First time in Paris - 6th or 7th?
 

Hi, I will be traveling with my husband and another couple to Paris for 5 nights in late October of this year and I'm torn on which arrondissement to stay in. I have ready many threads and I still can't decide! We are in our mid to late 20's and are looking for a village like atmosphere within walking distance to cafes/markets/shops/restaurants (and also a metro stop). We plan on visiting the Louvre, Notre Dame, Museo d'Orsay, Sacra Coeur, Eiffel Tower and a few other sites. Any guidance/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

At the moment, we are torn between these two apartments on vrbo.com but are NOT committed -

http://www.vrbo.com/80453
http://www.vrbo.com/90955

Again, any guidance or suggestions would be very appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help!

We just stayed on Rue du Odeon in the 6th near St. Germain and loved it. Odeon Metro stop has two lines which is good. There were lots of shops and restaurants and a large covered market near by.

Both apartments look lovely. The first time I went to Paris I stayed in the 7th. It is very quiet in the evening. For a first timer, I loved it because I was a block from the Eiffel Tower which for me was important. The third time I went I stayed behind the Louvre in the 1st/2nd. This was better for being closer to sites and much more lively in the evening but I still would not have changed the fact that the Eiffel was right there for me on that first trip. It made it magical. Good luck with your decision!

You may want to look at Vacation In Paris as well. They have been well received on these boards. We enjoyed the pricing in dollars, with the keys arriving before we left. Here's one in your area and pricing.
www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_155.htm

Either one of those locations is within walking distance of shops, cafes, etc., most of central Paris is. I don't think one can predict whether you personally would like one location over the other, so I would choose the one you like best. I think St Germain is not very village-y in feeling any more, but Paris is a large city, so a lot of areas are not like a village, at least not in the most central areas. I don't consider corner of rue Cler and Grenelle village-y, either, but they are both close to stores and a metro stop, if that's what you want by that idea.

You should probably just go by which you like best. They hve the same owner, so there won't be any difference in that regard. I couldn't see any exact location on the second one which would affect my opinion. Saying near St Germain and Sevres Babylone metro is one thing, but I would still want to know exactly. I think that location ios somewhat more convenient for metro options, actually, and you can walk to more things in that area. Over near rue Cler you can't walk to much but Eiffel Tower, and that metro line doesn't go E/W, you have to transfer.

Gomiki and Dejais - thanks for the feedback!!!

apersuader65 - thanks! I have looked at that apartment (well the two of them) and I loved them. We just thought that a true two bedroom would be more comfortable/roomy for us. But I guess we should take another look at it.

Thanks again for the replies!

Between the two you listed, 90955 is much better location, especially for a younger (under 40 years) group.

Hello Mtchll - I stayed in the 80455 apartment with my two kids last summer. It was right across the street from a bar that was the neighborhood hot spot for 20 and 30 somethings. In fact, I am in that neighborhood right now and there is a lot going on in the evenings...the cafes on rue Cler have been packed the last two nights with people (young adults) enjoying the great weather. This is my fifth time staying off rue Cler and I always find it bustling in the eveings - so I have had the opposite experience of Dejais.

The apartment is nice and roomy and the owner is a lovely woman. Thus I would vote for that one. Be advised though that the second bedroom is not very big and I think has two twin beds (but usually they can be made into a queen).

Good luck and have a great trip!

Christina - did not know about that about the metro line by rue Cler not going e/w... thanks!

thanks also for your other comments!

Getting in and out of the École Militaire/Rue Cler area is much easier on the bus than by following the lemmings into the Métro. If the bus idea has any appeal, see this:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nte-b-cest.cfm

The N°s 28, 69, 80, 87, and 92 stops are within a three-minute walk - one of them will get you anywhere in town.

A geographic Métro map is here:

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...secteur&fm=pdf

As you can see, Ligne 8 does, in fact, run mostly east/west.

bardo1 and dlejhunt - thanks so much for the feedback/comments

Robespierre - that helps a lot!!! thanks!!!

The buses are the way to go from that location, as Roberspierre mentioned.

You can also walk to so many of the tourist attractions..ET, Rodin, Invalides, D'Orsay. Walk along the Seine, walk across the Seince to all the high fashion designer stores, the rue Cler market, but also Saxe, Breteuil, President Wilson.

I don't find it "dead" in the evening..not at midnight, anyway....

Enjoy...

Joan