Paris Apartment for 7 - deciding between 2 choices
 

Hello, I am hoping for help deciding between two apartments for my family's week-long trip to Paris. There are seven of us, five adults and two children (ages 10 and 13). We have narrowed it down to two choices but are having a lot of trouble deciding between them:

1) http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p70116

2) http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p3867366

Three of us have been to Paris once before but for the other four it will be their first time. I like the appearance and comfort of the first apartment much better but others like the location of the second near the Eiffel Tower. We need a four bedroom apartment and are hoping to stay under 4000 euros/week so our choices are limited.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

I personally am not wild about the location of the Eiffel Tower unit, but more to the point is how you distribute the beds. Will the ten and thirteen year olds be happy with the bunk beds? What is the story about the sleeping area that can be made a part of another sleeping area? How this works all depends on the relationships of those involved.

Both apartments are extremely attractive and appear to be well- equipped. You could probably do fine flipping a coin.

Ackislander, thank you very much for your comments. The 13 year old isn't thrilled at the prospect of the bunk beds and I just realized that I could sleep there and they could have the room with two single beds which would probably work better. I'm curious about your comment "What is the story about the sleeping area that can be made a part of another sleeping area?" I did not notice this in the description of either apartment. Is it in #2?

I wouldn't recommend the ET area for your stay. To me, it isn't that convenient to the other sites in Paris that you will likely want to visit and can be "dead" at night. I would take the Marais location.

I'd choose the Marais apartment since they both look fine and the other has no reviews. I also much prefer that location.

What time of year are you going? Neither apt seems to have air conditioning.

The Eiffel Tower area is not a particularly nice to stay in, in Paris terms. Don't let the members of your party who have never been to Paris choose your apartment.

Judy, we will be going near the end of April. I hadn't looked closely at air conditioning, assuming we wouldn't need it at that time of year, but I guess I don't know that for sure. Thank you for pointing it out.

denisea, that is good to know, thank you.

I think you're fine end of April without AC.

You will find much more to do in the Marais than in the very residential 7th. Virtually dead at night and few transportation options as it is not convenient to the metro and has few bus lines, some of which do not run at night or on weekends. On a purely personal note, the Eiffel tower apartment looks cold and unwelcoming while the other looks cozy and comfortable.

I would take the Marais location. More food options and easier to get to most sites etc.

Definitely the Marais - much more vibrant area

Another vote for thr Marais apt. I find the 7th my least favorite area of Paris.

I agree with everone about the Marais apartment. Has a much better feel to it.

Even though I will be staying in the 7th this fall with my two sisters and Mother, I agree about the 7th being very quiet at night. Mero transportation is also not very convenient. For first timers, the 7th isn't optimal. It is pretty removed from several of the other central Paris sights. You'll definetily have more restaurant choices in the Marais. We are staying in the 7th because our apartment has a large balcony that looks directly on the Eiffel Tower, which will be great for my mother when she doesn't want to walk or shop for hours.

I think the first one is much nicer, also, and a better location. It's hard to say exactly where it is as the map isn't specific, but some reviews said it was only 1 block to a metro stop, so that's the main thing I'd want to know. Someone claimed the metro line was direct to Cite but that's impossible as none of those stops on that map go there direct.

I wouldn't pay attention to anyone who wants an apt near the Eiffel Tower, or any major tourist attraction. That sounds like something a kid would want, though, like being in the middle of Disneyland. That isn't a particularly nice or convenient area at all, in fact, the map indicates an area that I thought belonged to the city (the Champ de Mars). The owner does say it is in Champ de Mars, and claims it is only a few meters from the tower, which sounds horrible, if true, to be within a few meters of one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city in a public park. I don't remember any housing there, thought it was just a park. I definitely wouldn't want to use Bir Hakeim as my main metro station, either, especially at night. I wouldn't even consider that place given its location.

This isn't what people mean when they say they want to be in the Eiffel Tower area, they usually mean near rue Cler, Ecoles Militaire metro, that area, at least rue St Dominique.

Thank you all for your very valuable (and unanimous!) advice. You've made my family's choice an easy one, we will try to book the apartment in Marais.

Christina - I was confused by that comment regarding the metro line as well. We will ask for a more specific address before we book.

chutney - That sounds like a great set-up for your mother. I hope you all have a wonderful time.