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Paris Apartment Ile St. Louis (Latin Quarter?)

Paris Apartment Ile St. Louis (Latin Quarter?)

Old Jan 1st, 2008, 07:11 PM
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Oh this is all such good advice it's making me VERY excited to go back to Paris. I'm so looking forward to shopping for fresh bread, cheese and wine, couldn't you just live of that in France????

I feel like it's going to be a better trip this time because I really put the effort into finding a better apartment instead of taking the cheapest thing we could find. In 2005 we had a very inexpensive micro apartment that was so small, I can't even tell you how small, small even by Paris standards! by the end of the week my husband and I wanted to punch each other every time we squeezed passed to move around. There was also this micro TV in our micro apartment which was on the ground so you got a nice neck crick while going blind-LOL. This new apartment is a bit larger with a big plasma tv, in fact the tv is enormous by french apartment standards. It's amazing what a few hundred extra euros means in terms of apartment quality. We paid 1000 euros for El Dumpo apartment the first time, now we paid 1300 and it's worlds better.

We really didn't do Paris justice last time we were there, I'm so happy and feel so blessed that we are going back. And this time with a great apartment with a lovely view of the Seine! We will be there from October 27-November 3 of this year, a great time of year for weather. Last time we were there in early october and it was 80 degrees and sunny. I just booked the apartment today. Now I just want to read, read, read and soak up everyone's advice on where to eat, what to do, etc.
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Old Jan 1st, 2008, 07:17 PM
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Oh BTW, do I even have to mention the citron crepes????? I'm counting the days...
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Old Jan 2nd, 2008, 09:44 AM
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There will be a new studio apartment available for short term rentals soon, at 46 rue Saint Louis en l'Ile, exactly opposite Berthillon. An American friend of mine who died a couple of weeks ago was renting it for about 650 euros a month.

(And this confirms what certain people have said about finding completely reasonable prices in the dead center of the city -- if you just know where to look.)
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Old Jan 10th, 2008, 06:05 AM
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To Giulia and Kerouac, would you be willing to post links to the apts mentioned? I am researching for a trip to Paris. Thanks
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Old Jan 10th, 2008, 06:52 AM
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I don't know who offers the apartment at #46 for rent, just that it will be available soon.
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Old Jan 10th, 2008, 08:09 AM
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Sunnyflorida, here is the link to the apartment I rented for this October. I think it looks lovely. It was 1324 € for the week, just shy of $1900 with the terrible exchange rate. Check out the view from the window

http://www.parisaddress.com/paris-ap....php?ref=ORLE4
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Old Jan 10th, 2008, 05:32 PM
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It looks WONDERFUL. It is booked for June when I will be there. But thanks for the link.
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Old Jan 11th, 2008, 06:19 AM
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Sunnyflorida,

Here are my "runners up" for a Paris apartment in the Marais or Il St Louis. I was debating on these (same company all in the same area):

http://www.parisaddress.com/details/...f=PONT125&l=en

http://www.parisaddress.com/details/...ef=TURE38&l=en

http://www.parisaddress.com/details/...f=DAUPH21&l=en

http://www.parisaddress.com/details/...f=DARCO11&l=en

The company has been a pleasure to work with!

Also, if you want an apartment on Il St Louis, this company had quite a few very nice ones under 200E per night.

www.guestapartment.fr
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Old Jan 11th, 2008, 07:33 AM
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Great post! I'm taking a trip down memory lane. We had our honeymoon in Paris May 2007. Our first time there. We rented an apartment on Ile St Louis. What a location! I think we walked to both the 4th and 5th Arr every day and loved it. We also went to the Monoprix on Rue St Antoine - a very easy walk from the island.

There are great little groceries and boulangeries on the island (that mid-afternoon pain au chocolat hit the spot).

Have no fear about the Latin Quarter across the Seine. Our apartment was on the far end of the island and it was a great, quiet spot. Loved it.

