We are thinking of renting (first time) and are looking at Marais/S. Paul area down by the Seine ( think this is the 4th). The other choice is in the 6th a few minutes from Luxembourg gardens off Rue D'Assas. We will have my nine year old with me and my elderly in-laws. Any comments on these areas would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Karen

Luxembourg Gardens!

What are the apartments?

Never stayed in the Marais but I looked to rent rather than stay at a hotel in Paris.

Always stayed in the 6th.

The sense I get is the Marais is a younger crowd. I believe there's something of a gay community there.

Prices seem to be slightly less and the apartments tend to be more modern, with amenities like air conditioning and broadband Internet more common in the Marais.

However, I tend to stay in the 6th and one of the reasons is the Jardin de Luxembourg. Very popular place for both children (puppet shows) and for the elderly (bocce ball).

I was in Paris last year (5 nights) and, to be honest, and I don't know what all the fuss about Le Marais is. I spent there a whole day walking its streets and it was just OK. I know little about the area around the Luxembourg Gardens (I only went there to visit the gardens), but I didn't find anyhting special about it either (the gardens are lovely, though). Montmartre is very lovely (although the area near the Moulin Rouge is ugly and definitely not for children since there are many sex shops/theathers). It's uphill, so maybe it's not suitable for children/elderly either, (although it's not like climbing a mountain). I stayed near the train station "Gare de Lyon": it was a quiet area with some restaurants nearby. It's not lively, though (it looked residential to me). The only thing I didn't like about this area is that it is a little bit out of the way (you would have to take the subway to get to where you want to go); if you stayed there, you'd have to do some walking, which I don't think it'd be suitable for children/elderly in laws. I really loved St. Michel near the also very lovely Ile de la Cité and Ile St. Louis. The area is filled with restaurants/eateries of all kinds/budgets and it's very lively (therefore not quiet). Champs-Élysées is a messy area, too. It's also very expensive (as you already may know). I hope this information helps.

we've taken our daughter to paris twice. when she was 9 we stayed in the marais, later when she was 10 we stayed in the 6th near the jardins du lux. though my husband and i love the 4th, we moved because daughter had discovered the fabulous playground (and two friends) at the jardins. the 6th is more residential and a bit more "high end." we all agreed the marais was livelier, but the playgrounds are smaller.

if you're going in spring or summer, i would opt for the 6th, solely due to the playground. it's a great place for kids to run off some energy (and parents to rest) after a day of sightseeing. there's a lovely cafe right nearby!

our daughter also enjoyed the playground at the jardins du tuileries.

enjoy!

With older visitors and young children, the area around the Luxembourg gardens is a far better choice than the Marais. More places for kids to play, somewhat more things for everyone to see within short distances, a quieter neighborhood, prettier gardens, and no homosexual pick-up bars to shock the seniors or raise questions among the kids.

Thanks everyone.

The apart. newar the gardens is through Vacation in Paris since I have read some good feedback on these boards about that group. It is their two bedroom apt. near the gardents. It is advertised as a 3 min walk to the gate.

WE are going next year during my daughter's Spring vacation- so probably mid April. I last went to Paris 10 years ago with my mom. Neither spoke French so we stuck to the really tourist things. This time my husband is coming (who speaks passable french) and I want a differenct experience. I want to eat really well (my daughter is a good eater and usually willing to try new things. I also want to do some nontouristy things.

Thanks for the ideas! Karen