I realize there is a thread going at the moment for a family conisdering these two areas. My situation is a bit different: We are a mid-50's couple contemplating staying at the same hotel as last year on 58 Rue Jacob for 6 nights $1400E. vs. an apt in the Marais for approx $1000E plus $500 refundable damage deposit (vrbo: 160258)
It is located 16 rue Geoffroy l'Angevin, 75004 Paris on the 4th floor.

Pros of apt: less $, more space
Cons of apt: new area to learn our way around in a short space of time

Pros of hotel: we are very familiar w/ getting around from this location; can cancel w/in 3 days if there is an emergency (I have an elderly father); know what to expect in room, noise level, etc.

Cons: less space and more $

Do you think this will basically be a similar experience as to walking convenience to Musee D'Orsay, the Siene, the Eiffel Tower, other major sites, good restaurants? Will the overall vibe of the Marais be similar? Thanking you in advance for your input.

We have stayed at an apartment in Le Marais twice. The first time was our first stay in Paris. It was easy to learn to get around and was perfectly located to walk to sites. The vibe is great. Since you know you're way around it should be effortless. We knew nothing and were like experienced visitors in no time at all.

We loved having our breakfast in; then heading out for a croissant and espresso at the corner tabac every morning.

We would make lunch to carry with us if we weren't eating lunch out. We would make dinner in apartment or buy food from the markets if we weren't going out. We loved the flexibility and space and pretending we were locals for the week.

As for needing to cancel; that's what trip insurance is for.

I have stayed in both areas, though I don't know the specific street the apartment is on.

Like Deb, we generally prefer apartments and for the same reasons plus one: I can't eat three meals a day in restaurants. With an apartment, I can have coffee when I awaken, a high protein breakfast before I go out, and either lunch or dinner out.

The vibe in the Marais is very different from the vibe near the rue Jacob, but I would be giving the wrong impression if I said it is a bit rougher around the edges. I would stay in either area again.

That apt. should be great! Nice location. Picture and reviews are good. I would do it in a heartbeat!

I was all for taking the apartment until you mentioned your elderly father. We had very difficult experiences recouping insurance we had bought when my mother was suddenly very ill right before a trip to Rome. I think the hotel gives you much more flexibility with your plans should you ( hopefully not!) need to change them. Also, Rue Jacob is fantastic, as you know!

When is trip? In summer I need ac.. paris can be so stifling.. ( although not always) and my experience shows apartments less likely to have ac then hotels.

As for hotel.. which hotel is it.. I have stayed in over a dozen and all have pros and cons.

Apartments.. have much stricter cancellation policies.. with an elderly relative.. well .. I would prefer the three day cancellation.

I live both locations.. so they break even.

I have stayed in apartments in Paris.. and loved them.. I have stayed in hotels in Paris and loved them.. location matters to me... and we have never ended up using much of the kitchen in an apartment.. I refuse to cook much on vacation.. but like having the washer and dryer some provide if visit is over 10 days..

That apt didn't have any chairs in the living room except dining room chairs, just a sofa. But for two people, I guess that doesn't matter so much.

The map is erroneous and shows a completely different location than where the apt is which is within one block of the Pompidou Center. That is certainly not my favorite place to be, so no, the vibe won't be the same at all as being on rue Jacob. And it isn't where people refer to when they talk about how much they love the Marais. I'm surprised if you've been to Paris you weren't in that area at all to know what it is like, but I guess if you didn't go to that museum, you wouldn't be over there.

You can just look on a map and see where it is and how far to things. I'm sure there are places to eat and buy things in the neighborhood, the reviews seem to say there is a supermarket nearby. It's your call as to location, you need to decide how far you want to walk to things. It's close enough to Hotel de Ville, you can walk to the islands if you want, of course.

From your rate, I presume you are quoting the Superior Room in the Danube, which is pretty big and has AC. I agree that if it is summer, I would rather stay in that than an apt without AC. Otherwise, it's a tough call, you can decide on the location by looking at a map. The neighborhood isn't the same vibe. You will definitely have to get travel cancellation insurance, and I'm not sure how that applies if your father just gets sick, you'd have to check with them. I suspect that might not be covered, but don't know. Death, yes, but maybe not just illness in a parent.

Thank you to all for your input. Here are answers to questions posed:

My dates are Oct 6-12, so AC is not an issue. A noisy street would be an issue though as I imagine we would have the windows open at night for comfort.

I have only been on a 3 hour walking tour in the Marais and was only focusing on the historical information being shared. I did not entertain the possibility of lodging there at that time. Honestly, I would never have considered when planning this trip, but when I put out feelers at the last minute for an apt just for comparisan's sake, I received an email saying nothing available in St. Germain, but here is this in the Marais. After reading the reviews and speaking to a woman who had lived in the Marais, I wondered if it might be worth considering.