Have a great time!!!
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Old Jan 11th, 2008, 08:36 AM
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Our honeymoon was in Paris too, in 2004, such a romantic place, eh? We walked everywhere, hardly ever took the metro, I just loved walking from neighborhood to neighborhood. I'm thrilled that we can actually return. I actually liked the Monoprix on Rue St Antoine, I bought figs there almost every day. What a weird memory. There was this little take out place right before the Monoprix that would roll out this giant glass rotisserie onto the sidewalk, it was filled with spinning chickens basting in their own juice, the smell could knock you over! Every day I had to go by there and inhale it like a drug-LOL. You could buy a whole chicken to go and roasted rosemary potatoes. Sad part is my communications skills were so bad that I was too intimidated to try buying one. This year I'm going to get one, do or die!
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Old Jan 11th, 2008, 09:40 AM
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Paris was the perfect place for a honeymoon or any trip for that matter. It was everything we expected and more.

We missed the chicken place near the Monoprix. Your description made my mouth water (and since it is lunch time, doubly so).

Speaking of chickens, there is a butcherie on Ile St Louis. We took pictures of the window filled with butchered, featherless chickens complete with heads and feet beautifully arranged in the window. Not something we see here in northern MN.

The apartment we stayed in was on rue Bretonvillier. It was right off rue St Louis. Very quiet street. The building dated from the 1700s like every building there. I thought it was charmingly shabby. DH thought it just shabby. Hey, it was old. It was a ground floor apt and had everything we needed. The double bed was hard to get used to for us Americans where everything is super sized. It was also 1050 euros for a week. Yours looks incredible.

We walked and took the metro. We are also a little older and were very proud of mastering the metro. Neither of us speaks French so while we rode the metro I would try to imitate the lovely accent and pronunciation of the metro woman announcing the next stop. I especially loved saying "Tuileries".

OK. I digress. I envy you your trip. Bonne chance
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Old Jan 11th, 2008, 02:39 PM
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GiuliaPiraino, thanks for those links. I am traveling with my teenage daughter, and she has been on the forum researching as well. She want to be in a "busier" area, and the Rue Mouffetard area is where she wants me to focus. I have a few possibilities. I have posted them here. Looking for comments on location, etc. http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a...693#4871002693. I will give the thread back to you!
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Old Jan 15th, 2008, 03:23 PM
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GiuliaPiraino: I settled on an apt and it is also on the Ile St Louis! We were set on going a bit more bohemian and staying directly on Rue Mouffetard, but I found an apt on the ile that was wonderful as was the price at 176 euros. I am glad that search is over. I could not be more excited over the trip. And THANK YOU to ParisAmsterdam from the email with a link.
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 03:12 PM
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Sunnyflorida, isn't it such a relief when you finally find a place? I know how you feel, it's like phew, now the hard work is over we can start getting excited about the trip! Did you take the place that Rob stayed at (parisamsterdam)? That looked like a great place if it is. It's amazing how valuable this forum is when it comes to planning a trip, I am just so grateful for it! I think the Ile St Louis is an awesome location, it's right in the center and you can really easily go anywhere very easily from that area. You'll have to let me know how your trip goes and send me any tips or great places you stumble on, especially restaurants! I'm so excited for you, you get to go way sooner than me! \/
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 04:01 PM
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Yes, it is such a relief. And yes, we are staying in the apt Rob stayed in. We were ready to place a deposit on the bohemian place on Rue Mouffetard. Tiny, but adequate. Then Rob (ParisAmsterdam) emailed me the link to the apt he stayed at. For not so much more we have 50% more space, and a location to die for directly on the water. No elevator, but the the pictures of the grand staircase are so beckoning. Now I need to find a place in ROME.....
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 04:20 PM
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Guilia, I had bookmarked that apartment, and it does look absolutely lovely!

I'd love to get your input when you return about the layout. From the photos, it looks like the bedroom is separated from the living room (and the picture window) by an entry area, and has a sheer window shade which gives privacy. I'd like to know what the layout is, if you'd post upon your return.

Thanks in advance.
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Old Jan 17th, 2008, 08:38 AM
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Here's hoping that it's as good as it looks. I'll have wi-fi so I'll be sure to post a full report!

I can say this in advance, I really like this company Parisaddress, they have been a pleasure to work with. Their responses are fast, sometimes same day if you post at the right time, which is great for Europe. The only thing I would note is that the deposits I paid on both Parisaddress and Way2Stay are both non-refundable under any circumstances, so that's important to know.

