excited_confused

Hi, my family of 4 will be in Paris in May for 5 nights. Most of the agencies I have checked based on recommendations in the Paris apartment forum have a one week minimum. We are looking for a 2 BR apt with a/c with not more than 2 flights of stairs close to the Louvre. The place should be nicely furnished and not too small. Our budget is about 300 euros per night. If anyone has stayed in apts that fits the above requirements (or comes close), I would really appreciate knowing about them..
I have tried Vacations in Paris, there is one I liked ID#164 - Riverbank Two Bedroom -
20 Quai de le Megisserie
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_164.htm
but little over our budget. Any opinions?
The other choice would be to get 2 rooms at the Best Western Paris Louvre Opera (anyone stayed there?) but I think an apartment would be the better way to go if we can find one that fits the bill. Thanks!

Grounded

You are not likely to need AC in Paris in May; this may help you broaden your search a bit.

excited_confused

Thanks, I have read that Paris weather can be unpredictable so thought it would be better to be safe! Though Vacations in Paris did tell me that the a/c may not be on in most apts in May.

tuscanlifeedit

I believe rentparis.com has 5 night rentals. I can't answer for a place that meets your specific requirements, though.

The Louvre is a pretty easy place to get to by bus or Metro. How close do you need to be? There is a Metro stop that basically goes right into the Louvre.

StCirq

I can't imagine needing AC in Paris in May, though I'm a hardy, adaptable soul who will deal with whatever cards are played to me for the most part.

For 300 euro a night you could probably get chambres communicantes in any number of hotels, including the Duquesne-Eiffel, where I have stayed off and on for 20 years.

Why do you need to be near the Louvre? That's not a brilliant area of Paris to be in, IMO, and you can get to it on the métro in a heartbeat from anywhere else in the city.

djkbooks

You will very limited with your stay of only five nights, budget and requirements of 2 bedrooms, near the Louvre, no more than two flights of stairs, and, as noted, a/c.

I'm one who would rather have a/c than wish I had it - but not for May.

You will likely find that you'll need to be far more flexible and expand your search.

I'm wondering why you want to be near the Louvre, as well.

When staying in an apartment, necessaries (groceries, appealing cafes, patisseries, traiteurs...) within steps rather than blocks are far more important to me than being close to anything in particular.

Susielou

Try Booking.com and click on apartments in the refine search, or airbnb paris or Way to Stay .They usually have some short stays available. Good luck.

AnilaB

Have you looked at AirB&B? Airbnb.com

It was helpful for me finding a place in Spain with a large amount of people for an non-standard trip length!

qwovadis

booking.com for family rooms and apartments with honest reviews careful many INDIVIDUAL spammers scammers here.
Illegal to rent from an idividual. Franceby.com another good site. ihg.com for hotels intercontinental.com Le Grand from
about 300 euros or Crowne Plaza Republique from 150 euro
or Holiday Inn Notre Dame from 130 euro have all been good for me in the past. This April on hotwire.com snagged Novotel Louvre/Vendome Les Halles for 110/euro per nite it is there "secret" hotel there.A stealof a deal. Apartments of variable quality almost always worse than family hotel rooms
at similar price points so be careful.

Have fun!

DonTopaz

Citadines would be an excellent choice. They were among the first to market "apart'hotels" -- accommodations that combine features of apartments (multiple rooms that allow more than 2 people to stay, in-room kitchen facilties, laundry faciltieis in the building, etc) and hotels (front desks, stays of any length).

Citadines has many locations throughout Paris -- the cost depends very much on whether you want to be centrally-located (such as near the Louvre) or out in the more residential neighborhoods. www.citadines.com.

travel_nana

excited_confused, we have used VRBO and Homeaway in different places all over the world! So far we have had extremely good luck with them. In fact, we are renting 3 different places this year, Paris, Venice and Tuscany area. Can't give you a report on these, as we aren't going til Aug-Oct. Try those two web-sites I'm sure you'll find something to meet your needs and wants! I know we did!!! Happy traveling!

travel_nana

Almost forgot!, We are only staying for 5 nights in Paris also, so you don't need a full week!

opaldog

I have rented many times in Paris and have never needed to stay a week; usually a minimum of 3 nights. I have used rentparis.com; vrbo.com; vacationinparis.com; and a private party.

apersuader65

http://www.parisvacationapartments.c...m-triplex.html

This one should fit your bill. No a/c, but as said above, not likely necessary in May.

Good luck and enjoy!

