7 Different Paris Apartments - First Timer, Need Help Choosing
 

Hey everyone!

First off, I posted this same request hours ago but for some reason it never showed up on the boards. If it ever does, please disregard it. I'll try to delete any duplicate posts if I can.

So, down to the nitty gritty! I'll be staying one full week in Paris with my Mom. I just spent the last few hours poring over Parisian apartments and now my head hurts and I'm suffering from information overload.

Can anyone give me a few ideas on the neighborhoods these places are in, if they are worth the money, which is the best for a first timer in Paris (likely without a vehicle), etc, etc?

I really appreciate your help! Hopefully I can reward you all with a Trip Report when I get back. ;-)


http://vacationinparis.com/apts/id_57.htm
910 dollars/week

http://vacationinparis.com/apts/id_152.htm
875 dollars/week

http://vacationinparis.com/apts/id_146.htm
(on sale) 840 dollars/week

--------------------------

The following come with a 15% discount if we wait until 14 February to book them:

http://www.residences-paris.com/pont...-2nd-floor.php
1,145 dollars/week (900 euros/week)
***973 dollars/week (with discount)

http://www.residences-paris.com/duc-de-savoie.php
763 dollars/week (600 euros/week)
***649 dollars/week (with discount)

http://www.residences-paris.com/louvre.php
763 dollars/week (600 euros/week)
***649 dollars/week (with discount)

http://www.residences-paris.com/richelieu.php
954 dollars/week (750 euros/week)
***811 dollars/week

I only had time to look at the first three. Montmatre is far from things. Numbers 1 and 3 are fine. Happy Travels!

Read the, "Which Apartment Should I Choose?" thread. It's among the first 50 threads. There's a lot of info there that I've written to help out another Fodorite. Happy Travels!

Correction-"Which Apartment Would You Chooes?". Happy Travels!

>>>a first timer in Paris (likely without a vehicle)<<<

Just wanted to point out that you definitely <b> do not </b> need or want a car in a car.

I meant you don't need a car in Paris. But you don't need a car in a car, either.

Smile Darling,

I would recommend you take an apartment in the 1st-6th, the closer to the Seine, the better. That will put you in a convenient location for walking and taking the Metro. I think Montmartre is a little to far out for most first-time visitors.

Then I would take one of the larger apartments you listed. One of the latter four didn't look like it had a separate bedroom, the bed had curtains around it. Another was only 20 sq. meters--that's pretty small. But they all looked fine.

Looking forward to your trip report!

I took a cursorary look at all 7, here are my 2 cents:

#1 (ID#57) - I like it. It's one of the bigger apts (&gt;500 sq ft). It says a Loft - I can't tell how you get upstairs to the bedroom/loft. I'd check to make sure it's not some ladder you have to climb up/down.

#2 (ID#152) - In Montamarte, not convenient. nuff said.

#3 (ID$146) - looks okay, smaller (343 sq ft), but where do you eat your meals? I don't see any dining table in the photos.

#4 - looks nice and decent size.

#5 - very, very very small (215 sq ft)

#6 - Also very small. the red sofa doesn't even look like it can fit 2 people.

#7 - I don't like the fact that the photos are close up of faucets and coffee maker. You can't even see what the apt really looks like. Raises a red flag for me in tha aspect.

So, I'd choose either #1 or #4 based on the looks. Hope this helps.

And between #1 and #4, I would choose #1.

It has a much nicer kitchen area, and the bedroom looks nice. (The bedroom is not up a ladder in a loft; the whole apartment is a &quot;loft&quot; because it is on the 5th floor----with an elevator).

The Marais is a nice location.

Also, we have dealt with VacationInParis and found them to be professional and reliable.

Thank you so much everyone for looking these over! Based on all the advice so far I've narrowed my list down to four, the latest options being:

http://vacationinparis.com/apts/id_5...apts/id_57.htm
910 dollars/week
I like that it's larger and has a separate eating area. However, I got an email back saying that this property was available but needed &quot;painting.&quot; Do you think that would be a good barganing chip?

http://vacationinparis.com/apts/id_1...pts/id_146.htm
(on sale) 840 dollars/week
Seems nice enough and close to a lot of good shopping (which according to my Mom is indicative of a good area. True?)

http://www.residences-paris.com/pont...-2nd-floor.php
1,145 dollars/week (900 euros/week)
***973 dollars/week (with discount)
I like the fireplace. I'll have to find out if it's functional.

http://www.residences-paris.com/louv...com/louvre.php
763 dollars/week (600 euros/week)
***649 dollars/week (with discount
It's just so cute! How close is it to everything?

