plambers

I know it can be hot in May (was there then without ac!). Am looking at 2 great 2 br 2 bath apts in the 7th for next July-ac is about 600 E more. Needed? worth it? btw, it is central air, not just moveable acs. thanks

Judy

I would require it! We usually use Paris Vacation Apartments and they have several with AC....not portable but each room controlled via remote on the wall.

kerouac

They're saying this summer will be hot in Paris. The last two summers were cool 95% of the time. (In other words, there were fewer than 10 "hot" days all summer.) As a Parisian, I say that air conditioning is not a necessity but it is greatly appreciated by people who live with it normally. Since I often stay in rooms cooled only by ceiling fans in places like Bangkok and Saigon, you can disregard my opinion.

Christina

I won't go to Paris in July or August without it any more. I did decades ago but I'm convinced Paris summers are hotter than they used to be. Plus, I make more money now so don't have to rough it as much.

You never can predict, that's the problem. It is possible you may not have hot days when you are there, but I would say the majority of days in July are hot enough that I want it, and I've been there throughout the month. One of the main reasons aside from heat is noise, actually, in the city. And in tight buildings in the city, you really can't get much air movement from a breeze, either. Loud motor scooters are way too common in Paris, also, for my taste. It depends on the exact location and situation of a place for noise issues, of course. I've never been in a place that was that quiet, though, I'll admit. Even one I thought would be (a small street in the 15th) ended up having a small cafe across from it with N African owners who turned on their music at high volume beginning at 8 am, and the neighbors had loud music coming from their windows, also. it was the only business on the entire street, of course, it wasn't even a street you'd expect businesses on.

NeoPatrick

Without AC, the worst issue I had with open windows was the seemingly daily garbage pick up, with much truck noise, rattling and throwing of garbage cans and all the rest. I think it usually started about 4 AM.

plambers

thanks all. I know I cannot predict but know when we were there in May when it was in the 90s it was pretty hard to sleep. it is on rue malar in the 7th so should be pretty quiet.
i lived in nyc for years and had no problem sleeping through the buses, cabs and occasional bagel stores exploding but think i might need a few more creature comforts these days.

plambers

kerouac, we have stayed in the 7th all 5 visits. We love it there bc it is not too touristy or crowded and seems to have families and locals that live there. we have always loved returning to the 7th after a crazy day in the marais, 5th or 6th.

we will trave far and wide to dine os have been to the 11th , 15 th and others. just curious-which areas would you suggest? we will have our kids with us, 12 and 14, for the first time.

nytraveler

there is NO way I would stay in Paris in summer without AC. Have been at least 6 times in the summer and the temps hit the 90s on every one except a 2 days turnaround for a meeting. and still it was about 85.

But only you know how well you deal with heat - I can;t sleep if the temp is more than 72 degrees.

djkbooks

<< it is on rue malar in the 7th so should be pretty quiet>>

Not necessarily. When I stayed one street over, the earsplitting loud motorcycles rode through the neighborhood past midnight and in the early morning hours. Add to that glass collection days.

It is far better to have a/c that dearly wish you did when you do not.

In Paris, nearly no public buildings have effective a/c (museums, shops, department stores, etc.) Those with a/c (even movie theaters) barely take the edge off.

Should there be a spell of hot weather, having effective a/c in your accommodations could not be more welcome.

Dianedancer

Bagel stores exploding in NYC? I've lived here all my life and I've yet to encounter an exoloding bagel store.

Dukey1

Why would any Paris hotel have installed air conditioning in a city where it isn't necessary?

Sarastro

<i>Why would any Paris hotel have installed air conditioning in a city where it isn't necessary?</i>

For foreigners who think it is.

pariswat

Ker and Sarastro summarized it :
If you are French you don't need an AC, which is considered luxurious and bad for environment for a lot of us.
If you are US and used to it, you need it.
Basically if you ask yourself 'would I need AC' the answer is : YES.
I don't ask myself the question and I need no AC. When I have AC in my hotel room I disconnect it, whatever the heat (in Paris).

tom_mn

Stayed in the 4th the first week of last August and did not need or miss AC despite limited air circulation. Everything was quiet with the windows open, except could hear the hooves of the horses of some military guard much of the day so that was a benfit of no AC. I do think that August is a quiet month to visit Paris.

Caveat: we do not turn on the AC at home unless the bedroom temperatures exceed 80F (27C) at 10 pm.

plambers

dianedancer, we lived on e 86th st years ago and the bagelry on york exploded!

kerouac

In terms of trash pick up times and the noise, about 30 years ago, trash was picked up all over Paris at around the same time: 6-7 am. Clearly this was not very cost effective, so trash is picked up at different times in different areas from 6am to 10pm. The glass bins are generally emptied in the middle of the day, when the horrible crashing sound is just one more annoyance.

Unfortunately for people who stay in the center of the city, they have the earliest trash pick up because of all of the restaurants. The restaurants need their huge amount of trash to be disposed of as early as possible for both hygenic and aesthetic reasons. Since most places don't have a back alley, customers would not really be thrilled about going to a restaurant with all of yesterday's rubbish sitting in bins right in front of the door. So all of that stuff is disposed of before opening hours. If you want to be in the center, you will hear trash collection at dawn.

In my area, the street behind my building has its trash picked up at 7pm and my own street has the trash picked up at 9pm, so the noise is not a problem -- nor are open windows.

Ackislander

I think an elevator is more important than A/C, but then it isn't July yet.

We had high 80's and low 90's last week and didn't need it because of cool nights and because heat doesn't build up in two days.

It is going to be warm and -- worse -- humid until Sunday, so my opinion may change. We also have the Canal across the street and a small park (tot lot) behind us to relieve the heat island effect?

If it is not a lot more expensive, go for it, but don't expect Florida or Texas chill.

But elevator above all.

plambers

Ackilsnder, there is no elevator. it is 3rd floor. I think elevator will only be an issue on moving in and out day w luggage.
here is apt.
http://www.vrbo.com/86676

we love the 7th bc it is quite residential and never overly crowded. it is like the upper east side to me. we rarely eat in the 7th though-we use meal time to explore new areas.

plambers

it is 3 flights up, 15 steps per floor.

Dianedancer

Paris is hot in the summer. Or don't people remember that especially hot summer where the grannies were left in their apartments to die while the children went off to play on their August vacations?