plafield

I'll start this post by saying that yes, I know, in the end the choice will be mine and that everyone values different things, but it helps me to think through and land solidly in my choice by hearing what YOU would choose if faced with this exact choice and also why you would choose it. Here's the story. Forgive all the info but it might be important for you to help. If not, just skip to the last 2 paragraphs.:

This is my 5th time to Paris in 7 years and will be our 3rd apartment rental. I've stayed once in the Latin Quarter, once in Le Marais (right near St Paul metro) and twice in Montparnasse, which was our favorite location. Both times in the Montparnasse area we were very close to good metro options. Sadly, the last apartment we stayed in was not available for our dates when I started looking last June for May 2012 or we would have gone back to it.

After much hunting we decided on this apartment http://www.vrbo.com/78870
because it was spacious and had a real kitchen and was incredibly cheap (572E for 9 nights, all included.) We reasoned that we'd been to Paris many times by now and that it might be fun to stay in a residential neighborhood even if it was a bit of a schlep to the "action." It seems that it's about a 7-10 minute walk to the closest metros (someone please correct this if I'm wrong?!) Convention or Pleasance. The communication with the owners was great, easy and a $200 check was our deposit which they will not cash and will hand back to us when we pay the whole amount in euros/cash the day we arrive. All set.

But as the months passed my husband and I started having second thoughts about being so far out from the city center, and not near any convenient metro (although maybe buses are better options? We don't know the bus system well.) We also started to think about a new modern building in a newish neighborhood that doesn't have that "Paris" feel that we love so much vs an older building in more of a "romantic" Paris setting and we started to regret not going for something more central and spending the extra money.

So I started checking rental sites again about a month ago and of course, by now, there are not many good choices left for May without spending a ton more money. But then yesterday I found a brand new listing that looks pretty great: http://www.vrbo.com/392892 This one is available and will cost 900E total for our 9 nights (plus we'll likely lose our $200 deposit on the first apartment.) So we've figured out that at today's exchange, with everything included, the second apartment will cost us about an extra $500.

So the pros and cons of each apartment as I see them (this is where I'd love to hear from you!!)
http://www.vrbo.com/78870 Pros: cheap,, more spacious, good bakeries and neighborhood restaurants that we're interested in that we wouldn't travel there for if we didn't live near there. CONS: only a double bed, far from the center, modern seemingly dull neighborhood, longish walk to not so convenient metro. Also, this building has an elevator and the other doesn't but we really don't mind the stairs (I don't think!)
http://www.vrbo.com/392892 PROS Queen sized bed, heart of Paris but quiet apartment, close to many metro options, charming building and neighborhood
CONS: More money, less space, 4 flights of stairs.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you'd do and why. BTW, we can afford the $500 but want to feel like it was really worth it to spend that extra money. And, if this apartment had been available in my original search, we would have taken it, no doubts. At that time, all the studios I saw in this price range were really cramped and really ugly with rickety cheap looking furniture, mostly fold out couch beds and no where near as well located.

glennie

I'd absolutely choose the one that's closer to everything, since you say you can afford the $500, and think of the stairs as a way to work off an extra croissant. We always stay in the 6th and love being so close to so many great restaurants, cafes, museums, the river, etc.

bilboburgler

http://www.vrbo.com/78870 looks better the photos are clearer and the bathroom/s look nicer. I don't like the look of the fitments of the other room nor the space around the bed (I think you would end up out of space).

cathies

4 flights of stairs is a lot of stairs. Don't forget they are long flights of stairs compared to those you might have in your own home. I can think of easier ways to walk off my daily croissant. I get that's it's a studio apartment but it is very small! Not for me. I would take the original apartment and incorporate exploring that part of Paris into my holiday.

Hopefully Kerouac will read this thread and offer some thoughts.

theflock

I, too, would take the original apartment. It has gotten great reviews -- including how convenient it is to the bus stop. The other apartment has no reviews at all. You're likely to find better food at more reasonable prices in the 15th than in the 5th.

opaldog

After looking at both apartments and also taking into account the fact that you have been to Paris several times already, I think I would seriously consider staying with your first apartment. You won't be in your apartment all day, you will be out and about in the city. Yes, it would be convenient to be able to pop into your apartment from time to time, but you also will get to know an entirely different neighborhood and feel for Paris. I am moving out of the center for our next trip. We will be up in the 10th on Quai de Valmy. I also notice that the studio, which appears small to me, is on an inner courtyard. I prefer a street view for some people watching. I don't mind the noise of the street. This is my own personal opinion. You of course should do what you feel best with; what you feel will make for the best stay for you.

janisj

I'd choose the first one too. It is twice the size and essentially 1/2 the money when you consider the lost deposit.

