of town, away from the RER station and places of interest so you would want to stay further north. The town center is just south of Avenue Paul Doumer around the church (Place de l'Eglise). If you could find a place that is north of avenue Paul Doumer you would be within a short walk of the town center, the RER station (so you can go to Paris) and the banks of the Seine. Just across the river is the Maison Fournaise, made famous by Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party and south west are the parks of Napoleon and Josephine's estate (Parc de Bois-Préau) so there are a lot of nice walks to take, weather permitting.

If you go to Paris at night the last RER back to Rueil is around 12:45 so you won't be rushing to catch the last train. After that, night buses N53 and N153 will take over.

As for buses that run through Rueil so you can get to your workplace from other parts of town, here is the map (Rueil is south west on the map). http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orie...ompdf=secteur6

So it seems that the bus lines that go near your workplace are lines 467 and 141 so anything closer to the center along these lines would be great. Line 467 goes north of avenue Paul Doumer to the RER.
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Old Apr 17th, 2014, 03:55 PM
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Excellent advice by FMT2, as usual.

If you want to learn more about what to see and do in and near Rueil-Malmaison you can look at the tourist office website, which is very extensive:

rueil-tourisme.com/EN/vacances--_1041.html

I've written a photo report about exploring Rueil-Malmaison and some of the adjacent western Paris suburbs so if you want to see pictures of the downtown in Rueil and along the river you can have a look:

http://tinyurl.com/2fa3qsf
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Old May 12th, 2014, 05:30 AM
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Hello all,

Thank you for you GREAT advices and Guidance .. I really apreciate it. I was kind of busy at work and coudn't much that much after last week. I decided to stay in Paris and commute to Rueil, and stay around the town after work to go around and enjoy and then go back to Paris at night.
I have a last question if it is not too much to ask.. I have two apartments and I would like some feedback about the areas, and neightborhoods, in terms of if they are safe and good neighborhood to stay. Price whise both are similar.
#1 is on Rue de Levis on the 17th.
#2 is on Marais, right behind the 3rd district's Town Hall.

I am not familiar with the area, but it seems that the #1 is more residential ( and I kind of like it if so), and #1 is closer to Rueil, I looked on the metro web page and it seems about 30 minutes from that place to Ruel, with only one conection.

I know that I was away for long time, and I apologize, some times work get harder... but I really apreciate your advices .. and time .. Bonne journee a tous
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Old May 12th, 2014, 05:41 AM
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Both are excellent locations and safe. Rue de Lévis is an excellent market street and there are lots of bars, restos, cafés etc. all around you. The other location also has everything you need within walking distance and you can also walk to many of the main tourist sites. You should look at the link provided earlier to see how you'd use the buses in Rueil to get from the RER station to your work.
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Old May 12th, 2014, 05:52 AM
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If you give links to the apartments people can comment on them, other than location as it looks like both locations are good (per FMT).
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Old May 12th, 2014, 05:58 AM
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Saint-Germain en-Laye is a lovely French town, and is the terminus for RER-A, only 4 stops from Rueil Malmaison.

I lived in Le Vesinet and Chatou-Croissy for nearly 4 years and loved the area.
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Old May 12th, 2014, 06:01 AM
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Opps .. sorry .. Voila the inks:

#1 http://www.vrbo.com/666837a?utm_sour...irmation#rates
#2 http://funk.nu/caffarelli

#2 is a second option the lady from a different apartment provided as the one that I inquired was already rented. This is her explanation" The flat is on the 6th and last floor of a traditional Parisian building
(sorry, no lift!) and is protected by a coded entrance. It has just been
renovated and is fully furnished and equipped, individually heated by
electric heaters in each room. It is suitable for hosting 2 people.



You enter directly into the living room, which has 2 big double-glazed
windows overlooking a quiet, sunny courtyard. It is equipped with
high-speed Internet access, 80-channel cable TV, DVD, phone for local calls
and stereo. You will find plenty of reading material as well as guidebooks
about the city at your disposal.



The kitchen is open into the living room and is fully equipped with
washer/dryer, real size oven and microwave, stove and refrigerator. You
also have at your disposal a toaster, espresso and filter coffee machines
and blender, as well as a full set of plates, glasses, cutlery and utensils.



The bedroom has a double bed with brand new mattress, feather pillows and a
duvet, all made of organic materials. It has a big closet, fully equipped
with shelves, drawers and hangers for your belongings. Bed linen and towels
are of course provided.



The bathroom has unfortunately only a shower, but natural light comes in
from a big window and is nicely decorated with wooden details. You will
find a hair dryer and first necessity items at your disposal.



I would be welcoming you myself to hand you the keys and explain how
everything works. I will always be at your disposal to give you advice and
information about the city, and help you out should you need anything.



I always ask for payment upon arrival, especially for short stays,
(preferably in cash) as well as for a deposit of 200 €, just in case
anything major goes wrong during your stay (not for a broken glass!). The
deposit will be returned to you the day you check out, when you return the
keys. The rate is 80 €/day (3 nights minimum), 530 €/week"
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Old May 12th, 2014, 06:05 AM
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FMT .. Yes, I looked at the Busses and definitively, it seems that the Green line ( don't remember the Number) passes near the office. Thank you!!!
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Old May 12th, 2014, 06:12 AM
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LancasterLand, thank you for your advice, but I think I will try to stay in Paris, one of the reasons is that I am considering also taking some French Clases after work, and there are a lot of places ( not that expensive) in Paris center, and I am pretty much the one cousting this trip. I wil be working in Tours for 3 weeks .. paid by my company, and I asked my boss If I could stay and work from the Rueil's Office remotely, paid by me, to kind of study and practice my french. and he says yes .. so that is the history behind. BUt Thank you!!!
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