I have found an apartment in the 10th in Paris and it is quite near the Gare de L'Est. One of my travel buddies is concerned that it might not be the safest place to stay in Paris.

As we are 4 ladies who each require their own bed it has proved a little tricky finding a place that can accommodate us so (and in our price range).

I have no idea of safe or unsafe places to stay in Paris - I feel that perhaps my TB is being a little overcautious but would be guided by advice from Fodorites.
Many thanks.

While it is true that railway stations tend to attract a bit of human jetsam and flotsam, you will quickly find which street is the better-lit and so on. Paris is not street-crime ridden at all - sneaky pickpockets (in moments where you have no idea you are being picked but find out later) are what you need to guard against, but that is nothing new.

Don't worry, be happy.

Hi S,

What is your price range?

What street near Gare de l'Est? It really depends. Some areas are nicer (for example, nearer the Canal St Martin), other areas a bit more shady...

I stayed in the area of Gare de l'Est/Canal St. Martin area in September and really raved about it-the 10th arr. is one of the hip new "boho" areas of Paris now, and along the canal (on which you can take a really lovely, inexpensive canal ride) there are hip new designer shops, restaurants; art happenings,-a great energetic vibe here, not to mention that it tends to be quite a bit less expensive than the Latin Quarter area. Try out "BRASSERIE FLO" and "JULIEN" for restaurants, also, on the Quai de Valmy- "CHEZ PRUNE". There is also the "Marche St. Quentin" a great indoor organic market in the area as well.

I walked all over here at night, in and around the Metro, late, and felt no danger or unseediness at all. The relatively un-touristy Paris, you will like it here-I intend to stay here in the Canal St. Martin area again on my next trip.

Whilst I don't have the exact address at this stage, the website states it is between the area of Canal St. Martin and the Grand Boulevard.

The apartment (at homelidays.com #74536)is 1200 euros for the week, which I thought was pretty good. I have emailed the owner and what she said confirms your thoughts Girlspytravel, that it is fast becoming quite a hip area to stay.

It is difficult to find an apartment that actually has 4 beds but isn't too expensive - I'm quite happy with the above choice though it may not be the Ritz - we aren't paying those prices either.

Any further thoughts/comments would be appreciated.

I stayed in the 10th last year with my two young children. It was more "working class" than "tourist", but we felt perfectly safe.

Stormbird-I think you'll really love this area, for you not only have the hip shops and restaurants, but great public transport connections to wherever you want to go-without the tourist crowds-it's a good mix of working class/tourists-and with that scenic canal area-the one that was filmed in the movie "Amalie" where she's skipping rocks into the water? you can't go wrong-as I said, I intend to rent an apartment in this area on my next visit-love it!

Here is an article from last year on the area.

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/10/0...b9&ei=5070

stormbird, I know the area very well. "Between Canal St Martin and Grand Boulevards" is a bit vague. Try to find out the address. If it was nearer Canal St Martin I think they would say so because that's the nicer part. Blvd Strasbourg is very busy with traffic during the day, and a bit seedy at night, as is Rue St Denis. Roughly speaking, east of Blvd Strasbourg is the hipper area, west is more immigrant area.