Hi,

We are hoping to have a four night stay in Paris in November.

Have found this place:

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/Fra...ris/p52089.htm

Would appreciate feedback on it. Do you think it's in a suitable area for sightseeing...easy to reach...safe etc. Most imporatantly is it value for money? We would want to ideally spend around 200 euros for 4 nights. This is over our budget...however I wasn't able to find anything within our "ideal" budget.

Would really value feedback...or any other suggestions for our given price range.

Thanks a lot
G

I don't think you can do much better than 75 Euro/night. The apt looks fine. Bastille is a large station with 3 metro lines and the Marais is a very interesting area.

What I could not see on the site is what floor the apt. is on and if there is an elevator. That might make a difference to you.

With a quick look at apartments the only less expensive one I saw were in Montmartre (65E/night) and I think that's too out of the way for a lot of main stream sightseeing.

It may be in a good area; the junction of the 4th and 11th arrondissments is a very nice location. But there isn't enough information available on the website, including the floor that the apartment is on and whether there is an elevator. You need to make sure about those circumstances to judge the place. Price is very good by Paris standards.

The area is safe enough and easy to get to. I think it's priced okay for what it is, because you can't find hardly anything decent in Paris at that rate, let alone cheaper. 50 euro a night is pretty unrealistic for anything in central Paris.

I don't quite understand the description, as it calls it a studio and then claims to have a "double bed" and bedroom, but doesn't show it. It looks like they are just calling the one room a bedroom and that bed is a foldout sofa. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't understand it. The price would still be what you'd expect for a studio and sofabed, it's up to you if you want that. You just won't find much at that price point.

It doesn't mention floor and elevator, don't expect one at that price, but I'd want to know. The address puzzles me at they call it "Popincourt" which sure would imply to me that it was on or near place Popincourt, but the Bastille metro is not the closest to that street -- Breguet Sabin or Richard Lenoir are the closest (as well as Chemin Vert). Anyway, it must be around there somewhere, so it is convenient and safe. Plenty of metro stops nearby.

If you look at the picture they split the livingroom up to have a couch on one side, the pic with the dining table shows a bed behind it. 1/2 room couch-living-eating area, 1/2 sleeping/"bedroom."

I doubt it has an elevator as it says "unsuitable for elderly or infirm." It looks nice, good location, but I'd check what floor it is on if you care about what could be a haul up, esp. if it is on the 4th floor.

Thank you all for your responses...

I understand the point that all of you are making about the price...I too realise that it is actually a good price...and if this is central enough then it makes a lot more sense to take it at the offered price.

As for the floor...it doesn't matter in the least bit...we would be coming from London...so will not have much in terms of luggage...though I appreciate that you people pointed that out.

We are particular about the double bed... the posting specifically mentions a double bed in the amenities...I will write to him and confirm. I too thought it was the way cherrybomb describes it.

Christina you also mention about the confusion with the address...do you think it matters and I should ask him specifically about the closest metro and the exact address...the site does say "Nearest metro: Metro Bastille (or Ledru Rollin) and Ligne 1, 5, 8 and lot of Buses and Taxis." Does the address not seem to reconcile with this?

Another question...is this internet site safe and can one trust the listings here?

Thanks again...

I just saw this apartment mentioned on a wonderful trip report of Paris for 300e/ week...

http://tinyurl.com/4687g7

However this apartment is a lot smaller...and in a different area...though the poster does mention that "It's on rue Jean Pierre Timbaud, less than a minute away from the Parmentier Metro station. Everything is rightout the doorstep - cafes, bars, groceries, tabacs, pharmacies, etc."

Do you think this is a safer choice...someone has actually stayed here and liked it...

It's also a 6th floor walkup!

If you really don't care about the walk up, that location on J-P Timbaud is great and also on the bus line that will take you to Belleville in one direction and to the left back in the other. There is quite a bit of nightlife around the area.

Avalon thanks for pointing out the 6 floor up.... We are a 30 and 31 year old fairly active couple...so the flights of stairs don't matter to us.

Cherrybomb would you say that this apartment is better than the Popincourt one...the 1st apartment looks better...and is more spacious...also seems like has largish windows...

Is the location for the second one significantly better than the first?

Depends on what you plan on doing--they really are not that far apart and as far as size, smaller doesn't make a difference to me. The 2nd on is a block off of Oberkampf which has bars and nice cafes. J-P Timbaud also has some interesting bars on it. I prefer the northern Marais (3rd v. 4th), and it is closer to that than the 1st one, but again, both apartments are close. You are also close to Canal St Martin/10th which is "hipper" than say the latin quarter.

The 2nd one is about 10 min. to the markets on Bretagne which are open daily, the Bastille market is Thurs and Sun only.

I wouldn't do the 6th floor walk up personally, but I don't do a 1st floor walk up, so that is an irrelevant opinion on my end. That you have a trip report on it is definitely a plus over the other one and it certainly has more info from the owner on the posting. It is also quite cheap. I would take the 2nd one for location, but wouldn't sneeze at the first either. Hope that helps...

type this address in google maps and you can zero in on the difference in locations: 55 bis rue Jean Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris

The address is for the 2nd apt, if you scroll down you can get an idea of where the 1st apt is by looking at the 2 metro stations that it says it is on--Bastille and Ledru Rollin and guess the apt is probably equidistant between the two stops.

