amd503

Hello,

My husband, teenage daughter and I will be spending next Christmas in Paris. It will be the first trip for both of them, and while I have been there before it was a very long time ago. We want to rent an apartment and I am just starting to do that research. This forum has been invaluable! People here are so generous with their experience.

I have browsed months of posts and done quite a bit of searching, and there's one thing I haven't been able to find. We want to be able to cook while we are there - especially on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I can already tell that a lot of apartments are not set up for real cooking (two burners, no oven, etc.). What I would like to know is - has anyone stayed in an apartment that they would really recommend for cooking (quality appliances, tools, kitchen layout, etc.). Obviously, neighborhood resources are relevant too, but I'm able to find that info more easily than I can find out about the apartment kitchens themselves.

I've been able to pull some ideas from trip reports by people who cooked, but unfortunately the most promising apartments are no longer being rented.

We have not settled on a location yet. I have very warm memories of Montmartre from my younger days, but I think for a first trip we want to be closer in to major sites this time (which is a roundabout way of saying I'd be interested in great options in Montmartre as well).

We've started our looking in the 5th and 6th, but have definitely not ruled out the 7th or the Marais. 1.5 or 2 bedrooms would suit us best, but 1 with a pullout would be fine. And we're hoping to stay under 2500€ per week.

Thank you!

rosetravels

We stayed in Paris one year for a week before Christmas and LOVED it. The apartment we rented had an amazing kitchen that we used a lot for big meals. Perfectly equipped with french doors that open to a small balcony. We kept those closed in December but the light was lovely and the place was warm. It's lovely and well located in the Marais:
http://www.vrbo.com/19130

Here's another in the 11th that I have had bookmarked for years because the kitchen looks good. I think the 11th is good area for food as the Richard Lenoir market is not far.
http://www.vrbo.com/183278#

rosetravels

Also - the one we rented in the Marais has 2 bathrooms plus a powder room. Our daughter slept in the loft bedroom (views of the Eiffel Tower!) so she had her own bathroom and our son slept in the pull out in the dining room. The master bedroom was nice with a walk-in closet and a huge marble bath.

So, plenty of room for everyone.

It is on the 5th with no elevator...but I did fine with the stairs. Of all the places our family has rented, this is one of our favorites. My husband LOVED the kitchen. Bakeries and shops everywhere. Convenient for sightseeing.

It is a great location!

Robert2533

You might want to check the Paris Perfect website (www.parisperfect.com). They have several excellent properties in the best locations.

hpluss1

these apartments look amazing! bookmarking.

StuDudley

What is your budget??

We've rented a Paris Perfect apartment on 3 different occasions - twice at Christmas. I LOVE to cook. From the kitchen at the place we rented, I could look out at the Eiffel Tower from the kitchen. There is an excellent meat/poultry market across the street, a grocery in the same bock, Rue Cler food concessions 3 blocks away, Foie Gras & magret markets (2) within 1 block. Four burners, oven, dishwasher, etc.

Here is a post from our stay at the apt

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-was-paris.cfm

Stu Dudley

cw

Take a look at Paris Vacation Apartments. They are very well equipped and a good agency.

Seamus

Of the dozen or so apartments we have rented in Paris, the one in which cooking (and sleeping, and eating and relaxing and washing clothes and just about everything) was easiest was property 149617 on www.homeaway.com. Street market outside twice per week, local shops (meat, fish, bakeries, etc) along the streets and on the first floor of the building is a large supermarket with an excellent selection of just about everything you could want.
Almost unwilling to share as every time we have tried to book since it has been already taken. I was initially reluctant about the location in the 15th, outside the much vaunted single digit arrondissements, but it was great, actually easier to get to and from than many places we have stayed. Neighborhood is quite agreeable, not packed full of tourists.
Another nice feature was that the owner accepts payment in dollars to a US bank account, making it very easy transaction.

amd503

Rosetravels - that option looks excellent. I have seen a few other places with cosy upstairs sleeping nooks and the teenager has loved them. And the kitchen looks so comfortable.

Stu - It's early days so I'm still working on the budgets, but we're hoping to stay under 2500€ per week, but I'm bookmarking that one anyway. The kitchen is beautiful. A lot of the Paris perfect apartments have smaller kitchens. And also bookmarking the trip report!

cw, Robert2533 - thanks! Agency recommendations are always welcome! The problem I am having is that most don't describe the kitchen beyond letting you know if there is an oven, or a stove. Cooking is clearly not a priority for most visitors . That's why I was hoping to fill out their info with some personal recommendations.

DebitNM

We have stayed here twice and since the owners actually lived in it and left it fully furnished, especially the kitchen, it works great for cooking.

The owner is wonderful to work with and the price is truly a deal. Use all your extra allotted accommodation money for other fun things!!

http://www.vrbo.com/339804

StuDudley

>>Stu - It's early days so I'm still working on the budgets,

rosetravels

amd503 - I second Stu's suggestion that it's not too early to book places. In fact looking at our beloved apartment in Paris for you reminded me that my son will be in Paris next year for his Junior year of college. I need to figure out our Christmas vacation plans tout de suite!

cw

amd, agree that apartments at the holidays book up quickly. Don't delay if you find one you like.

PVA apartments were very well equipped. We even had a rolling shopping basket plus a closetful of replacement light bulbs, among every thing else. If any of their apartments attract you, just verify the kitchen equipment with them.

amd503

Oh I appreciate the need for speed - we'll be booking this month for sure. Luckily, my hard-wired need to know I'll have a bed is working my favor here . And I definitely appreciate the voice of experience!

Seamus - I think we were writing at the same time. That kitchen looks so easy to work in! The description says there is a view from the kitchen window, but there's no photo. Is it nice? I've been google-walking the streets around it. So many intriguing shops.

Thank you DebitNM - it seemed like apartments that owners live in part time should be likely to have functional kitchens - I'm glad to hear that hunch confirmed. Thank you!

Robert2533

The best Paris Perfect apartments get booked very early. We've been able to put one or two on hold for clients, but the demand for excellent apartments, in great locations, is heavy. The one thing about PP is that they own most of the properties they represent, which means they have total control. All of the ones we've rented for ourselves had decent kitchens and Nespresso coffee makers.

Seamus

amd - yes, the kitchen window looks in the direction of the Eiffel Tower and you can see the top of it.
It is also nice to have a full size refrigerator - so many Paris properties have smaller ones.

waterdog

We have also rented from Paris Perfect. Very nice apartments. We will probably choose another one for later this year. They tend to be pricey, but the customer service, the locations and the apartments themselves are worth it to us.