Guenmai's Paris apartment rental experience
Mar 12th, 2009, 03:11 PM
#61
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I haven't stayed in the 18th. I've stayed several times in the 19th, at a Parisian friend's apartment, as a guest of her and her stepfather. I liked where they lived.
There is a fodorite who, I think lives in the 18th. I've been in the 18th, it's just personally too far out for me and it's not an area that I'm fond of. I'm just one who likes being closer to the Seine. How long will you be in Paris? And are you female and will you be alone? I was just wondering as I'm female and travel alone and I always have to think about safety issues more than my male friends who travel. Happy Travels!
There is a fodorite who, I think lives in the 18th. I've been in the 18th, it's just personally too far out for me and it's not an area that I'm fond of. I'm just one who likes being closer to the Seine. How long will you be in Paris? And are you female and will you be alone? I was just wondering as I'm female and travel alone and I always have to think about safety issues more than my male friends who travel. Happy Travels!
Mar 12th, 2009, 10:48 PM
#63
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OK. Well, if you decide on the 18th, you'll need to take the metro and buses to get around as it's not walking distance to the main sites. And taxis are expensive in Paris.
The closest metro station to you would probably be Abbesses. I haven't been to that metro station at night. I just remember many years ago reading to be careful near that station at night and especially if one was a female and alone. I've actually only been in the 18th during the day.
However, for decades, I used to eat dinner at Haynes Restaurant on the rue Clauzel in the 9th and just south of your area and a wee bit south of Pigalle. I used to take the subway all the way from the 6th to that area and back to the 6th and was alone. Although it was eerie being in the St. George metro station at night and several times I was the only person in there, nothing happened to me. Happy Travels!
The closest metro station to you would probably be Abbesses. I haven't been to that metro station at night. I just remember many years ago reading to be careful near that station at night and especially if one was a female and alone. I've actually only been in the 18th during the day.
However, for decades, I used to eat dinner at Haynes Restaurant on the rue Clauzel in the 9th and just south of your area and a wee bit south of Pigalle. I used to take the subway all the way from the 6th to that area and back to the 6th and was alone. Although it was eerie being in the St. George metro station at night and several times I was the only person in there, nothing happened to me. Happy Travels!
Mar 12th, 2009, 11:13 PM
#64
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I just noticed your question regarding if the 18th was a good area for a first timer. I personally wouldn't choose it for a first timer as I mentioned above it's not close to the main sites. And I'm sure some fodorites will suggest that the metro ride isn't that long into the heart of town.
However, I personally, after a long day of walking, shopping, and doing some of the sites would not want to have to trek all the way back up to the 18th . Plus, I personally like to be able to zip back to, either my rented apartment or hotel, in the late afternoon, to drop off bags/packages etc....and then rest up for half an hour or so before going back out again.
As I've commented to first timers to Paris many times before, I think that first timers become too concentrated on the apartment/hotel than on convenient and central location. Paris is a great walking city and I like to be able to walk to a lot of areas and not have to be metro dependent. I take buses more than the metro unless I have to get somewhere very fast. But many first timers, and repeat visitors, are nervous about exploring the bus routes although they shouldn't be.
As I've recently recommended, they should go to a bookstore or department store in Paris and invest in ( 6 Euros, in 2003) the thin, blue guide called, "Le Bus-Repertoire des 80 lignes, by L'Indispensable". There is a map of each bus route in Paris along with a one page metro map that is clear and with large print.
It's a lot more fun and interesting to be above ground than underground. Being above ground, will help you immensely in getting your bearings of the city. Hope this has helped. Happy Travels!
However, I personally, after a long day of walking, shopping, and doing some of the sites would not want to have to trek all the way back up to the 18th . Plus, I personally like to be able to zip back to, either my rented apartment or hotel, in the late afternoon, to drop off bags/packages etc....and then rest up for half an hour or so before going back out again.
As I've commented to first timers to Paris many times before, I think that first timers become too concentrated on the apartment/hotel than on convenient and central location. Paris is a great walking city and I like to be able to walk to a lot of areas and not have to be metro dependent. I take buses more than the metro unless I have to get somewhere very fast. But many first timers, and repeat visitors, are nervous about exploring the bus routes although they shouldn't be.
As I've recently recommended, they should go to a bookstore or department store in Paris and invest in ( 6 Euros, in 2003) the thin, blue guide called, "Le Bus-Repertoire des 80 lignes, by L'Indispensable". There is a map of each bus route in Paris along with a one page metro map that is clear and with large print.
It's a lot more fun and interesting to be above ground than underground. Being above ground, will help you immensely in getting your bearings of the city. Hope this has helped. Happy Travels!
Mar 16th, 2009, 06:55 PM
#65
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Hi Guenmai,
Need some advice since you're so familiar with Paris. Am thinking of renting an apartment in the 10th arr. for 2 of us, mother and adult daughter in mid Aug. A friend recommended www.beau-paris.com and I found that this MAGENTA apt seems to suit our limited budget.
http://www.beau-paris.com/apartment-...8_english.html
What's your opinion of this apt and the area? Would it be safe for 2 female firstimers? The address is 29 Blvd de Magenta.