Thanks a lot cherrybomb.

I think we will go with the second one...will write to the owners sometime next week...the fact that someone has stayed there is a huge plus for me...there will be no nasty surprises...

Will get back with more questions soon...

Hi g29, I know you mentioned your young ages and six floors is okay with you both to walk up, but at another apartment rental site there's a blog about the apartments they rent. One couple in their 30's rented a 3rd floor walk up and after a couple of days felt drained walking up and down as they were out frequently. Mainly they felt the stairs to be a pain after doing a full day of sightseeing.

You may want to consider the stairs further if it's really worthwhile.

Hi francophile03...you're right...ideally we would not want the six flights of stairs...they definitely can be a pain after a full day of sightseeing. However one needs to decide and weigh their options...given our limited price range...and the going rates in Paris...I think this may be a trade off that we would need to make...if there is something available in our price range without the long haul of stairs...we would love to take it.

I'd be wary about the stairs too, but 2 things to consider:

Are you used to a walk up, if you are at home, then it is less of a big deal.

You said it was only 4 days, if so, that is rather short, do you plan on being out all day--or in and out of the flat. If the latter, the stairs will take more of a toll.

I realized I missed a street named Popincourt, so it could be on that. There are a lot of places named Popincourt in the 11th, which is kind of funny -- a street between bd Votaire and ave Nedur Rollin, and two different passages more towards bd Richard Lenoir, which is what I first saw. However, even if it is on rue Popincourt, which it probably is, Bastille and Ledru Rollin still cannot be the closest metro stops -- Voltaire would be. Actually, now that I look at it, the Paris mapguide I'm looknig at calls the entire 11th arrondisement "popincourt" at the top of the page -- must be an important name there.

I would never, ever rent an apt. without asking for the address as one of the first things I asked. I just absolutely want to know, as even on the same street, you can find out if it's on the corner, next to something you don't like, etc. I have a lot of maps of Paris, though, so that means a lot to me, and I know some buildings and sites pretty well. FOr your purposes, anywhere it is in that general area will be convenient enough, but I'd still want to know myself. Being very near Bastille metro stop is actually a big advantage as a lot of metro lines go through it and there are a lot of bus stops there, also.

I wouldn't book a 6th floor walkup myself, and I am a person who will rent apartments without elevators. I just have a limit of about the 3rd floor. Beyond that, and I think it limits you too much on a vacation. For example, if you want to pop out to buy something for breakfast or something, and come back, you are really going to think about it if you are on the 6th floor. I think it could just limit your activities some. That apt. on Timbaud doesn't look as nice to me, but it is a lot cheaper, of course, so you have to consider that.

Have you had any contact with the first one? As I said, I wouldn't ever rent a place without asking the exact address.

Thanks again Cherrybomb and Christina.

Cherrybomb we are used to taking stairs at home too (sometimes)...but I do understand that it does restrict the ease with which one would think about say going down and getting something for breakfast...point taken.

Christina I did write to the Poipincourt apartment, but haven't heard from him yet...am still waiting...

However what does become clear to me is the fact that maybe I need to look more...we still have time...and then could decide on one of these if something on a lower floor and more convenient does not become available.

Thanks for all your responses...I really appreciate it.

Hi g29, I'm the poster who stayed at the apartment on JP Timbaud, if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

There are exactly 101 stairs up to the apartment. Not steep steps, but yes it is a climb. It's an individual thing, stairs. Personally they don't bother me, and they never stopped me from popping out to get something (I'm healthy but no fitness queen)- in general, the more steps the cheaper the price, so as a budget traveller I have gotten used to lots of stairs. But 6 flights is nothing to sneeze at if you think too many stairs might be an issue.

The apartment is much brighter than the pictures suggest, it has southern exposure and a lot of sunlight, and I think the angles of the wall make it difficult to get a "bright" photo. The kitchen and bathroom are modern and very clean. The furniture is not your typical Ikea as you can see, but it is in good condition and things are well set-up.

To me, it felt like I was staying at a friend's apartment as opposed to a vacation rental, if that makes any sense. Like a place where someone actual lives and not just vacations- it has a comfortable lived-in feel, but in a good way, not a bad way.

The "bedroom" area is about the size of a typical small hotel room, plus there is the window nook, the kitchen, the bathroom and a small entrance hall. Again it's a personal thing, whether a couple would be okay sharing fairly close quarters and a double (not a queen or king) sized bed.

There's no tv, but it has free wifi.
I loved the location, there are no tourists, it's very easy to get around, and very safe. The owners are great.

This apartment is not for everyone. But it's great for someone who is okay with the stairs, and who is up for an experience outside the usual tourist cocoon.

Thanks a lot Apres for your reply...

I read your lovely trip report...your enjoyment of the city comes across very clearly...it is a definite plus to hear about an apartment from a peson who has actually stayed there...

The size does not bother us...as we know what "small" can mean...we were in Tokyo for a couple of years . As long as it is bright and pleasant (which you mention it is)...I think w should be good.

However I would want to look a bit more before we decide...probably the fact that our trip is a little away makes me want to just look at more apartments...

But thanks again to all of you for answering and clarifying things for me...