Yes, it is either room 40 or 45 at the Danube and a superior. Christine, have you stayed there? We had a lovely stay there last year, but had noticed other hotels mentioned on this site and passed a few during last year's trip that we thought might be a good option for future visits. They turned out to be more expensive, 4 stars and already booked. It is our 30th anniversary trip, so we were open to a splurge.

With the input several of you have given me, I believe my comfort level is w/ a hotel's less restricted cancellation policy. I have no experience with travel insurance to date. My husband refuses to buy it.

I too am not one to cook meals when in Paris, other than breakfast. I want that separation between bedroom and another room due to our poor sleeping patterns when abroad.

foolforfrance, the separate bedroom and living area was the reason we started renting apartments(and why we would not consider renting a studio). I am an early riser. In a hotel I'd toss and turn for a while, realize I was waking my husband and wind up sitting on a closed toilet reading until he woke up.

Now that we rent apartments, life on the road is so much better for me! I wake up, get up, make my coffee and sit on a comfy chair or sofa to read. If staying somewhere for a few days, hotel would be my choice.....anything longer and I would definitely choose an apartment

We always prefer an apt. but we never prefer The Marais. Just our opinion.
For us, between the 2 places, it would be Rue Jacob.
The Marais is a totally different feel---just plain junky to us--Sorry all you Marais fans.

I've been living in the Marais since 2007. When I arrived, it was an interesting neighborhood, but it has changed drastically, and not for the better IMO. Saint-Germain has been touristy a lot longer, so most people don't notice it - and at least, you know what you'll be getting, since you've stayed here before.

As for staying in an apartment in the Marais - or anywhere else - a lot would depend on the apt and building themselves, and also the street they're located on. Many times, the apt will be nice, but the building will be downright crummy. Often, the neighborhood will be much nicer than the actual street you're staying on. Use GoogleMap Street View to have a look around. The "good" apartments (nice, some space) book up one year in advance, or are outside of your budget. What's left is not usually very attractive.

It's important to realize that vacation rental apts are not regulated by the City - they are actually illegal - and are not inspected for fire, safety or sanitation codes. There will likely be no smoke detectors, fire escapes or other exits from the building. If a neighbor complains, the apartment can suddenly become unavailable, and though the person you are renting from might be able to offer you another apartment somewhere else, it might not have the amenities you want and have already paid for. If something should go wrong, you can't depend on much help from the people you are renting from - whereas in a hotel, all you have to do is call downstairs.

I would take all of this into consideration, since you will be travelling with an elderly person, and if you still want to stay in the Marais, I would suggest you look for a nice hotel.

I have stayed at the Danube and other hotels on Rue JAcob and at an apt in the Marais. The superior rooms are quite large at the Danube. And it has an elevator which I don't know if your 4th floor apt does. The apt. does have a separate living room but we are never in the apt long enough to matter. AC is sometimes needed in Oct. I think the convenience of the hotel is more desirable for the places you mention. Say hello to Francois for me at the Danube He has always been a great help to us.

We stayed 10 days in Paris last spring, three in a hotel and seven in an apartment in the Marais (4th). I loved the Marais, and we were within walking distance of almost everything you mention except the Eiffel Tower.

One big concern I'd have about the apartment, though, would be concerning stairs. Our apt. was on the 6th floor (7th American), and we had no elevator. The 110-stair walk was interesting, to say the least.

I'll admit I'm sort of in TPAYT's corner about thinking the Marais is "junky". That's not the exact word, but I do think that about the area around the Pompidou, for sure. Other areas are a nicer.

no, foolforfrance, I haven't stayed in the Danube but I know the area and know a lot of people like it, and I know the size of their superior rooms because they mention the size on the website (unlike many hotels).

well, you can't book apartments and not pay for travel insurance--at least not if you think there is any chance you can cancel. And October you won't need AC. The apt does say it has an elevator, but I presumed the issue with the parent wasn't that they were going with you, but that they could get ill and you'd need to stay home. The apt looks nice enough, I just don't like the area and wouldn't book it for more than 2 people due to no chairs (and one person would have to use the sofa for sleeping). That area within one block of the Pompidou is really not like other parts of the Marais. Although I also am not crazy about the entire area, to be honest, but really not about that part of it which is on the western border of it (it is generally considered to end at the west on rue Beaubourg).

Thank you to all who have given input on my question. You have helped me decide to stick w/ my present location. There is much more to renting an apartment in Paris than I realized! I want to stay in one someday......maybe next fall.. I am making notes and starting my fall 2015 France file.