Hi again,

Based on a recommendation from a friend of ours who said Ile St. Louis was particularly romantic, we are looking at apts there for our honeymoon in June. We had two in mind and hoped to tap your Fodorite expert knowledge.

We're fans of http://www.parisattitude.com/apartme...umProduit=1762
because of the big windows, but it appears to be on a corner with a bridge. This isn't a big deal in terms of noise/trafic, is it?

Our other choice is http://www.parisattitude.com/apartme...umProduit=1730. This apt is roomier but based on things I've read on this site, I'm wary that all the shades/curtains are drawn and the ?stains on the walls.

Thanks again for all your help. We've decided to do Paris and Burgundy and frankly can't wait until June!

Nowhere on the Ile St Louis is busy with traffic, and the middle especially not. You will defintely get better views formthe first on, but the second might just be a tad more comfortable in real terms (and the second is closer to Berthillon

No, I don't think noise will be a big deal. The traffic over the bridge will be mostly people walking from Ile de Cite and you'll have a nice view of the river and see the barges and tour boats glide by. There will be some vehicular traffic but not much and unlikely late at nigtht.

The first apartment looks brighter than the second one, which has a dreary looking bedroom to me.

Both are four flights up; French first floor is equivalent to our second.

As far as Berthillon, the famous ice cream shop, is concerned, it's a short walk from anywhere on the island and fabulous Amorino for gelato is also on the main street. Try both.

I hope you hear from someone who has stayed in one or both of these apartments but I'd go for the first with those great windows.

I balk at all apartments that are on the fourth (US) floor of walk up buildings. And I hate beds that are against the wall so one person has to climb over the other to get in or out (but on a honeymoon that certainly shouldn't be a problem). I'd also be more concerned by the lack of AC, but at least that river view one looks like it should let in a lot of air.

But while I love that view of the first one and wouldn't worry about the traffic or noise at all, it's really small and less than half the size of the other. I don't even think there's a place to sit, except the two straight chairs by the table. The second one looks a whole lot more comfortable, but it sure doesn't have a fraction of the "charm" that the first one does.

So I suppose I'd normally choose the bigger one, but for a honeymoon where you're looking for charm -- go for the first one.

In other words, honeymoons are for memories. Twenty years from now you'll remember the iron bed against the wall, and waking up to those gorgeous views of the Seine. Twenty years from now will you remember having more room and overall comfort?

If there's no AC and it's June and you expect to have the windows open I personally would not consider the first one as it is a pedestrian bridge and it may be noisy enough to disturb you. I am a light sleeper, but you may not have an issue...just something to consider.

I would choose the first. Yes, the bridge is right below the apartment, but the view is spectacular. The apartment is light and very cozy and even romantic; nice for a honeymoon. I'd go for the first.

I like the first one better, also. The second one is larger, of course, but if this is just a vacation, you aren't expecting a whole lot or needing a lot, are you? I mean, it's just a big room, basically, slightly bigger than a hotel room (the first one). the second one isn't too bad in the living area, but the bedroom is really ugly and cheap-looking to me. I don't know why people have to be so cheap, or maybe they just have zero taste. You can buy attractive and somewhat stylish cheap bedspreads and curtains, if you want, but they just don't even care. It's unusual to have a window that high up in an older French building.

Well, I wouldn't worry about the traffic so much on the first one. I would think it could possibly be noisier because that's sort of tourist central at that point, but it may be okay. It's right near the bridge where a lot of tourists come across from the quai (although many come from Notre Dame, also) and they tend to be thickest right on that very street and nearby it. Because Berthillon is right on the corner of that street and rue St Louis-en-Ile. So Berthillon wouldn't be closer to the second one (which would be a reason for me NOT to choose one, I'd want one far away from it), unless it's right next to it. That street runs the entire length of the island, though, so it could be anywhere. Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see an address where the second one was, other than the street.

<<the second one isn't too bad in the living area, but the bedroom is really ugly and cheap-looking to me. I don't know why people have to be so cheap, or maybe they just have zero taste. You can buy attractive and somewhat stylish cheap bedspreads and curtains, if you want, but they just don't even care.>>

Christina writes what she thinks. It is a very unattractive room. I wouldn't want to spend much time there ...

I have to agree the second one looks awful. I think it would be better to get something nicer even if its not on the Ile. Its your honeymoon, get something charming. Paris is romantic wherever you go.

Is AC necessary in June? I read that Paris is ~70deg F during June. So long as it wasn't a very humid 70deg, I thought this would be bearable.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts. We're first-timers to Paris and appreciate all your help.

" I thought this would be bearable. "

If you are content with a honeymoon being "bearable" then you're right. You don't need air conditioning. If you want to assure yourself of comfort in the event it is warm and/or humid then air conditioning is a necessity.

This debate rages on and on here. It's all what you want. Some laugh at silly Americans who HAVE to have AC. I travel to be assured of comfort. Sure I could do without a private bath too, or do a fifth story walkup, or manage with a room the size of a matchbox and a tiny uncomfortabel futon instead of a real bed. But that's not how I like to travel. I'm also not big on sleeping with doors and windows wide open at night -- disturbed by late night revelers or early morning trash pickup. I like my windows closed and climate control in my room.

It was 70 degrees in June twenty years ago, but it is much hotter in summer these days. You might get lucky and have some cool weather while you are in Paris, but if you get the typical weather of this past decade, and you don't have A/C, it will ruin your vacation (unless you like 90 degrees or above and 60% humidity with no air movement in your apartment). A/C is a must for summer these days.

All of the Ile Saint Louis is charming, and traffic is light. Some of the buildings are extremely old, though, and may have primitive plumbing (especially toilets, which have to be retrofitted to buildings from the 1600s that didn't originally have them, with some compromises).

The second apartment looks familiar; I think I may have actually been in it once. It's in a building 100 years older than the first apartment, so the more primitive toilet is likely (a ship's toilet, if you know what those are). The rest should be okay. Even the first one is in a three-hundred-year old building, but that's not exceptional in this area. The views should be excellent from either apartment. A north-facing apartment (the second one, apparently) will be cooler in June. The last thing you want in summer is sunlight blazing into your A/C-less apartment all day long.

hmmm... good to know. Having suffered through Boston summers w/o AC, I don't want to repeat this sort of experience on my honeymoon. thanks again.

rhk06, what is your budget? I think these two were both 780 euro a week, is that pretty much the top? And are you doing a week?
Maybe others here can help find a really romantic spot WITH AC in that price range.

Bookmarking

The first has much more charm and the view is great. But it is basically the size of a hotel room plus the entry hall

The 2nd one is almost as good a location and is MUCH larger. No view but probably more comfortable for a week's stay simply because of the size/seating, etc.

Both are a long walk up.

Even though the Ile St Louis is romantic, I'm not sure I'd choose either one. The nice one is too small and the big one isn't as nice . . . . .

Ballpark budget for 1 wk is ~1000-1200 euros. LOL, the lesson I'm learning is that I should've started earlier. There are a lot of nice places taken up already.

Should I bring up my Dijon plans now or later? ha ha. j/k

anyway, what is bookmarking?

Hi rhk06 - did you find a place for your honeymoon? We just booked an Isle st louis apartment for next year from parisabcd.com that shows on the calendar as being available the week of June 17th this year.