Accomodation in outer Paris
 

We would like to stay on the outskirts of Paris and would lile some recommendations for apartment style accomodation. Needs to be near a train station so we can travel to Central Paris easily.

Hi,
We regularly stay in La Defense which is considered the outskirts of Paris.
Not only is it elevated above the River Seine, but has wide open spaces to enjoy especially over weekends when this business district empties of office workers.
The metro "Esplanade La Defense" is right on your doorstep.

We do not rent an apartment there but there are apartments available in a modern tower block. We prefer the Ibis Hotel next door with rates as low as 49euros for a double room at weekends beginning on a Friday.

This is the link to the apartments:http://paris.frasershospitality.com/

The view you see is the area directly above the metro station. In front of that is a small vineyard and come this July/August we will be checking to see if any grapes are going to be harvested in September!

Hope all this helps.

PS: Sorry forget to tell you that the metro heads directly down to the Champs Elysees in 8-10min train ride.

Why do you want to do this? It just seems to defeat the purpose of enjoying the real joys of Paris. With some good shopping I would think you could find something quite comparable in price. Spending time on the metro/RER to and from central Paris is just not my cuppatea!!

I agree with Gretchen, why do you want to do that? If it's because of cost, then perhaps. But otherwise stay in the city, it's so much nicer to be able to pop back to your accommodation for a quick freshen up or a snack during the day.

I would strongly reconsider this plan so that you can fully enjoy Paris.

I understand Gretchen & Cathies concern, but we have been to Paris many times and now prefer staying out of town for part of our trip. This past May we did stay slap bang in the middle on Ile de Cite` at the Hotel Hospitel Dieu for 3 nights - you can't get more central than that!
Having said that, Esplanade La Defense is such a short ride away from the action.
We also set out everyday in the morning from the hotel where we happen to be and don't return until after dinner most days.
So, for us we could stay anywhere in Paris and it wouldn't make a difference.

Hi Tod, I've been to Paris a couple of times now for a total of three weeks and I do love to be able to collapse for a while in the afternoon. Gives me the energy to head out again in the evening.

All I can say is, you must be made of much tougher stuff! Or maybe considerably younger ;)

Hi dutchkiwi

A few years ago we spent a week in Vincennes, about 20 minute train ride from central Paris.
It is on the metro and RER lines, and has plenty of buses that all depart from the station.
We stayed in a studio apartment at Royal Regency (part of the Sunterra Timeshare group), and were very happy with the accommodation.
Vincennes has its own village community with local markets a couple of times a week (maybe Tues & Thurs?). So we were able to experience suburban life as well as enjoying the main sights of Paris.
If you click on my name and go back to around 2006 you should be able to see my report.

Happy travels, Di

Cathies - A total of three weeks. I'm heading towards a year's worth of Paris now and that makes me just scratching the surface!
What we must bare in mind though, is that Dutchkiwi asked a specific question to which I gave him/her what I thought could be a helpful answer.
I don't think Dutchkiwi wants to be talked out of his or her intentions. I got the impression he/she has a reason for not wanting the centre of Paris.

By the way, I'm 65. Yes, a lot younger than you - LOL!

Well, she did add a lot of other info--been there often, has other desires. I think the advice we gave for comparative newbies to Paris is correct.
BUT I never get tired of being in the center. If I want to be "out" I'll take a trip to another part. Just me.

We stayed at the Etap on Rue Dr Babinski. It is past the ring road, but just a bit. The metro is a 12 minute walk and the bus is about 8-10 minutes, depending on which one you take. I is really close to the St. Ouen flea market and the area is lively with brasseries, small shops, etc. as you walk up the street of St. Ouen. We have walked from the hotel to Paris. It is a 40-50 or more walk, be we love seeing, smelling, the sights and sounds of Paris. There are not many tourists in the area, so you get to see Paris like a Parisian. The bakeries, chocolate shops, roasted chickens, are all wonderful to see.

Hi Gretchen,
This will really make you smile - next year we have two hotels and one apartment booked for end July then end August.

First Hotel: The Ibis Esplanade La Defense
http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-07...re/index.shtml

Second Hotel: Hotel de la Jatte, Neuilly Sur Seine http://www.hoteldelajatte.com/index.htmltte

Our Apartment: Area - Bastille
http://www.vrbo.com/103254

So you see, we are going to stay "in Paris" for a whole week in the apartment! Doesn't it look absolutely terrific?
I am just as excited to stay on an island in the middle of the Seine far away from the other two famous ones!

The OP didn't add any other information at all, he or she never came back--tod is a completely different person. The OP was very specific so they must have had a real reason for requesting it, but they didn't say, so who knows. If it were to go to some event or to be near relatives or something, it probably would have to be in a particular direction or location, but none was named.

They didn't even ask if they should do it or not. Now I don't much like being in the center of Paris at all, it's like being in Times Square to me, although I do like being within the peripherique. The OP could possibly mean just in the outer arrondisements, not outside Paris proper, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that at all, as I do that at times. In fact, I think that's a perfectly fine idea to save money and get away from the tourists and crowds.

I know some people recommended some apts in the 17th in the Batignolles area, and I think the 12th out near Nation could be a good bet, also. I might be able to find something, but don't want to spend any more time at this without knowing what the OP really wants.

Anyway, people wanting to save money will save a bundle in the arrondissements from 9 to 20 (excluding 16) and often not have any issues with transportation and sometimes not even with walking into the center of the city.

Hi Tod, I know that 3 weeks isn't much - we too are still scratching the surface. Ha Ha, at 65 you are much younger than me - not!!! I'm in my early 50's - but my hips give me grief and my husband has hopeless ankles and knees from too much cricket as a youngster.

Enjoy your trip next year, I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Thank you all for your suggestions.
We have been to Paris once before.The reason I asked for info on accom on the outskirts was mainly cost related. When we go out, we go out for the whole day and usually only come back around dinner time so 15 mins on a train is no problem. Last time our travel agent booked us into a hotel near the Gare de Lest train station. Although handy we did not like the area.
Also Tod mentioned the Ibis. We have considered them also as they are good value and you know what you are getting.
We are flexible and just thought that out of the city might have been quieter and?or cheaper.

If economizing is your main concern, you really don't have to go that far out. The vacation rentals in the double digit arrondissements are considerably less (and often larger) but still convenient to the city center.

Last trip, we stayed in the 17th. I thought being so close to the Peripherique might be problematic, but we wouldn't have known it was there. I was amazed that I enjoyed the neighborhood as much or more than my beloved 7th. Food shopping and other goods were less pricey, along with prices in the cafes and restaurants. I prefer the buses to the metro, which can take a bit longer, but it was still convenient to return "home" if we wished before heading out again. We spent a lot of time in the 16th and enjoyed that as well. Didn't spend any time there that trip, but found quite a few appealing apartments in the 15 as well.

When you won't be rushed to see as much as possible (as on a first visit), it's wonderful to ride the buses all over for the scenery, and hopping off when you see an appealing neighborhood.