The 2nd one is <u>tiny</u> and 4 flights up.

davispeets

Faced with the same choice and given that you have been there 5 times, I would stick with the original plan. That apartment looks great, has good reviews, and has more space. I would view it (1) as an opportunity to see more of Paris (I would like to stay in many different neighborhoods eventually) (2) as opportunity to learn the bus system and (3) learn for future reference if I prefer to be more central or not.

While used to the metro, I took the bus for the first time on my the last trip and it's nice to be above ground without the long hallways and stairways. I had PARIS = Metro so ingrained in my head, I now see that I should have also been using the bus system on many occasions.

I so get agonizing over travel decisions and second guessing myself - but I usually realize in the end that I made a rationale decision in the first place.

Have a fantastic trip!

janisj

Meant to add - the 2nd one will seem even smaller than the listed 250 sq ft. When you takeout at least 35 sq ft for the bathroom, the rest of the flat is only about 15' X 15' for bed/seating/kitchen

worldinabag

Is air conditioning an issue? I don't think these apartments have it.

Christina

I never stay in the center of Paris, and prefer more residential neighborhoods. I also often stay in Montparnasse, but also around the Gobelins area and the 15th. But not in that location. Plaisance is a nice area, there is an art film house I like there (l'Entrepot). However, I am not sure I would choose that location, although you'll get by.

It was hard to figure out where it even was, there was no address listed that I could find. I found it suspicious that one review claimed the metro was only a few minutes and others said 10-15 min. 15 min. is a long way from a metro stop by my standards on vacation. Then I found one review that said where it was, rue Charles Weiss. Since you've been to Paris so much, you must have maps and a bus and metro map, etc., so you can decide for yourself. But that is probably around 6 blocks from Plaisance and farther from Convention (I do find the Convention area generally convenient, I shop on that street and go to cafes). However, the railroad tracks run down there from gare Montparnasse and I'm not clear on how you cross the tracks (I'm sure you can, but I don't know if this is a nice street to walk along or a major thoroughfare or what kind of overpass there is).

IN any case, the killer for me would be the nearby bus (no. 95) does not run at night, it ends at 9 pm. And on Sat and Sunday it only runs until 9 pm (and doesn't start until 9). I would not stay in a neighborhood on my vacation that is that difficult to get to late at night, but I travel alone, and want to go home sometimes after 9 pm, of course. There is another bus, the 62 that runs east-west along rue de la Convention which is convenient, and then continues on Alesia (I take that sometimes and go to metro Alesia or Tolbiac. However, that bus also does not run at night, same hours as the other.

I routinely rent apts with 3 flights of stairs, that is nothing to me, so that wouldn't bother me (the 4 flights). I do not usually go into and out of the place I'm staying on vacation during the day, however. Of course you can't be doing that in the one down below rue de Vouille in the 15th. I prefer the location of the 5th, but that is a small apt, that's for sure. I wouldn't have any issue but for 2 people, it will be tight.

So I think you know the issues. You can check the bus schedules, but I think I read them correctly and no bus runs at night down there. So if that distance from Plaisance metro isn't an issue for you, then you mainly have the apt to go by. Just don't count on buses unless you never stay out past 9 pm, of course, then that really doesn't matter at all. If the apt is mainly just a big hotel room to you, that that studio isn't really so bad (I mean it is bigger than a hotel room if you don't plan to be spending a lot of time in it, anyway). I never cook meals on vacation in an apt myself, just use the frig for cheese and wine and make coffee, but others do.

I might keep looking.

Christina

sorry, I made a typo and meant those buses only run until 5 pm on Sat-Sun.

zeppole

Neither my husband or I would want a double bed for a week, so that would cancel it for me right there. I wouldn't mind the 4 flights of stairs, but I would mind the long-ish walk to and from the one metro stop, especially if the weather wasn't nice. I sometimes like to pop back into my apartment during the day, especially if I've been grocery shopping.

