I am going to Paris in November and I am looking for an apartment for just over a week. My target price is about 85 euros a night. Here are 2 places I found, has anyone stayed here? Does anyone know what the neighborhoods are like in each of these? I have not wandered around here in the past...

http://www.vrbo.com/161782 - rue de Pastourelle in the Marais

http://www.vrbo.com/28130 - 60 rue du Vertbois in the 3rd.

Your thoughts?

The Marais is a great area. I like the 2nd choice...looks more convenient for walking to places. I am sure that many others will have more information for you.

I am very familar with the Marias but mostly use to the area around the St Paul metro. I was thinking I was in the neighborhood of the second apt once and it was a bit "gritty".

Here is another I found...
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_176.htm

I stayed in an apartment on rue de Saintonge a couple of years ago, about a block or two from the apartment on rue Pasteurelle. Both are quiet residential streets, and I wouldn't describe either as gritty. Workaday, perhaps, but not gritty. I took quite a liking to the neighbourhood, shopping daily on rue de Bretagne, where there are wonderful little bakeries, seafood places, cheese shops, wine shops, cafés, restaurants, and a couple of small groceries. There is also the very old Marché des Enfants Rouge on rue be Bretagne. I wouldn't hesitate to return to that area.

I am not familiar with rue du Vertbois, but I'd certainly be prepared to give that area a go.

The third place you found is nearby. I didn't see an actual street address in the listing, but from the map it may overlook boul de Sébastopol. I like that area, too, but that is a very busy--and potentially noisy--street. If, on the other hand, it overlooks rue de Palestre (that runs parallel to Sébastopol), it might be fine.

Anselm

Well if nothing more, Rue du Vertbois is famous for being as the location of L'Ami Louis.

Ohboy-ohboy...I adore your blogs when you are in Paris...

As to your apartment - I'd probably just throw a dart and take my chances. You're an "old hand" at Paris by now, time to spread your wings and get outta American/Canadian tourist central...

my humble opinion

I would reply in very much the same way as anselmAdorne. We stayed in a studio near the rue de pastourelle on Rue dupetit Thouars. We have always stayed farther south in the Marais. We liked the area; a bit grittier than St. Paul, but definitely stylish. The park Sq. du Temple is right nearby and of course the Marche Enfants Rouge. It is near various metro stops. Place de Republique is not far with the metro and a monoprix. We ended up exploring farther north in the marais and walking up along the canal and into the area that has Asian (Vietnamese) restaurants and sandwich shops. I would look up in the 3rd when we plan to go back to Paris in 2010.

I prefer the look of the rue de pastourelle apartment and the location. Sebastapol is pretty noisy.

I see Pastourelle is near where rue du Poitou crosses rue Charlot. No problem there at all - a little further to walk to the metro, perhaps. It's quiet there, small businesses and residential.

Rue du Vertbois I don't know, but I've stayed not far from there at the top of rue Charlot. It's just off Rue du Temple is a centre for wholesale clothing, shoes and accessories, and walking down there felt perfectly OK to me.

Oh god please don't pressure me to blog!

Hi Richard

I don't like a pull out bed so I might go with the second apt., but the first does look very nice. Just a bit farther south in the Marais, we are renting apt #30 from rentparis.com. It is 80 E a night for 6 or more nights. We have rented from them before but not this particular apartment.

No pressure...

How about this one?

http://www.vrbo.com/81565

I like the latest one you added. I stayed in an apartment in the 2nd last year right aroud the corner from this one.

All kinds of great stores, shops, restuarants and two grocery stores right on rue Montorgueil. Plus it has a bed vs a pullout sofa.

Tom

I still think the first one looks the best to me.

The second one is on 62 rue Montorgueil. It really seems to be in the heart of things.

http://www.vrbo.com/81565

The Vacation in Paris apartment you listed above looks nice, but the street noise may be a problem. The people at VIP are easy to deal with, and are located in NJ. You could likely contact them about the street it faces. Otherwise, I really like the way they give you the key before you leave, and pay in dollars.

Although with the dollars rise, the other sites that advertise in euros are coming into our price range.