Our trip plans have changed & we will now be in Paris 3-4 nights prior to travelling to Provence. The TGV leaves from Gare de Lyon in the 12th- unless Fodorites have some great reasons to stay there we will stay closer to the main sights.& taxi to GdL. Should we be looking at adjoining areas, such as 5th or 6th Even 3rd or 4th & walk/metro to main sights. My major issue is in not having to pay excessive taxi fares across Paris to reach the station so am trying to find an area that is closer to major sights/near metro or bus lines & on an easy route to the TGV. One person in our group is unlikely to schlep her bag & use the metro to get to the GdL, so I am trying for a compromise.

We are also looking for an hotel/apartment in any areas Fodorites recommend, hopefully below E140 per night. Is an apartment possible for 4 nights? I would prefer this if possible. Most apartments I have used (in cities other than Paris) require at least 1 week stay.

As always, thanks in advance for all your help

Trotsky

There is no need to stay near the train station. With the Metro and RER system, it is fast and easy to get around the city.

I will offer the thought that you will be using the Metro no matter where you stay, since no one area will get you everywhere, or you may decide to metro home at end of day after walking everywhere

While you could stay in 12th, there are much closer areas to 'stuff'.

Looking at Metro/RER lines, it would seem the straightest shot would take you through the 4th and 1st arrondissement.
the 1st is the most central (Louvre, Champs Elysee), but IMHO a bit less intersting than the 4th and possibly more $$$.

The 4th has a good selection of parks, old mansions, shopping, restaurants, a few museums. While it does not have the 'main' sites of Paris (except for Place des Vosges), it would be a pleasant area to stay in.

Thanks Mitch- we will certainly be using the Metro.The last time in Paris we stayed in the 18th & the Metro was our friend. I believe in staying nearer to the "sights" for 4 days, rather than staying nearer to the railway for one departure. I will certainly spend some time checking the 4th- it just does not seem to come up much when people discuss their favourite areas Thanks Trotsky

There is a hotel in the 12th called Hotel de Porte Doree and it is right at the Porte Doree metro stop and also near Park Vincennes on line 7. It is very reasonable, though unairconditioned. The rooms are large by Parisian standards and the prices fit well into your range. The 12th is a great neighborhood. Another neighborhood in the center with hotels a bit less expensive is the 14th, Montparnasse.

4th also known as Marais, which you will find people also use to describe area. Quite a few trheads here on renting in the area.
And the 4th also includes the Islands, which are nice, but bit more $$$

We stayed in a lovely apartment in the 4th near the St Paul metro stop. We loved the area. We stayed in this apartment with my parents in 2004: http://www.rentalfrance.com/index.php?location=stpaul. It is a two bedroom. That rental agency has another apartment a one bedroom on the same block. http://www.rentalfrance.com/index.ph...37-rue-st-paul (although note the high floor and no stairs, but google +rue +st +paul +apartment and see another review who thought it was fine). We loved our apartment and the location, near Seine, near Monoprix, near metro, restaurants and a lovely neighborhood. They quote the rates per week, but it is always worth asking if a few days is possible. The apartments I believe are individually owned (ours belonged to an American in the restaurant business somehow). The French rental agent was very easy to deal with by phone and by email.

trotsky - We will never use the metro when arriving or leaving our hotel ever again - we won't get a cab either - what we have found is the answer to all travels with a suitcase is THE BUS SERVICE! You get to the same destination but their is no lugging of cases up and down stairs like in the metro. Take the bus - get a proper bus route plan for the city and it's real simple from there on.

You should stay where Trotsky lived when he lived in Paris, Montparnasse. In fact, he lived near where I often stay and frequented the Rotonde cafe.

It isn't really on a line to Gare de Lyon, though.

Concerning Montparnasse, it is true there is no direct metro link to Gare de Lyon. However, bus line 91 goes to Gare de Lyon. It takes around 20 minutes from Montparnasse area

I agree that you can use bus or metro to get to the station when you leave, you will be sure of taking your train in time (do plan to be a little in advance though, just in case).
I've stayed in an apartment where the minimum stay was three days in the 18th district, and I just loved it!
The area is such a nice one, friendly people, beautiful sights, nice food (thus that can be all around Paris, or I'd say France, the prices are reasonable there).
My stay was in Picasso studio, and I found it through paris-apartment-rent.com, I think you could find something for less then 140 euros per day, depending how many you are, (we were 3 adults) the price was around 100 euros per night.
I keep a very good meory of Julie, the girl who hosted us.
Do take time to visit Paris!

Thanks for all your replies- it certainly makes my planning easier With tje requests & "must haves" for our travel group I am really beginning to understand the maxim that you cant please all of the people all of the time. For chevre, lauric, korin and others with s[ecific accommodation suggestions-thank you, I will check all of these out. Particular thanks to tod, who made me remember that Paris has buses & to christina & parisian for reminding me there is a bus line fromMontparnasse to Gare de Lyon. I was not looking forward to schleping my bag up & down metro station steps, & the (sometimes) long walks in changing metro lines. Looks like the bus will be the way we go.

Again,thank you all for your assistance. Trotsky