I have just booked an apartment with Vacation in Paris http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_199.htm
Has anyone had experience with this apartment? This is my first time to Paris and France.

any particular reason you chose this location?

The folks at Vacation in Paris suggested it for first time visitor. The apartment was large enough for 5 of us and it was afordable.

I thought it seem neat to be close to Notre Dame and the art museum.

You'll find the location to be fine - close to a few of the sites and an easy walk to Metro. there are several good places to eat in the area (La Ambassade d'Auvergne, Le 404 and Au Bascou are three. We have rented from Vacation In Paris and have found them easy to work with and the apartments are nice. Groceries are also close as is the Les Halles area for further shopping.

You'll be pretty close to the Montorgueil market for food. I've used VIP before and just booked #8 for next March. When will you be in Paris?

Thanks for explaining. You'll enjoy Rue Montorgeuil . YOu're also not far from the big and very beautiful department store Galeries Lafayette I think.

We will be there during the holidays. My daughter is studying abroad in Dublin. We are going to Dublin for a few days and then to Paris for 5 nights.

You can certainly walk from your apartment to Notre Dame, though I would not describe the two as proximate and the walk will take some time. There are many smaller art [and other] museums in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, besides the Pompidou.

We rented from VIP in the spring of 2009 and found the dealings quite satisfactory.

Enjoy your visit.

It's about 1 km from Notre Dame. I can't imagine why VIP recommended that location in particular for a first-timer, I don't get it. It's okay, if you like the apt and it is in your price range, although not an area I particularly like that much. I wouldn't worry about it, I just don't like it around there that much. Being near museums isn't usually an attractive proposition IMO, areas around them aren't usually the best for neighborhoods where you want to live.

They have some good discount luggage shops on bd de Sebastopol nearby, and other discount shops.