We are looking to travel to Paris from Australia later in the year, and with so much to see (it is my first time) I was hoping for some suggested itineraries.

We love to look at architecture as well as natural scenery and I am a keen photographer.

We would also like to feel immersed in the culture and to experience the 'real' Paris.
We like to keep busy, and are not bothered by what may seem a 'hectic' itinerary.

Any advice on reasonable accommodation would be great, particularly if it was self contained. We would prefer to stay somewhere with a lot of character, but would want good quality accommodation.
Thank you, Lissa

The immersion is almost impossible to pull off unless you are fluent in French. And even then... But don't let that deter you from enjoying everything that will be different from the ways you are used to go about things.

Two hotels I have liked and that are reasonably priced, near restaurants and shops and Métro stations (nothing in the inner Paris, meaning within the boundaries of the former city walls, now the périphérique ring road with all the "Portes" is further than, say, a ten-minute walk from a Métro stop, but these two are each adjacent to one):
Hotel Innova on Blvd Pasteur,
www.innova-paris-hotel.com
and Hotel Terminus Porte d'Orléans
http://www.hotel-terminus-orleans-pa...page_en_1.html

As to what to see and where to go - so much has been written and filmed about that, I suggest you get a couple of guide books and some travel DVDs and take notes as you go, and use google, to make your own list.

Learn your way around the wonderfully helpful site
www.ratp.fr - it has more goodies than just maps or timetables.

I don't think it's impossible to feel immersed in Paris if you don't speak French, or get off the pre-digested tourist track. Actually, Paris is one of the easier places to do this, because it's a hopping, hopping modern city, full of commerce and bureaucracy and students and deeply wedded to French custom, so if you get an apartment and settle in and do some shopping and sitting in the park and watching, you're gonna learn a lot. It's only in a few parts of town that tourists outnumber working residents.

I wouldn't stay in a hotel. Rent an apartment. It will be much cheaper. There are some arrondisement -- like the 1st, 4th, 7th and 18th, and some parts of the 6th -- which are more colonized by tourists. I like the 14th for a non-touristy location full of history and life and good eats, but Paris is serviced by an extremely good metro system, so just about anywhere you land can work. It's very hard to find a neighborhood in Paris without character.

People here can help you find an apartment and direct you to good agencies.

I second Zeppole's suggestions. Renting an apartment will save you money and give you more of a feel for the "real" Paris - and you'll have a lot more room to spread out than in a hotel room.

Outside of certain central areas, Paris is filled with Parisians who live and work there. Ideally, you could rent from someone who lives in the same apartment building and who speaks English (I have) to help you with adjusting to life in Paris.

I've stayed in the 14th and enjoyed it - it really felt like I was immersed in the "real" Paris - because I was. While it's a lot of fun to visit the tourist sites, there's something soothing about ending the day in a section of Paris where all you hear is French.

Part of the experience of being in the "real" Paris is not rushing around following a hectic itinerary - sure, there can be a place for that, and French life can be just as rushed as other parts of the world, but IMO part of the "real" Paris experience is people watching from a cafe or watching kids play at a park.

Just writing about it makes me want to go back.

Get a few books about Paris to help you set up your itinerary - as well as books about surrounding areas as there are plenty of wonderful day trips from Paris. You'll have a humungous choice of options to fill your two weeks.

Have a wonderful trip.

Hi L,

Another vote for renting an apartment for 2 weeks.

You will be able to shop. You'll learn to use the bus. You will get to recognize some people. You'll become regulars at a a cafe or two.

Enter <Paris apartments> in the "search this forum box".

Enjoy your visit.

Renting an apartment is the way to go. My wife and I spent two weeks in Paris in September and the apartment we rented was 80 metres from a bakery, 200 metres from a small supermarket and 100 metres from the Metro. This made for an excellent vacation. To find our apartment, go to VRBO#79965 on Google, but you will find hundreds of others there too.

Thank you all so much for you thoughts. We have decided to definately rent an apartment, now the fun part, choosing one.

Lissa Again, still seven months out from our big trip, I'll probably be a fixture here until then, I find this site so interesting and you soak up so much information.

My BM has his heart set on an apartment on/near Boulevard Saint Michel above a cafe/bar (read... with atmosphere) we want to see the sights but do a fair bit of 'nothing' in our ten days or so.

There are so many apartments out there... I've read all the previous threads, Its great .

We'd like to stay under 100 Euros a night, we'd like atmosphere, we're not really all that concerned with comfort. I'd love to hear of peoples experiences and suggestions, I've found a few places for between 80 and 100 Euros but would love input from someone with experience.

Thanks for the Forum, Lissa

Lissa 2905 - Your last post intrigued me - You want atmosphere, under 100 euros, not too concerned with comfort.
You can stay in sterile semi-comfort at an Ibis Hotel for 49 euros from Fri to Mon, any week.
We like The Ibis La Defense because it is on a slight rise with views towards the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower in the distance. Quiet, no one around, easy metro access.

When the deal comes to an end on Monday morning we take a leisurely metro to the beginnings of Paris.
Yes, Ile De Cite!
The simple but ultra clean rooms at the Hotel Hospitel-Dieu, 1 Parvis Notre Dame, have us ensconsed for three wonderful nights on the island.
Our wonderings between here and Ile St.Louis will I hope, be memorable.
Hotel-Hospitel.com

Lastly, but not least, we take up residence at the Hotel Eldorado!
What adventures lie around the corner in this little enclave?!
Take a peek, maybe you too will be transported to something of a more unusual stay in Paris!
www.eldoradohotel.fr/

www.vacationinparis.com has several studios in the 6th in your price range--availability may be an issue but you might want to check.

Lissa - This is my 11th visit to Paris and todate, I have never repeated any accommodation! Why???
Because Paris is a pulsating, electric, captivating city like no other I have ever experienced! It beckons the traveller to be daring, be adventuress, and live life for all it's worth! Paris has my heart, it breathes life into my being.

Thank you, i've emailed them about availability. It's a long way out, but things book up quick

Lissa, we stayed in the same apartment as almcd - www.vrbo.com/79965 in 2007. It is a great apartment with lots of room and close to so many things - patisseries, grocery store, metro, restaurants, shopping, etc. I highly recommend it.

We also stayed in another apartment in 2008 which was much smaller, but cheaper. It is a studio that has a sofa that makes a bed in the living room. It has a lot of atmosphere, however. We also loved the area - Contrescarpe - such a fun area to stay in and also close to metros, lots of restaurants, etc. A real neighborhood feel. It is closer to your budget. www.mylittlehomeinparis.com

I would recommend either place! Good luck and have a wonderful two weeks in Paris.

Here's a link to my trip report from Sept.'08.

It will tell you about our lovely apt. and some suggestions of sites and restaurants.

Hope you like it.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35157342

There are many more reports to check.