Hi Everyone,
My wife and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary this October in Paris. I have the opportunity to rent VIP's A Jewel in Paris 1 bedroom. Any experience with this apartment? How is this location in the 5th for 1st time visitors to Paris?

http://vacationinparis.com/apts/sub/145_map.htm

Any help would be appreciated.

For a first time visit, I would look for something MUCH closer to the river. V.I.P. has quite a few that are.

I think it's a good location, I like that neighborhood. It's not too terribly far from the metro, about three blocks, if you don't mind that. I"ve stayed in that area several times, and like rue Mouffetard for shopping and the neighborhood in general as it isn't that touristy, but I know Paris very well. I don't know if you'd want to be near the Seine more or not, at least it's not too far from a metro and food shopping is no problem. There are plenty of places to eat nearby on ave des Gobelins or even rue Mouffetard (reminds me I saw Alain Bourdain in Paris last night, new show, and they were raving about some bistro on rue Mouffetard which I wasn't familiar with, Le Papillon http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Show...?slidevalue=10

I don't think it opens for dinner, only lunch, maybe they were there at lunch. It's near the bottom I believe.



The apt. is obviously very budget, so I presume that is what you want (cheap furniture, etc.). I also hope you are both very skinny if you intend to use that toilet room.

Agree with bardo, it's pretty far away from anywhere you'll want to go and it's nice not to have to take the metro every time you go out.

Thanks for the reponses. I realize VIP has other properties that have better locations, but given the short time until we leave, options are limited to this property and these 2 others:

http://vacationinparis.com/apts/id_223.htm
http://vacationinparis.com/apts/id_08.htm

The hotel selection is also pretty thin in the 150-175E range.

I think all 3 locations are actually fine given budget and time considerations-the last one is on a nice street in the 7th near the Eiffel tower and it is a street with lots of good restaurants and the rue cler market which everyone like. The second one in the 3rd is also fine-near the Marais and lots to do around there, walking distance to the Louvre-close to the Rue Montourgeuil market street, and the first one is a little further East in the Latin Quarter area but as Christine said-is near Rue Monge for shopping and eating. In terms of location in Paris they are about equal IMO. I would choose based on elevator, amenities etc.

Having to take the metro is not all that bad, especially if your neighborhood is fun to come home to. If you are on a budget, I think being further away from the tourist places will be good for finding less expensive meals at the end of the day, too.

I don't really love staying in the 7th. It feels kind of quiet and residential for me. I prefer a little more activity right outside my door.

I would probably pick the one in the 5th because I also like that area, but I bet you'd feel closer to all the major stuff in the 3rd. I do wonder about the noise level so close to the Pompidou, however.

The one in the 5th is near where we sometimes stay in the 13th. The No. 21 bus comes right by your street and takes you into the center of town. We use it all the time.

I lived near the area in the 3rd and St. Martin is a fairly small quiet street-so not so bad. I am with Amy-I would probably go for either the 5th or the 3rd before the 7th.

We have stayed in that area and I think it is fine. The steepness of Rue Moufetard can be tiring at times. I need to have a washer so that apartment would not be my first choice. I think overall it is good.

In order of my very subjective location preferences:

VIP 145
VIP 223
VIP 8

I love the Marais but prefer to be in a quieter part, "behind" Place des Vosges. I find the 7th skews a bit old and homogenous for my taste. I'm not crazy about the 5th by the river, but like that area by Luxembourg gardens very much.

For a first-time visit, you will probably be happy in any of them. Still, I'd choose the one in the 5th.

Have a great trip!

That little garden at #145 is enticing, and #8 looks quite nice as well. #223 would be my last choice.

I usually like to stay farther N and W in either the 5th or 6th -- but #145 isn't in a bad location at all. It would be my first choice by a fair bit.

Then #223 and finally #8. I don't dislike the 7th as much a some on here, but it would have to be an exceptional flat for me to stay there.

IMO your first choice is absolutely fine.

I've lived near both areas in the 5th and 3rd, and my choice would also be 5th, 3rd, 7th.

For 185E try Hotel Henri IV Rive Gauche. It is very close to the river and to Notre Dame. Very convenient and you can walk many places. If you get a room on the back it will be quiet. We loved staying there.

That apt. in the 5th isn't near Luxembourg Gardens as someone said, it's near the border of the 13th arr. and Gobelins and Censier metro stops, Rue Mouffetard could be tiring if you were walking up it a lot, but I don't know why you would if you don't want to. You can easily take the metro or bus if you want to go somewhere.

To be honest, any of these would probably be okay and have its drawbacks. I like the one in the 7th the best in terms of the actual apt. That isn't too bad a part of the 7th, it's on rue St Dominique which has a bus line and is full of shops. I don't like the area around the Pompidou at all and wouldn't stay there because I don't like it, but that apt. is fairly attractive. There are some good luggage and handbag shops on bd Sebastopol, anyway.

It's hard to tell what other people like. There are some people on Fodors who adore the 7th and would just thrill to that location, and I suspect you would like it, also. I think the 7th and 5th are more attractive areas than that one near the Pompidou, even though it's a cute apt. But then lots of folks like it over there, also.