Hopefully nothing will come up that prevents us from going since I put down $1200 for the two apartments.

I'm planning on doing a better job this year of documenting restaurants, the neighborhood, the apartment, etc. I'm going to take many, many detailed photos of the apartment, more than they have on their site. That way, if someone on fodors wants to see the real deal, I can email it too them. I think it would be so helpful. Kind of like Rob (parisamsterdam) did with his apartment photos. I'm sure that helped Sunnyflorida choose it!

I wish I would have done this all along, I think it would be fun to look back on over a dozen trips to europe Oh well, better now than never!
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Old Oct 27th, 2008, 11:37 PM
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I just wanted to say that we arrived at this apartment on the Ile St Louis in Paris yesterday and it's PERFECT!!! It's in a great location, I'm watching boats go by on the Seine from the couch through a gorgeous floor to ceiling window! The contact met us here no problem, he spoke fine English, since our French is dreadful and was very helpful. The furnishings are wonderful, the bed is comfortable, it's just everything I had hoped it would be. The high speed internet functions consistently, although we couldn't get the wireless to work we just plugged straight in with a cable. There's a nice 24" LCD TV and DVD player, the kitchen is fully stocked with anything we could need, it's well heated, there's a washer and dryer, good selection of guide books and novels, lots of extra linens and pillows. There's a little grocery store around the corner, however I walked a few blocks to the Monoprix for a better selection. I just wanted to let everyone know that all the research paid off and that I'd highly recommend this apartment as well as Paris Address they are wonderful to work with. I'm off for a morning jog around the Island!
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Old Oct 28th, 2008, 03:39 AM
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Recently I stayed for a month on rue Maitre Albert, on the Left Bank, perhaps a 5-minute walk from where you will be. The area is lovely, the overdone 'tacky' description of the Latin quarter is mostly rue de la Huchette and nearby...this 6(?) block area is tourist central. There is much of beauty to explore in this quartier. I enjoyed the Mosquee de Paris, with its beautiful tea garden, indoor restaurant, hammas and of course, the mosque. There is also the Arab Institute, the Musee Cluny and the lovely Luxembourg Gardens and much, much more.

There are some very good souces of food on the island. Take the time one day to walk (5-10 min) to Place Maubert with its beautiful market, Tues, Thurs and Sat from 7AM to about 2PM....great food and flowers! Also, just behind the market is a block of fabulous food stores, wine, boulangerie, delicatessan etc...all that you will ever need. There are two great cafes, Cafe Metro and one almost on top of the market...you can sit, enjoy breakfast and watch them set up. Just a block up the street (Boulevard Sainte Germaine) is a Franprix. Just across from the market, on Place Maubert, is the oldest Vietnamese grocery store in Paris, Thanh Binh. The metro for Place Maubert is Maubert-Mutualite, it will be easier and faster for you to walk.

I enjoy rue Mouffetard very much as a market street. The squares at 'either end' are great, each with a fountain and several cafes. The southern end ( eglise St. Medard) is less expensive than the northern, the historic Place Contrascarpe. Don't miss exploring Mouffetarde above Contrascarpe, far fewer people, rather interesting to meander.

Once you cross the bridge into the 5th, you are a half hour walk from two other arrondissments, the 13th and the 6th. The 13th is home to the largest Chinatown in Paris and is well worth a trip...have lunch or dinner at La Lune, delicious. Explore Tang Freres...a huge and exotic chinese supermarket. The 6th, a half hour in the other direction is more touristic. There, I love two cafes, Cafe des Editeurs and Cafe Conti. Within the Latin Quarter there are MANY excellent restarants.

There are two excellent english bookstores in the 5th...Shakespeare's...historic and very close, and the Abbey Bookstore (run by a Canadian) on rue de la Parcheminerie.

Les Trois Mailletz is an excellent restaurant (bistro?) with live music. If you go downstairs, don't go until after 11PM, the entertainment goes on until about 3AM. The night I went there was exquisite middle eastern and north african music. The street level restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with windows opening onto the street...great 'moules et frites'!
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Old Oct 28th, 2008, 04:17 AM
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'Les Trois Mailletz' is on rue St. Jacques, on a cornor, one block north of the Seine.
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