I think this forum demonstrates the adage, "To each his own." Anyhow, this website can give you some help with events, etc.:
http://www.paris-update.com/fr/

Don't know if it has Christmas/New Year's on the calendar yet.

We aren't really nightlife people. Perhaps a cool bar with a band, but that's about it. And we would probably only do that once or twice. The Hubbs doesn't drink (I do) so it would be about the music for him.

I'd like "Not Touristy", please.

Zappole, care to share a few of these "sweet hideaways"? Do you have the hook up? I totally agree with you about not staying in a hilly area. We are planning on walking a lot (I'm already training on an elliptical for the miles and miles of walking).

*sigh* I'm a bit overwhelmed. Which to choose? We'd like to pick one this weekend so we can plan the rest of our vacay.

BurritoWoman,

Have you taken a look at the apartments at www.parisbestlodge.com. I haven't stayed with them (had a good e-mail exchange once) and they are well-reviewed here on the board. The apartments are primarily in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Very central.

Also, many people like www.vacationinparis.com.

paris jo's suggestion looks great - I have stayed in that general area and enjoyed it. And the price is good, too.
As you may have noticed, prices tend to increase around the Christmas holiday. You may not be dining al fresco but the garden/patio is nice. I'd jump on it

I also was not thrilled by the other places - and though cheap, the former bakery would feel like shoebox after a couple days, let alone two weeks.

Burritowoman, I have actually enquired about the French flair apartment. Is this booked as well? It faces a courtyard so is quiet but not particularly bright, but in winter that probably doesn't matter. I just loved the street it was on, I walked up and down rue Lepic heaps last May and really warmed to the area. In fact I am looking at staying around there or a bit further north next time I go. It is really close to the metro and there are many lovely little shops both food and other types very close buy. Like, next door!!

Have a look at frencyrentals.com and see the rue Constance apartment. It was right opposite the hotel we spent the last night in Paris (we had an apartment for a month)Again I really like the street, a side street, very quiet, off rue Lepic. I cannot say what the apartment looked like. I did try to see it when I was in Paris but it was booked so unavailable for sticky beaking at.

Do not be put off this area, but you have to be discerning and if it is the first time you may get caught in a dodgy street. I had the luxury of time and could wander around and decide which streets I really liked for next time.

Schnauzer

http://www.homeaway.com/search/refin...edrooms:Studio

http://www.paristay.com/apartment-re...ent-paris.html

http://www.guestapartment.com/proper...dio/daisy.html

Just do searches for "paris vacation rental third arrondisement" (or anything less than 4) and see what you get.

Suzchicago says:

"Last time I was in Paris was 1989." That was 20 years ago.

I think you have a lot of ideas about Paris that aren't true at all, and since you have never been there, you should forget this idea of not staying in a touristy area. There is hardly any place in Paris that would be so touristy that you wouldn't want to stay there, if you are a complete newcomer to the city (and don't know French, which you don't say, but I'm guessing). The only places I would really stay away from to avoid touristy are small parts of some of the arrondisements where a lot of tourists walk a lot -- which would be around the St Michel metro and rue de la Huchette in the 5th, and the main part of St Germain near bd St Germain and perhaps the Marais in some main parts. Maybe the 7th near rue Cler, but even its not as bad, and Montmartre around Sacre Coeur. I wouldn't want to stay real close to the Eiffel Tower as I don't like the area, but it's just not that convenient for many reasons. What is the obsession of tourists with staying near the Eiffel Tower, anyway, I just don't get that idea. It's a metal tall landmark, why do you want to stay near it?

You aren't going to be sitting around cafes drinking coffee and eating cookies, for example, they don't serve cookies in French cafes. Also, you aren't going to find some local neighborhood bar with a bar band. If you don't speak French, staying in an outer area that is totally nontouristy won't be as convenient for you as they won't speak English as much in the stores, even in the 15th, for example. Of course you can get by, but it will take you longer to get anywhere and you'll spend a lot more time on the metro or bus with transfers, etc. It's just not a great idea for someone who has never been there and doesn't know much about Paris and doesn't know French.

Your budget is very cheap for Paris at holiday time, which is the most expensive time of the year, so choose a place that is a convenient location and near a metro stop, and you like the apt.s, and forget the ideas about touristy locales. It is very gray and dreary in N. Europe in the winter, and could be rainy, of course, and temps maybe in the 30s in the daytime, or 40s. Similar to New York City, if you know it.

Why be so snippy with BurritoWoman, Christina? Good heavens -- she's just seeking some friendly advice and doesn't deserve it.

Suz..........Christina mostly replies in a matter-of-fact way and never spends time pussyfooting around her answers, though I'm sure she means well. Her advice is very fair.
For instance BurritoWoman expresses the fact that she knows nothing about the arrondisements and wants to immerse themselves 'in the culture'. This statement prooves that she needs to get a guide book and start reading as most of us will be asking the question of her "Whose culture"?
As Kerouac stated not that long ago (and I'm going on memory now) that there are at least 5 China Towns besides the many other ethnic groups that live out of the touristy areas! I can only assume BurritoWoman means 'the French culture'?!

We loved the area around Belleville, Batignolles, & China Town around rue de Choissy & Ivry. Friends of our rented a superb little apartment here.