If the point of this trip is to experience another side of Paris, and only sometimes sightsee in the center, then this is another side of Paris! If the point of returning to Paris is to be in the heart of Paris, find an apartment in the heart of Paris. (Don't make your decision on the basis of exchange rates. You either can afford it or you can't.)

adrienne

I would keep your original apartment since it's a 1 bedroom and the other is only a studio. You'll have more room.

What I really didn't like about the second apartment is that there is no table; only a counter top with stools. There's no place to spread out your books, maps, and papers and make plans or to set up a laptop. And I really hate to eat facing a wall.

plafield

Everyone makes good points and it's still a tough choice. Finding that buses don't run after 9;00 (or 5 on weekends) is a new twist thrown in against the first apartment. I did see on the map that we have to cross the main RR tracks to walk to Plaisance and I want to get a better idea of what that walk really is like so I've asked this question in another thread.

I also hate that there's no table in the second apartment although it's true that we've stayed in hotel rooms with no table and having a queen bed as opposed to a double would be better too. Argh!! Such a hard decision!!

The point of the trip is to be back in the city that we are totally in love with. The last 2 trips we've spent a lot of time exploring areas out of the center (including the Convention area) but always return to the center for the architecture, ambiance and thrilling feel of Paris.

adrienne

With all the money you'll save with the 1st apartment you can certainly afford to take taxis back at night and not depend on public transport. You are willing to pay an additional $500 for the second apartment but not willing to spend E10/night on taxi fare?

janisj

adrienne made the point I was thinking . . .you can afford to eat $500 but are worried about buses?

Also see my post on your other thread. The street/walkway passes under the elevated train tracks. You definitely won't be 'crossing' them.

opaldog

I have read the answers posted after mine and it seems you are still very torn about the two apartments. I would look for a 3rd or 4th choice. There are so many apartments for rent in Paris. Keep looking. Just quickly looking at the vrbo website I found several appropriate apartments with availability in May.

Cathinjoetown

I would stick with your first choice, it's an incredible price. If the bed is too narrow, there is a convertible one of you could use, not very romantic, I know.

But, my main reason is that I would not lose/spend an additional $500 for a small 4-flight walkup studio.

One of my best stays was two weeks in a flat in the lower 14th, about 10 min walk to Port d'Orleans metro. It had such a great neighborhood feel with everything we wanted within easy walking distance, one or two streets at most from the flat. The bus stop was right out the door. I have learned to love the buses, think you will as well. The routes make sense after awhile.

At night, we took the metro or a taxi back.

plafield

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful replies. The taxi comment was particularly helpful. We've never taken taxis in Paris and always walked or used the metro and very occasionally the bus, but it's quite true that with the money we're saving we can easily feel fine about springing for a taxi if we find it's late in the evening and we don't feel like a walk.

As per the bed I've realized that different ads for apartments use different terms for the beds and we've always asked the actual size, which is then given in cm. By going back and re-reading emails from the last apartment we rented, which listed the bed as a "French Queen" when asked they said: "The bed is 140cm wide vs an American queen, which is 154 cm." This bed was perfectly comfortable for my husband and myself. The new apartment in 15th advertises a "double bed" but when I emailed them to ask the actual measurements of the bed they said: "Re bed size: bed is a standard European double : width 140 cm by length 190 cm...not, I am afraid, a queen but a normal European double..." So I now realize that the bed size is exactly the same (assuming they measured correctly)just being called different things. What do folks think about that?

I finally figured out how to use google maps to actually walk the streets and while the walk to Pleasance Metro isn't particularly scenic, it looks fine and will take about 7 minutes, close to 5 if we walk briskly. Not too bad. And we will learn to use that bus that's practically right at the apartment, although I can't seem to find a bus map online that shows all the stops and/or overlays the bus lines on the actual streets. Nor can I find any real clear information about exactly which buses run when, but I'm sure we can figure that out.

I am continuing to look a bit but right now we're leaning toward keeping the original apartment and having an adventure. But please feel free to keep the comments coming. Also, how is walking late at night throughout the 15th in terms of safety? There are a number of restaurants we're interested in trying that look to be 1/2 hour walks or so out in the boonies of the 15th that we'd probably walk home from around midnight if we thought it was safe. What do people think? I'll post this question on my other thread as well.