Carlux

One other comment. If you find a place you like with a one week minimum, it doesn't mean that you have to STAY there for a week, just pay for a week. And depending on the place you choose, it may be less than another charging by the night. It always amuses me when people ask 'can we come for only x no. of days?' Sure, but the rate is the same, as it's often impossible to rent the rest of the time to anyone else. But as I say, this may not be a big issue, depending on the place.

I can't imagine needing air conditioning in May. Give the planet and your budget a boost and look for something without ac.

excited_confused

Hi, thanks for all the replies. Io clarify, when I say near the Louvre, I was thinking of the 1st or 6th Arrondissements or even the 4th, in areas close to the 1st since I have heard good things about the Marais district. I have had several people who have visited Paris tell me that staying near the Louvre is the most convenient location to see Paris & that was the reason for that choice.
I did check out Citadines & some other aparthotels but they usually have 1 BR apts for 4 people, not 2. And the studios mostly have sofa beds.
One apt I did find without a/c is http://www.elegantflatparis.com/ though I haven't figured out which floor it is on yet & it has only one bath. (One and a half would be preferred though that is not a deal breaker. Any opinions?
And keep the suggestions coming please! Is 70 degrees F the highest temp we can expect in Paris in the middle of May? I see the average high is 68 but just want to check what people have experienced. Thanks!

Christina

I guess it depends what is most important to you, being near the Louvre is about the very center of Paris, so I guess it might be most convenient in the sense of some things, but that wouldnt even be the exact center of places most tourists want to see, as tourists usually don't go east of Notre Dame much at all.

In any case, it seems to me that most agencies have a 5 day minimum, not a week (although I've seen a few for a week), so you shouldn't have any problem.

I like that apt at elegantflatparis.com, it looks very nice and is an excellent location for convenience. I thought it was expensive until I saw the size, and that is actually a pretty good rate for a 2BR in that area. It has an elevator, regardless of which floor it is on, not sure what your concern is. If you are worried that if it broke, someone in your party cannot walk more than one flight, you would need to find out that floor. Upper floors are actually preferable in some ways as they can be quieter.

Weather is weather like anywhere, no one can promise you what the highest temp will be, it varies from year to year. If you know what an average is, then if the avg is 68, the odds are it is going to be higher than 70 some days. You don't mean that you must have air conditioning if it is over 70, do you? I never use it until it's at least in the 80s. And if it's 75 in the daytime, it isn't that warm at night when you would be there.

IN any case, www.wunderground.com has historical stats by day, last May, it was over 70 on 14 days of the month, the highest temps were the last two days (78 and 82).

djkbooks

In May, unlike June, July, predicted high temp, if reached that day, will likely be for only a little while in the afternoon. You can expect "average low" temps mornings and evenings. While there could be a short spell (a day or two) of warmer weather (which you would likely appreciate) during your visit, again, only afternoons not morning to night or overnight. A week long heat wave in May is just not likely, or that you'd wish you had a/c mornings and evenings when you're in the apartment.

You might want to highlight your intended destinations during your visit on a one page map of Paris. You could stay near any of them and still be "convenient" to all the others.

For me, it's often well worth the "extra" for a property with everything I want in my preferred location.

bocacpa

Excited_confused. If you think you may need air conditioning, you probably do. My wife and I have been to Paris several times at the end of May, and a/c vs no a/c is a deal killer for us when we are looking at apartments.

In addition to humidity, consider noise, air quality (asthma? allergies?), even flying bugs.

Considering the overall cost of a trip, consider what is important to you and prioritize - for me it would be a/c and how many flights of stairs (if no elevator). There are many great locations - Metro/bus/ even taxi transportation is usually convenient.

Enjoy.
Steve

macdogmom

We have been in Paris in May for the last 4 years and not needed AC. We always stay in the Marais and have used www.parisautrement.com for our last 4 rentals. They also rent less than a week.

Staying here in middle of May -

http://www.parisautrement.com/en/apa.../plein-coeur-1

It is 250 euros a night for 2 bedrooms and a sleeping loft so our kids each have their own space. If you are traveling with more than 2 people, especially families, I don't think you can beat the cost and extra space of an apartment compared to an hotel room. Plus you can eat breakfast there and bring food back for other meals if you are so inclined. We have now rented apartments in France, Italy and Spain and have never had a problem. My only flub was not checking the floor of an apartment we rented last fall in Paris and it turned out to be a fifth floor walkup. A little too much effort after walking all day!