Guenmai,

We were going to stay in the Welcome hotel for a few nights but our plans have been all over the place and we decided on Brugges for a few nights instead.

Please report back on your property. I liked having the company here in the states for me it makes it easier with paying etc.

allieS:

My family stayed in an apartment in the 2nd, about 100ft from the first. The company was from the U.S. (in N.J.) and charged in US$. They had a number of apartments in the areas you seek and the price point as well. They are located at www.vacationinparis.com.
Our trip, in 2006, was our first to Paris and only I understood any French from school many years earlier. We did not have any troubles. Other than my wife not understanding why all of the stores were named the same- SOLDES!

Good luck and enjoy.

Dawnnoelm...It's good you didn't stay at the Welcome as it's VERY noisy. That's one reason I had to move out of there. I stayed there so many years only because of the price and because of my hotel manager friend.
I was in Hotel de Seine from 1981-1990 and then they renovated and my $50. a night room in 1990... it used to be around $18.00 a night in 1981... Smiles... was hiked up to around $125 after the renovation. I was shown the place after the renovation which was no biggy to me. The old place looked just fine. Prior to Hotel de Seine, I stayed all over Paris for 5 years of trips trying to figure out which area I liked best.
So, I moved to the Welcome...owned by the same person as Hotel de Seine... and stayed there throughout the 90s. Then on to Hotel Clement after staying with one of my Parisien hotel manager friends for a few trips. So, I'm SO happy to have finally found an apartment in my area of many years. Happy Travels!

Go for the apartment, live a s a Parisian, even if just for a moment. You will not be disappointed!!

Well, I decided to go for an apartment. There are a few I've picked out that are available with Vacationinparis.com and parisbestlodge.com. See below...

ID#51 - Pompidou-Marais One Bedroom Apartment
12 rue Pecquay
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_51.htm

ID#64 - St. Sauveur One Bedroom Apartment
39 rue Saint Sauveur
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_64.htm

ID#122 - St Andre des Arts One Bedroom Loft
30 rue St. Andre des Arts
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_122.htm

www.parisbestlodge.com/studiocallot.html


Can anyone offer advice on the one with the best location?? At the moment I am leaning to #122 in St Germain.

I also have 122 bookmarked, it looks like a lovely little apartment, great location and it gets good reviews here often. I like that the bedroom is upstairs so that someone can be downstairs and not bother the other person...good for you for taking the plunge, I hope you have a wonderful week in Paris.

I personally like ID#122 - St Andre des Arts. I like 6th arr and find it convenient to walk to most sights. It also has an elevator and the size is decent (~400 sq ft). My only concern is how noisy it may be. I'm not too familiar with the neighboring streets but just want to bring that up.

The ID#51 - Pompidou-Marais one looks more spacious and sunny. Even has a balcony. It doesn't mention the size of the apt (at least I couldn't find it). I think the apt is nice but I'm just not a fan of its location. The other problem is no elevator and the apt is on the 4th floor (ie, US 5th floor).

ID#64 - St. Sauveur is the same size as #122, but for some reason looks smaller in the photos. There is no real dining table - just the kitchen "bar" area.

The last one is tiny - not sure if you really want that!

Just re-read this thread and I have to say, the idea of StCirq flummoxed by a washing machine does amuse me...

Hi allieS, I had my first trip to Paris in May 2006 and stayed in an apartment (schoolgirl French only). We managed just fine and absolutely loved the experience of being in an apartment. We had a few problems (I broke a tooth!!) but the people we rented through were on hand, even to the extend of booking a dental appointment for me. It was such a thrill to head out early in the morning to buy croissants and then having breakfast in our own living room, looking out over the little balcony to the street below. We are from Sydney and are going back in June this year and have booked another apartment www.parisbestlodge.com/luxembourg.html. I'm excited already and really can't wait - 10 days in Paris!!!

Well, its done, I have booked apartment #122 in St Germain with Vacationinparis. The price I thought was quite good for a 40m2 apartment - $1194 US for six nights (equivalent to 770E, so only 100E more for an apartment twice the size!).

Now I just have London, Edinburgh, Rome, Cinque Terre, Montreux, Lauterbrunnen and Venice to go!! So much fun :-)

Hi allieS, from a fellow Aussie.

Just want to throw in my 'two bobbs worth'.........we, family of 4 (2 adults 2 teenagers) stayed in an apartment in Paris xmas two years ago. parisperfect.com the most fun, the best time we've had. No french for us, just a french/english book and off we went. Had a fantasic time, you will love it. (ps, don't ask for a bottle of chardonay.....its the only time we saw any french arrogance...they actually laughed 'at' us......very off putting, but makes a great story)

Hi aussiedreamer,

Thanks for the extra boost in confidence. But what was funny about Chardonnay?

I don't want to tell anyone how great it is to book thru parisbestlodge.com, I am afraid you all will take all his great apartments. Seriously this is a great agency and the Thierry is very honest. I rented Studio Rivoli a few years ago and loved it.

Not sure allieS.............but we didn't ask for it again.

From another fellow aussie, good luck with your planning. Your list of other places to stay sound very much like our own itinerary for Sept/Oct. You'll find so much great info on here. I've had almost every question answered already and feel a lot more confident in booking our own holiday (and had much more fun researching too!!) Try www.sleepinitaly.com for apartments in Rome, we found some really nice ones. GOOD LUCK

Hi Allie

Wy husband works for Accor and obviously in Paris we have a huge range of hotels to choose from at a great price. We avoid them like the plague in Europe.

October 2006 we rented a tiny garret in the Latin quarter from Paris Studios. It's great to have your own place, pick up food bring it back, meet locals in the stairwell and just make it your own.

We also did the same in Rome (where we spoke no Italian).

This year we are renting a very large apartment that sleeps 10 for Xmas in the Marais. We are going with two other families we met at prenatal group 17 years ago. We have 4 teenagers who are basically brothers and sisters.

It's great that you are planning on picking up some french, but even bonjour, merci and Au revoir go a long way in building a rapport.