Guidance on Final Choices for Paris Apartment
 

In an earlier post I received many great suggestions for where to begin looking for an apartment for myself and my eight year old daughter (we'll be there this December 12-18). I've finally narrowed down my search (it's time to sleep at night instead of pouring over websites!) and I would love any input on the location of these choices. All of the apartments are comparable in terms of price and amenities so I haven't added links. I'm really looking for location input (I've been on several websites that allow me to look at where they are but not being familiar with Paris it's a bit of a blind look) such as proximity to good metro stations, is the area generally safe and a great place to stay or not. As I hope to offset some of our expenses by cooking, being located near an outdoor market would be great also.
In the 2nd
4 Rue Doussoubs (near Rue Tiquetonne) in the Quarter Montorqueil
In the 3rd
40 Rue Chapon
8 Rue des Tournelles
3 Rue Rambuteaux
In the 5th
Rue Rollin
In the 11th
Rue Jean Pierre Timbaud (near Metro Parmenter,Republic, Oberkampf and Goncourt
Also no Street name but near Place de Bastille and on Bastille and Voltair Metro.

They are all OK - Rue Jean Pierre Timbaud is a bit far out.

Both 4 Rue Doussoubs and 3 Rue Rambuteau are near Les Halles (foodie heaven)

Rue Rollin is very close to a fantastic outdoor food market on Rue Mouffetard.

The above three would be my suggestions.

I'm partial to the 3rd arr., so I looked at those addresses on Google maps. I would definitely choose rue des Tournelles. It's a lovely area near the Place des Vosges. There is a small market on rue St. Gilles. They are all near bus and metro lines, as well as cafes and shops, I'm sure. But rue Chapon looks a bit run down, and rue Rambuteau is a big busy street. Why not go for the cosy neighborhood feel?

Thanks bardo1 and melissa19 - these are exactly the kind of responses I was hoping for. I too have been leaning towards a neighborhood feel!

I stayed on rue Rollin last Sept. and it was just great. Close to Place de la Contrescarpe, the Sunday market and restaurants of all kinds. Rue Rollin is very quiet. I'm renting in the 11e arr. this year to discover another area but would gladly stay on rue Rollin again.

I'd like rue Rollin as I've stayed near there a couple times and like the neighborhood. Coincidentally, I just stayed in a hotel in Paris a few weeks ago just off rue des Tournelles so went up and down it a few times. I really did not like it at all. It's narrow, nothing attractive at all, and a bus goes up and down it, so it would probably be noisy since it's so narrow. I didn't see anything lovely about it, so there you go. It would be convenient enough, though.

sorry, I may be thinking of the bus 96 that goes up rue de Turenne, not Tournelles. I still didn't like Tournelles much, though. It's just kind of dreary around there, I think, narrow crowded dirty streets, etc. I'm not a big fan of the Marais, though.

Christina, Thanks for your thoughts. In my last post you gave me some good advice which made me rethink where I was looking. I appreciate your knowledge and your willingness to share it.

We are considering an apartment in the Arrondissement 18, Paris, Ile-De-France (Paris Area) for November. vrbo.com/178838

Would welcome anyone's thoughts on this area and the apartments. Thanks!

I stayed on JP Timbaud in the 11th a couple of years ago. I loved staying in that area but it might not suit everyone, especially on a first visit and/or if you aren't used to being in big cities.

It's a normal, diverse, mixed-class neighborhood that does not cater to tourists. All the amenities are there- grocery stores, a food market, a pharmacy, bakeries, restaurants, a lot of trendy bars. It's about 10 minutes by bus or metro to most sights in the tourist core- you will have to take public transportation to do your sightseeing every day.