ground floor paris in the 7th- good idea?
 

We have been searching for apartment rentals for our week in Paris and found a reasonably priced listing in the 7th. It's near Les Invalides and Place Vauban, but it is on the ground floor.

Has anyone stayed in this area and/or have opinions on staying on the ground level? It has french doors opening to a garden area but facing the place and the dome. Basically I'm wondering about general noise and safety. Otherwise it sounds ideal for us and our daughter.

For safety - I would contact them and ask what type of security they have.

For noise - its a city and there will be at least some street noise - without knowing the exact address - I don't see how anyone can know.

Here is a link to the apartment with photos: http://www.beau-paris.com/_apt/vauban/en_index.htm

Maybe someone has stayed in the area? It seems to have good amenities, it's just the ground floor issue that makes me hesitate. thanks so much!

I wouldn't worry about the ground floor issue. It's a great neighborhood, certainly very safe and not terribly noisy. I've been staying in a hotel a few blocks from there for years and never once had any concerns about safety at all. I don't think break-ins are all that common in Paris, certainly not in that part of town.

I lived in this area and on the ground floor. I wouldn't worry about anything. The shutters will lock and the windows can also be open but secured. It's a good neighboorhood

Thanks for the quick replies. We're waiting to hear back on availability.

If anyone has stayed in this unit or bldg I'd still love to hear your comments.

The 7th is perhaps the most secure area of Paris, especially around Invalides, since government buildings are nearby. Some streets have permanent police-guard presence. A ground floor apartment with French doors onto a common area is inevitably more vulnerable to a break-in. The "high period" for break-ins in July/August, when many people are away. I don't mean to overemphasize the risk and mainly am commenting on it because you asked about security. A key question in that regard is what sort of security there is for those French doors. Exterior shutters, preferably in wood, with some serious locking hardware? Otherwise, a common "minus" of grond floor apartments is less natural light. This depends on the exposition and the size of the common area, which I trust is a courtyard. (I assume it's not private or the owner or agent would have indicated.) But at any rate, you are not likely to be spending a lot of the daytime in the apartment, so if the light is not ideal, it should not be a major issue, or as much a one as it would be for permanent residents.

I'm going to offer a slightly negative view. We rented a ground floor apartment in the 16th (also considered a very good, safe neighborhood) and had to roll down ALL the security shutters every time we left the apartment, even for 5 minutes. That got to be annoying after a while. The owner of the apartment put a special clause requiring us to do that (for insurance reasons, I guess, or whatever) in the rental agreement. You might be required to do the same. If you don't roll down those shutters when you leave and something does happen, it could be trouble for you.
Also, noise shouldn't be a problem, but be prepared to keep the curtains closed or you will have tourists (and others) staring in your windows when they walk by.
If you have a choice between an equally appealing apartment that isn't on the ground floor and this one, I'd take the apartment on a higher floor.

Well, I went to the Web site you referenced. Frpm the photos, the apartment appears to be above street level. It seems from the floor plan that the French doors are in the living room. What is the outside space with the balustrade? It looks like a walkway with the street beyond at a lower level. If this is the case, who has access to the walkway? Anyone? I suspect that the bedroom window is on a courtyard, limiting noise issues while you are sleeping. Overall, the apartment looks nice, and the price reasonable for the area.

They have their own website too: http://www.placevauban.com/

If you look at these photos, it is right on the ground floor but it looks like the walkway is just for residents, then the greenspace. But I don't see any security shutters!? I wonder if we'll h ave to have the curtains drawn whenever we're there...

Kelly,

I don't know when you are going or if you are set on the apartment you found, but Relais Bosquet (a pretty good 3 star hotel) now rents two different apartments.

If you are paying the 900 euro quoted on the site you listed, you might want to check these two out as they are in a similar price range. I haven't stayed in either, but have them bookmarked for future consideration. I think you can check the availability and pricing online. They don't appear to be on the ground floor, but I haven't booked a trip, so I haven't asked.

http://www.relaisbosquet.com/English/Apartment01.htm

Have a great trip!
Sally

Drop down shutters can be pretty discrete and may not be visible from photos. You would need to ask. The drop-down variety would not be as secure as wooden shutters but if access to the walkway is limited to residents of the building this is somewhat less of an issue. As for drawing the curtains, it depends on your privacy needs and what you're planning to do in the living room!

I looked at the owner's Web site. This looks like a very attractive proposition. My inclination would be to pose a few questions, and if the response is reassuring, leave the jewels and furs at home and go for it!

I just looked at the web site. This is a very strange apt. I can't imagine having French doors opening on to the street. And, it says people enter the apt. this way even tho' there's an interior door ?? Looks like there's a roll down shutter and 'glass' curtains, no proper draperies. This means that at night you will have to pull the shutter down for privacy.

I've asked about any extra security for the french doors... No furs or jewels, ha!

I'd just feel more secure with more than a french door between me and the outside world while I'm asleep. :-)

Sally, we actually stayed at the Relais Bosquet last time we were in Paris a few yeras ago. Thanks for the tip. Maybe I should look into their apts also. Not so much of an 'unknown' although it seems to me that one of their apts was ground floor too.

Oh, I'm still awaiting the response about the french doors. It does seem weird that they open to the front but otherwise the place seems ideal for our needs. A big "if". Decisions, decisions.

The walkway past the apartments doesn't look restricted but it does look set back from "the public" so hopefully there wouldn't be people wandering past the doors. We're not set on this place, just trying to nail something down for next month (we couldn't resist).

Vacationinparis.com has a few apartments in this neighborhood. Have you checked with them? We had good luck with thme in the past.

If there are no door-type wooden shutters or exterior, PVC roll-down shutters (they roll down in tracks, and they do provide less protection than wood) then I would think twice. What about the street-garden border? Is there fence? You could pose that question to the owner/agent, too. Your comfort is the most important thing.

Hello Kelly. I agree with Dave, safety is the most important consideration, especially since you will have your daughter with you, but even if she wasn't.

Kelly, even if you turn out to be as safe as can be, if you are worried about the safety issue I cannot see you relaxing and enjoying your trip as you will want to.

I have never been to Paris but from reading your thread I would find somewhere else to stay. Personally this apartment would not work for me from the description you have given.

Good wishes on working everything out.

The landlord replied that there are security rolldown blinds and only residents are supposed to be in the walkway or gardens, so that satisfied me for the 7e area.

I'll post our experiences with the apt later this month, perhaps even from the unit using their DSL line. Thanks everyone for your advice!