Choosing between 2 apartments in Marais area...Help!
Feb 25th, 2007, 09:36 AM
#22
Well, personally i would not choose either of those two in your OP. i think they both look very weird. For the price they are giving, you could get a nicer hotel imo. I know some people are sold on the apartment rental, but for myself I enjoy the ammenities of even a simple hotel. Easier to book and know for sure what you are getting (or move if you don't like what you find which is not possible with apartments, you're in you're in).
Feb 25th, 2007, 10:25 AM
#23
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I think this last VRBO on rue St Paul (or near it) is much better, as long as they don't mind the five flights walk.
I think the "village St Paul" is considered part of the Marais as it is called now as a neighborhood by many people, and it is one of the earliest main historic points of the Marais. There was a large cloister of nuns right in that area (and the basilica St Paul) which was built right on the border of the swamp. So I guess since the village St Paul was on the border, not actually IN the swamp (or Marais), it may not be in that sense. I do think the Marais is more officially consider the area north of rue de Rivoli/St Antoine.
However, it is known for the antique shops, and is mentioned a lot as part of the Marais by some--Michelin guides consider it part of the Marais. It's interesting, but I checked with the mayor's office of the 4th, and they don't use the term Marais for any part of the 4th as a quartier name. They consider that part the quartier St Gervais, all the way to the border of the 3rd arr. There are French websites that consider it part of the Marais, also, such as this one:
http://marais.evous.fr
The Hotel de Sens is right near there, which is an interesting example of a civil Medieval building.
Well, that's a sidetrack as I'm just interested in French architectural history and urban planning, but as I said, I think this new one is superior to the first two.
I'm basically in Suze's camp, though, in many ways, although those apts are pretty cheap so you'll get more space in one than a single hotel room, that's for sure. I just think for a first-time visitor to Paris and for a relatively short stay, a hotel is usually preferable in many ways (and a lot easier, and less risky), unless there are kids or a family involved. Especially given this is July and you won't get AC in an apt. But if your friends love the apt. idea, they may have different priorities than I do in accommodations.
I think the "village St Paul" is considered part of the Marais as it is called now as a neighborhood by many people, and it is one of the earliest main historic points of the Marais. There was a large cloister of nuns right in that area (and the basilica St Paul) which was built right on the border of the swamp. So I guess since the village St Paul was on the border, not actually IN the swamp (or Marais), it may not be in that sense. I do think the Marais is more officially consider the area north of rue de Rivoli/St Antoine.
However, it is known for the antique shops, and is mentioned a lot as part of the Marais by some--Michelin guides consider it part of the Marais. It's interesting, but I checked with the mayor's office of the 4th, and they don't use the term Marais for any part of the 4th as a quartier name. They consider that part the quartier St Gervais, all the way to the border of the 3rd arr. There are French websites that consider it part of the Marais, also, such as this one:
http://marais.evous.fr
The Hotel de Sens is right near there, which is an interesting example of a civil Medieval building.
Well, that's a sidetrack as I'm just interested in French architectural history and urban planning, but as I said, I think this new one is superior to the first two.
I'm basically in Suze's camp, though, in many ways, although those apts are pretty cheap so you'll get more space in one than a single hotel room, that's for sure. I just think for a first-time visitor to Paris and for a relatively short stay, a hotel is usually preferable in many ways (and a lot easier, and less risky), unless there are kids or a family involved. Especially given this is July and you won't get AC in an apt. But if your friends love the apt. idea, they may have different priorities than I do in accommodations.
Feb 28th, 2007, 03:27 AM
#24
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Thanks for the feedback...
My friend has contacted the rental agency and hopefully she will be able to make successful arrangements. She never heard back from parisattitude after an exchange of the initial e-mails.
In any case she has booked a back up hotel via venere at the Hotel Cluny Sorbonne so she's not stressed about.
Kerry - D (my friend) contacted the owners of your aprt (which looks great BTW) and they did negotiate a lower price but it was still way out of her range. But have a wonderful trip and I look forward to your trip report when you get back. I was in Paris in May last year and the weather was great. Keep a brollie handy though.
Sparks - I agree. I'm hoping D will test out this place for my next trip....nothing like using your friends as genuine pigs for travel experiments...LOL
My friend has contacted the rental agency and hopefully she will be able to make successful arrangements. She never heard back from parisattitude after an exchange of the initial e-mails.
In any case she has booked a back up hotel via venere at the Hotel Cluny Sorbonne so she's not stressed about.
Kerry - D (my friend) contacted the owners of your aprt (which looks great BTW) and they did negotiate a lower price but it was still way out of her range. But have a wonderful trip and I look forward to your trip report when you get back. I was in Paris in May last year and the weather was great. Keep a brollie handy though.
Sparks - I agree. I'm hoping D will test out this place for my next trip....nothing like using your friends as genuine pigs for travel experiments...LOL