Need some advice since you're so familiar with Paris. Am thinking of renting an apartment in the 10th arr. for 2 of us, mother and adult daughter in mid Aug. A friend recommended www.beau-paris.com and I found that this MAGENTA apt seems to suit our limited budget.
http://www.beau-paris.com/apartment-...8_english.html
What's your opinion of this apt and the area? Would it be safe for 2 female firstimers? The address is 29 Blvd de Magenta.
Mar 16th, 2009, 09:57 PM
#66
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Blvd. de Magenta is a long Blvd and I'm not sure where #29 is. Do you know the metro stop? In a few weeks, I'll be staying with a Parisian friend and the apartment that he owns is in the 10th, but on rue Lafayette, very near the Louis Blanc metro station. Blvd Magenta does cross the rue Lafayette.
Last spring I went over to his new neighborhood to check out his new apartment as he'd just inherited it from his grandmother. He had previously owned another apartment, but near Gare de Lyon.
He gave me a walking tour of the area as he offered me to stay with him on this upcoming trip. He wanted me to feel comfortable with the area and the apartment. I'm a real left bank person, but have stayed on the right bank. I loved staying in the 19th, on a few trips, not too far away from the 10th.
We walked the area, but didn't go down as far as rue Magenta, but not far from it, and the area was quite nice, especially when we walked down to the Canal Martin area.
If you can give me a metro station, I can e-mail him and ask him about that specific area. Happy Travels!
Last spring I went over to his new neighborhood to check out his new apartment as he'd just inherited it from his grandmother. He had previously owned another apartment, but near Gare de Lyon.
He gave me a walking tour of the area as he offered me to stay with him on this upcoming trip. He wanted me to feel comfortable with the area and the apartment. I'm a real left bank person, but have stayed on the right bank. I loved staying in the 19th, on a few trips, not too far away from the 10th.
We walked the area, but didn't go down as far as rue Magenta, but not far from it, and the area was quite nice, especially when we walked down to the Canal Martin area.
If you can give me a metro station, I can e-mail him and ask him about that specific area. Happy Travels!
Mar 16th, 2009, 10:29 PM
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If you check http://maps.google.fr/ and enter the address, you will see that no 29 is very close to Jacques Bonsergent Metro.
And if you go to the French Yellow Pages, you can see two photos of the building itself - http://tinyurl.com/c75p2n
Just enter the address. There may be other sites that do this now, but this is the one I generally use.
And if you go to the French Yellow Pages, you can see two photos of the building itself - http://tinyurl.com/c75p2n
Just enter the address. There may be other sites that do this now, but this is the one I generally use.
Mar 17th, 2009, 07:14 AM
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I forgot I could have checked the google map. It was a bit late last night as I was posting. The area should be fine. I've been to the Republic area and didn't have a problem there. HAve a great trip. Happy Travels!
Apr 27th, 2009, 09:26 AM
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Hi Guenmai,
You mentioned that you knew where the phones were located for you to call your airport-connection shuttle service. Could you tell me where they are located? I'm coming in on Air France from the USA.
Thanks!
Monica
You mentioned that you knew where the phones were located for you to call your airport-connection shuttle service. Could you tell me where they are located? I'm coming in on Air France from the USA.
Thanks!
Monica
Apr 27th, 2009, 09:43 AM
#74
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I don't remember off the top of my head where they were. They were not in the baggage claim area. After leaving the baggage claim area and entering the airport terminal area, then there's usually an information booth and/or public phones just scattered throughout the area. I didn't need to use any money to call airport-connection as it was a toll free number. I just dialed it from the first public phone I saw in the terminal. Have a great trip. Happy Travels!
Oct 11th, 2009, 09:04 AM
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An issue that we had when we rented apartments as part of a long vacation was that the keys for one apartment were mailed to us after we had already left for our trip. We didn't realize that they were going to be mailed, and thus had real problems gaining access to our apartment.
OP obviously didn't have this difficulty. This comment is for future readers of this thread who are newbies like us.
OP obviously didn't have this difficulty. This comment is for future readers of this thread who are newbies like us.
Oct 11th, 2009, 01:49 PM
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Was your key problem with vacationinparis.com? The key situation was quite clear. The agency asked me if I would be flying directly from home to Paris and I told them that I would, so that they knew to mail the key to my home address and before I left. Had I not left from home, then they would have made other arrangements. I had absolutely no "key" problem. It was all clear upfront. Happy Travels!
Oct 14th, 2009, 09:03 PM
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I don't think they ever asked us about where we would be and when they should send us the key. We got an email from them a couple of weeks before we were to arrive in Paris that the keys had been mailed, but we were already on the road by then. It all worked out, but it was a little stressful. That's why I'm warning others who are inexperienced, as we were.
