sap

Ooh - this is like being a personal shopper.

Definitely, definitely Lupin. Much better decor; love the design on the hardwood floors; bonus balcony; plus separate tub AND shower.

tripgirl

Jo-Ann: I love love the Bastille market, so I do need to be there for the last week

sap: you are funny!

in looking at the map again, I think I was in error: the Lupin is actually on corner of archives and francs bourgeois.

Soooo

The only concern is that too busy, versus the quieter Hyacinth( been on quai de Bourbon many times)

tuscanlifeedit

OK, that gives me something I can be definite about. The food shopping on the block before Francs Bourgeois, toward Beauborg, is fabulous. Pain de Sucre... so good. An Italian deli, an Asian traiteur, a Middle Eastern one, and bakery nearer Sebastopol with wonderful goods, especially sandwiches, good shop for coffee and maybe more that I can't remember. I ate myself silly in that neighborhood.

http://www.patisseriepaindesucre.com/

tripgirl

Tuscan

I just want to be sure that the Lupin feels neighborhoody. I know the area is packed with goodies; that's not a worry

I just don't want to repeat the feel of being on the Quai de montebello this past Aug. Just right on a street with not a real neighborhood feel

Leely2

I like the one by rue des Archives. I would be reluctant to get too near to the Pompidou craziness too (or even some of the Franc Bourgeois craziness), but what a lovely apartment. And I think once you get your neighborhood bearings you'll know which streets to walk down when you want things a little more quiet. That's how I've done it. You can walk "out" to Square du Temple, Jacques Genin, and so on, should you desire to get out of the throngs.

My favorite area is <i>behind</i> Place des Vosges near Chemin Vert metro--Rue des Minimes, Rue Saint Gilles, etc., but I've perhaps gotten too narrow. And really I'd stay just about anywhere.

tripgirl

Well Leely that area is my fav too and that's why I booked the PP apt there and that was the one that fell thru today. That's why I am having trouble with the Marais area closer to Pompidou: I like closer to Bastille better and north of Place des Vosges

tuscanlifeedit

Based on what you're sharing, I'm not sure that neighborhood (Archives and Francs Bourgeois) would quite suit. It's not all that neighborhoody, as you say.

We tend to like the slightly gritty, busy, counter culture feel of those couple of blocks, but they aren't quite loaded with charm. I do think the food shopping adds to the neighborhood feel, though.

I've got a feeling that none of this is helping, so I will not add more, but wish you well in your choice.

Leely2

Oh sorry, tripgirl, I hadn't realized that.

I still think I'd give Rue des Archives a go. What a view, and there's so much to do/see/eat nearby. You can walk back to/through your/our fave area via the smaller streets.

MaineGG

We just came home from Paris yesterday and the day before we walked along the rue des Archives from the rue des 4 Fils to the southern end where a building of the BHV department store is located. It seems to be a fairly busy street, one-way northbound, and is the bus route for the 75 bus we took when we left the Marais. That apartment looks lovely, and the view over the Archives is nice, but I would expect that there would be pretty continuous traffic below your balcony.

On a previous stay in Paris, we stayed on the rue Charles V. It was a very quiet street and a convenient location. An easy walk over into the Marais, or over to the Ile St. Louis, or up to the rue St. Antoine for shopping, or over to the Bastille for the Richard-Lenoir market. Not especially "neighborhoody" though.

Great views from the Ile St. Louis apartment.

Too many good choices!

Judy

Have you checked to see if the two below the PP apartment are available for your week?

tripgirl

Thanks all, you are all so kind!!!

Decisions,decisions.....

TPAYT

Just returned last night from our 4th stay on Ile St. Louis so for me, I'd choose the apt. on the Isle for location alone. 3 bakeries, 2 grocery shops, within a 2 block area. Guest apt. office right there for reservations, problems, etc.

Ile St. Louis is convenient to everything and so many restaurants right there. Our new favorite was "L'Orangerie" on Rue St. Louis en Ile to add to our list on the island.

Good luck in your planning!

tripgirl

TPAYT

I know how much you enjoy St Louis and GAS. Aren't those guys special!!!

Did you stay in hibiscus again

I wrote them last night to check on availability, but I remember them telling me that they book only 6 months in advance. Anyway, I let them know

Stay tuned....

Royal

I really like the first two apartments, the third not so much. Too dark for me but might be cosy in the winter.

We have stayed on the Ile three times, the last in an apartment overlooking the Seine. Love the neighbourhood and it's proximity to everything. It's very quiet in the morning and evening.

tripgirl

Decision made!!

It was DH who helped me to distill what I really wanted for us

The Marais and I'le St Louis are 2 area we have not lodged in all the yrs of coming to Paris. Whether we were going to stay in the Marais or St Louis this yr was decided it would Marais this year based on renting from Paris Perfect, sticking with PP to do split apt situation between the 7th and the apt and location in the Marais we love( behind Place des Vosges near Chemin Vert metro)

When the Marais PP apt was booked in Aug then consequently cancelled yesterday by PP, their alternative offerings were not acceptable to us( see how much I love eastern Marais), I still thought staying in Marais could be the plan

Guest Apartment Services Marais Lupin apt appealed as an apt, but truthfully if it was to be the Marais, I wanted my fav area there. Having such an extraordinary experience withGAS this past summer I had no desire at least now to deal with yet another company.

Now, since I knew one of my future trips would def be a stay on I'le St Louis the Hyacinth is about the zenith of what I wanted in an apt AND location on the island. While I might be wrong, I don't think I can do much better than the Hyacinth for staying on the island.

I was trading my desire to stay in eastern Marais to just stay in the Marais while I wasn't 100% about the location. GAS gave me the exact address of the Lupin. I google mapped it and while the building itself is lovely, I like the feel of the Hyacinth area better. Also I've been exactly at the spot of the Hyacinth apt in person and really love it

So 2012 it's Hyacinth. We are going back 2013 as well so I'll have more time( and perhaps there will be some new apts avail)near Chemin Vert metro.

I went thru this written explanation so that if anyone has similar quandries between apts, maybe this will help

Thanks all for your fab input, it helped DH to ask me the right questions and get to the heart of it.

sap

Terrific! The Hyacinth is very pretty also. Frankly, you are totally right that it can be a matter of location, location, location. Have a blast & report back, s'il vous plait. In the meantime, you can celebrate with a glass of wine for making the decision.

tripgirl

Thanks sap!!!!

denisea

gorgeous apartment...can't wait to hear all about it...we are staying in our first apt this November through Paris Perfect.

tripgirl

Denisea

Which PP apt are you renting

I think we have now a great situation : a PP apt with terrace in the 7 th in one of my fav areas with a plan to explore areas west Paris we have never done yet and a GAS apt on St Louis to stay east.

cw

It really helps to talk things out to clarify your thoughts, doesn't it? Excellent choice and having the optional second bedroom, if needed, will be perfect, not to mention the spectacular views. Glad you've made your decision and you didn't have to compromise. It will be a wonderful trip.