The general consensus seems to be for either ID_57 or the Pont Des Arts, 2nd floor apartment. I'm guessing it is because they are the largest in the bunch? How are the neighborhoods though? The only off-putting thing about ID-57 is the rental companies description of it as &quot;very basic and needs painting.&quot; What?! It doesn't look very basic in the photograph and how old is this paint they speak of... hm.

btw, when my Mom says, &quot;good,&quot; I think she's speaking along the lines of safety.

Second, Guenmai - I'll check out that thread right now! Thanks :-)

Good luck to you. Happy Travels!

I would take the Pont des Arts apartment because of its location and extra room. As long as you don't mind climbing the stairs (3d floor American probably), it's in a terrific spot. You easily walk to most of the major tourist spots.

If the agency is warning you about the paint etc. of #57, then I'd probably stay away. You don't want to come back to a dingy looking place.

They are all in good areas and you will not have a problem finding interesting shops.

My second choice would be the Louvre apartment, again because of location.

If that agency is warning you that 57 is basic and needs painting, I'd avoid it also. Photos can actually make places look brighter and cleaner than in person. So I suspect it isn't just that the paint is old, but it is marked up or really noticeably stained or dirty or something. As I have offwhite paint in my living room that is over 10 years old and doesn't look that bad at all that I would warn someone against it (mine is eggshell and washable, so I wash the walls every couple years). It doesn't look fancy (particularly the sofa), but the warning about it being &quot;very basic&quot; would concern me. It means something is up with the fixtures, plumbing, something is wrong with it.

I don't think the one in Montmartre is so bad, and it's not too far from a metro stop at the bottom (Pigalle metro) so isn't that inconvenient. However, since you've never been there and don't know the area and what you'd be getting into in many ways (distance, as well as the main street at the end isn't pleasant), I'd forget that one.

I didn't like the third no 146 much, but I'd never rent a place with that cold tile floor -- at least not in Paris, that's something you'd want more in Provence or a hot area. I just stayed in an apt. with tile floors in Sept and didn't think about it, but upon experiencing it, I really didn't like it. It made the place feel very cold, and you really had to always have on some kind of footwear.

The fifth one looks very dicey with that built-in &quot;mezzanine&quot;, who knows what building codes that may violate or how safe it is. I wouldn't even consider such an arrangement.

A while back I read a review posted on the Paris Forum on TripAdvisor about the first apartment. The poster had nothing but negatives to say. You may want to do a search there.

The apartment in Mont Marte looks nice enough but I would not stay in that location. It is too close to Pigalle for my taste. That is probably why the price looks (IMO) too good to be true.

I don't mind the tile flooring. I'm not crazy about carpet in a rental. Never know what it is harboring.

<i>I'm not crazy about carpet in a rental. Never know what it is harboring. </i>

Wear shoes :-)

my, gosh! You are all just so wonderful!

Guenmai, I spent at least 20-30 minuted reading the Paris Apartment Thread and got some *great* ideas from it. So, to follow...

Now you're all going to hate me because I'm throwing a few new places into the mix!

It seems like the best apartment from the original list is the La R&eacute;sidence du Pont des Arts - 2nd floor by Residences Paris. I guess since it's the most expensive I'm not that surprised, ha! :-)

Paris Best Lodge was so highly praised that I looked over a few apartments from this website. I'm mostly interested in the following:

http://www.parisbestlodge.com/mazarine.html
I read this was a good apartment from a fellow Fodorite thread but I want to know any updated thoughts.

http://www.parisbestlodge.com/eiffelapt.html

http://www.parisbestlodge.com/verrerie.html

How are the neighborhoods? Has anyone stayed at any of these specifically? Would you rather stay at any of the new ones versus the La R&eacute;sidence du Pont des Arts - 2nd floor?

Can't wait to read everyone's opinions!

SCRATCH THE ABOVE POST! I hit Post my Reply too soon! None of those are available SO...

It's now down to the following two - Cast your votes!

http://www.residences-paris.com/pont...-2nd-floor.php
1,145 dollars/week (900 euros/week)
***973 dollars/week (with discount)

http://www.parisbestlodge.com/quai.html
1,025 dollars/week (800 euros/week)

At this point I almost hope that I stop running across great apartments so that I can take a break from this obsessive planning. Does anyone else feel this same way?? :O

Personally I'd take the one in the 6th. I like that district as it's has lots of transportation options...two metro lines...#4 and #10 and great buses and is easy to walk to interesting places.

I've stayed all over Paris, but have stayed in that district since the early 80s. If you choose that apartment, then just copy the sightseeing plan that I've written out, for Yellowrose, on the &quot;Which Apartment Would You Choose?&quot; thread as the person who started that thread will also be in the 6th. Good luck to you. Happy Travels!