For a first time visit staying in places like Bastille can be very untouristy but very interesting. READ BurritoWoman, and you will get a much better idea of the area you will be happy staying in!

have a look at this one as well, well I stayed there with my friend and it was pretty great around everything we wanted to see
http://www.lodjee.com/abbesses-1-bed...aris-apartment

Paris flea market is a great area for some shopping you can find quite everything and its huge !Saint Ouen is the metro station. Go to the Marai also !

Heres something you could do BurritoWoman - When you think you have settled on an apartment, go to this website and it will allow you to walk around the area and of course, the entire city of Paris. Just click on the "Paris dot", type in the number and street name in the little squares, click "recercher" and off you go. I wander around Paris alsmost daily on Pages Jaunes and discover interesting little places, cafe's, restaurants etc., that I can go to on my next visit - my 12th!
http://tinyurl.com/c9rapm

Happy huntin'!!

I would definitely suggest you the one on Montmartre as it is my favorite area in Paris, very alive and very artistic. Probably Montmartre is the most parisian corner of the city.
When I go to Paris, though, I always rent apartments from the same company which always gave me the best service and best solutions for my needs. Here is the link to their site: http://www.paris-apartment-rent.com/index.html
You can send them an email and ask them what you are looking for and I'm sure they can find a good apartment for you.
How cold can it get, very cold. Often it snows in that period. So bring your warm clothes.

There are a couple of things mentioned by posters above that I think might confuse you or put you off. For one thing, I think you might very well find neighborhood bars with music. I have been to such places in several neighborhoods. Sometimes I saw ads for the bands, and other times I just heard music as I was walking by.

For another thing, if you go to the St. Ouen flea market, you want to take the metro to the Porte de Clignancourt station (not the St. Ouen station). Then walk past the highway underpass and turn left on rue des Rosiers to enter the most interesting parts of the market. The stuff near the metro station is not really part of the market, and is not the type of merchandise you probably hope to find at the Puces.

As far as neighborhoods, I paid a lot more attention to this when I went to Paris the first couple of times. After that I realized that no matter which neighborhood I stayed in, I found all sorts of interesting places and had a great time. I would be happy to stay in all sorts of neighborhoods now.

Reading some of these comments makes me wonder if some of the posters have ever spent any time in Paris outside the arr. under 8 or Montmartre.

There is quite a different feel to Paris in the arr. that don't contain the major tourist attractions. Likewise Rome. Likewise NYC. I can't imagine staying on the Ile de Cite and enjoying it, or right on top of the Louvre. Or much of gentrified Monmartre And that's just the worst of it.

I've noticed a lot of people on Fodor's really dislike it when newcomers post and include a desire to experience something of a foreign country or foreign place that isn't deformed by tourism or right on the tourist track. They are lectured, talked down to, told they are being unrealistic, that it isn't a problem, it's all in their heads, and that there is no such thing as the "culture" they are seeking, it's all to complex for a tourist -- so they might as well shape up and just go be a tourist and quit being so pretentious!

By the way, just as an aside, I've had lots of cookies in French cafes.

I beg to differ.

wholeheartedly agree with zeppole on this. BTW, re: "Also, you aren't going to find some local neighborhood bar with a bar band." -really? I have had no problem with this in any city including Paris. Frankly, I wonder when the last time the person who posted this was in a bar, or rather, was on a serch for some nightlife. We all have different interests and are quite able to find what we are interested in when traveling. Please forgo giving horse-sh** advice when you clearly have no clue as it isn't your interest.

Tod -- what a great website! Thanks much.

Okay, if you want yet another opinion here is mine...I loved staying in the 7th arrondissement I didn't feel like it was too touristy. Yes, the Eiffel Tower was a 5 minute walk away, yes I could go to bed a night and look out the window and see the Eiffel Tower lit up...it was wonderful. Rue Cler market was below us and every morning we had fresh fruit and croissants for breakfast and yes every night after a day of touring around Paris we would stop and pick up a baquette to go with our dinner just like the French people. The metro was one block away and we had wonderful cafes all around us. We stayed in a ParisPerfect apartment. Regardless of where you stay I don't think you will ever be disappointed in going to Paris! It is by far the most beautiful, magical city. Have a great time...Au Revoir Ptm

Have you been to the Paris apartment thread?
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ent-thread.cfm

Wherever you end up will be lovely. We're planning our 2nd trip after one lovely 2 week stint. I liked the bustle of some areas of the 6th or 7th, but I was very happy to retreat back to the Marais. I felt that the Marais, with its windy streets and shorter blocks, was easier to absorb and explore for this first-timer than the grander blocks and wider streets elsewhere. We were in the 3rd, so about 20 min from the Seine, but in an areas full of boutiques and food shops. Plus, we were very close to the Bastille area, where we definitely felt we were starting to venture into areas that were a bit less gentrified (as much as anywhere in central Paris could be characterized as such). Yes, there were plenty of tourists (and we were there during Fashion Week so some of those tourists were of the tall, leggy type!) but like any big city there were many more locals. For us, it was the perfect balance between a neighborhood feel and an area that was used to enough tourists so I didn't feel too stupid trying to get by with my broken French and some English.

The areas where we felt had the more tourists were close to the Seine, especially in the shopping areas around the 6th, and along the Champs Elysee as we got closer to the Arc de Triomphe, with its luxury stores and chain stores. But, you're never more than a street or so away from feeling immersed in Paris again.

I stayed in the 11th last year on rue JP Timbaud. I loved staying there- it was such a relief to come home to a normal neighborhood at the end of the day.