Just my opinion, but I'd take the apt.on Ile de la Cite.

It is convenient to the left bank(my preferance) and the right bank. It's walking distance to alot of the sites and right on the Seine for the boats.

We have been staying on I'lle St. Louis for several years and love the location.

As far as safety, we walk all over, day and night, and have never felt threatened in the tourist areas. There are so many people around all the time.

I do agree with you. When you're looking for an apt. it sometimes gets overwhelming. Especially when you decide and then it's not available.

Once you make your choice, you can move on to planning your daily itinerary.

My best advice is not to cram too much into a day. Paris is so wonderful, it's nice to savor the moment.

We'll all look forward to your trip report. When are you going?

Did you notice that the bedroom in the Quai Aux Fleurs apartment appears to be no bigger than the bed? (The whole apt. is about 300+ square feet, while the other one is about 484 square feet).

O. K. I'll revamp my choice to the &quot;ponts-des-arts&quot;. But not because of the size, because it's on the 4th floor as opposed to the 2nd floor.

2 years ago we stayed on the 4th floor and really got tired of the long climb up the stairs every day.

Ponts-des-arts is my 2nd favorite location.

Again, just my opinion.

I don't think you can go wrong with either location. Do you want an apartment on the 2d floor or the 4th?

Both are lovely, in good, convenient areas, and nearly the same price.

I'd still stay with Pont des Arts, I think, though Paris best lodge is a great agency from reviews here, and my limited contact with them a year ago. The view could be the deciding point to tilt you towards them.

Just choose, and don't have second thoughts . . . there is no &quot;right&quot; decision. You'll enjoy either location. They aren't that far away from one another.

TPAYT, we'll be in Paris from 28 FEB through 7 MAR.

Oooh, my head is starting to hurt! My excitement, however, has not diminished in the slightest. CW, thank you for the advice. They really are both nice and in the same price range. It's just nerve racking picking only one!

Each has advantages and disadvantages. CrazyView has a couple more flights of stairs to navigate and is somewhat smaller *but* has an amazing view and a devoted eating area. Plus I think it has higher ceilings and thus appears to be about the same size as the other. Also, even though the bedroom is tiny it's still an actual separate bedroom.

The Pont Des Arts one is overall larger but judging by the pictures does not have a separate bedroom at all. It's just a curtain to separate it from the rest of the studio. And there is no &quot;devoted&quot; eating area and more of coffee table style dining. It is, however, two flights lower. Then again, there is no view. Oh, and the fireplace doesn't work (which is I guess typical of most Parisian apartments?).

Each of the rental places have good reviews. Each of them is .4km to the nearest metro station which is a four minute stroll or so.

Is schlepping an extra two flights of stairs really that big of a deal? Are they worse than American stairs?

I'm leaning towards the CrazyView b/c of the separate bedroom, view and eating area but I think I'll let my Mom make the ultimate decision. That way I can blame anything that comes up on her! Muahahahah! ;-)

I will keep you all posted!

Good idea to blame your mother!!!

We stayed at an apartment at the Palais Royal which was on the 4th and 5th floors. The elevator went to the third floor. Most often we walked up rather than take the elevator (small and slow), and we always walked down. It wasn't at all bad, but the stairs were wide and gradual.

The more I think about it, the more I start leaning towards having the view. I really like to look out at Paris and both places we've stayed have had views where we could see activity.

I prefer the pont des arts apartment. You're talking about 484 sq ft vs 323 sq ft, and 2nd floor vs 4th floor walk-up.

The bedroom of the Quai aux Fleurs is so small, that it looks like you only have about 4 inches on one side to maneuver. Which means that whoever is sleeping on the side touching the wall, will have to climb over the other person every time she wants to get out of the bed. It doesn't even look like you'll have space in the bedroom for your suitcase.

Okay, loyal thread readers and contributors:

An apartment has been chosen. God willing, for our week in Paris we will be staying at the Quai aux Fleurs (CrazyView).

It was a difficult choice to make since both apartments had pro's and cons but my mother decided the stairs would help us burn off calories, the view would provide us with something beautiful to look at everyday, and probably most importantly there is a dedicated eating area. My mom is *very* big on eating at the table. ;-)

Like I said though - if anything isn't perfect - I now have a scapegoat!

Onwards to researching an itinerary... TPAYT, thank you for your what will undoubtedly be helpful advice, &quot;My best advice is not to cram too much into a day. Paris is so wonderful, it's nice to savor the moment.&quot;

Congratulations on finding an apartment. Happy Travels!