adrienne

I looked at the apartment and it's on the 6th floor (read 7th floor US as the first floor in Europe is not the ground floor) and you'll be sleeping on a sofa bed. After my last experience sleeping on a sofa bed I'm never doing it again.

I'm also confused by the postal code. It may be a typo but the code is 75116 which is outside the Peripherique while the street address is in the 16th. If you stay there be sure to get the exact address before you book and ask about the postal code.

Also find out the cancellation terms which are not shown on the web site.

ekscrunchy

Are you considering the Latin Quarter because you think it is the most hip and stylish area of the city?

If that is what you are looking for, there are other areas to consider especially for a person in their 20s. Since I do not live there, I will let a resident chime in on this subject..personally I would not choose to stay in the Latin Quarter..

qwovadis

Congrats on your trip

betterbidding.com just Snagged the 4 star Novotel Les Halles

for 115 euro per nite($158)/nt on hotwire.com is is their

secret 4 star Louvre Vendome area in city center great

reviews on booking.com which is lots more.

hotel-collegedefrance.com Latin Quarter cute historic cheaper

www.mije.com your best bet for budget lots of younger travlers

there but easy to pick up travel buds everywhere.

parisvoice.com virtualtourist.com eurocheapo Paris good info.

Happy Travels!

qwovadis

Just to chime in on apartments many scammers tax cheapts

never wire money 59 euro too low VERY suspicious

use only reputable folks like parisbestlodge.com

Craigslist is worst Vrbo #2 for scammers folks lose hundreds

So ceveat emptor there.

www.ricksteves.com great euroewbie tips...

qwovadis

Reality hits Airbnb after user's home is vandalized, trashed ... putting an ad up on Airbnb for her apartment ... results in criminal lawsuit with Airbnb ...
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/realit....trashed/53350

Here is a heads up on yours... very dodgy

Nikki

After looking at the link, I would say the apartment looks good for a young person who doesn't mind lots of stairs and sleeping on a sleep sofa. Not that far from the Seine or from Trocadero, and easy to get around the city. For the very large savings, I would take it.

kerouac

The 16th arrondissement has two postal codes -- 75016 for the southern portion and 75116 for the northern portion.

That little studio looks worth the price that is being charged; it is just surprising that they are not trying to overcharge. It looks fine to me. Keep the extra 100 euros for having fun.

Gretchen

It does look nice. how about putting the address in pages jaunes and "walk around the neighborhood"--or I guess, Google does it too.

karolina

Wow. Thank you so, so much for everyone who chimed in!
adrienne & qwovadis - Thanks very much for the links. I'll look into those!
ekscrunchy - Friends who have been to Paris recommended the area. A lot of travel sites I have read also suggest that area. Any other recommendations for me?

Now the tough part - Considering everyone's suggestions and deciding what to do.
Though I have to say, this forum has been a saviour - so thank you! Anyone with great hotel/apartment & neigbhourhood gems, feel free to keept it coming.

travelgirl2

Latin Quarter!

jsmith

My wife lived in an apartment on Rue de Longchamp where it intersects Av Victor Hugo while in her early 20s. She loved the area.

Looking at the photos of the apartment and the street view she would have no problems staying there except for the fact it is on the 6th floor and, apparently, no elevator.

MaineGG

One of the reviews for the apartment mentions that there is an elevator to the 5th floor and then stairs to the 6th.

karolina

thank you!
to make things even more complicated, I also found this hotel:
http://www.mamashelter.com/

the hotel itself looks pretty great and although the area seems a bit out of the zone, reading from reviews it sounds very similar to the area I live in as well as the areas I stay in in cities I'm familiar with - the whole music/art vibe is really appealing to me!

I could defintely see this as an area I'd love to explore at night and do all the touristy things during the day.

anyone familiar with this area that could let me know?

thank you so much! you've all been so great with all your suggestions!

kerouac

If you think the vibe of the area around the Mama Shelter is the kind of atmosphere you like, then you absolutely do not want to stay in the 16th. Just about all of the alternative music venues (Cabaret Sauvage, Trabendo, Glaz'Art, La Maroquinerie, La Bellevilloise, La Flèche d'Or, Zèbre de Belleville, etc.) are in the 19th and 20th arrondissements. It is a very arty, mixed neighborhood with plenty of nightlife in all of the cafés and restaurants.

However, if your experience is mostly with 4 and 5-star hotels, this might not be the area for you.

fishskis

If you can, spend the money and stay in a hotel in a better location for your first trip to Paris. Stay in the 5th or the 6th or the Marais.

I would not recommend staying in a rental apartment for your first trip alone to Paris. I would not recommend staying in the 16th for your first trip to Paris, especially for someone in their 20's. Paris is expensive, but it is does have good small relatively reasonably priced two and three star hotels in many neighborhoods.

markland

Here's another suggestion in St. Germain de Pres that I can vouch for:

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h7...dredesarts.htm

Some years ago I met a prof who always stays here with his students. My daughter and her boyfriend stayed there a few years ago, and my husband and I also stayed there in 2009 for a couple of nights.

It's not fancy by any stretch of the imagination - no elevator, no tv, and a simple breakfast of bread and coffee.

But the location just cannot be beat, it's very clean, and i's quiet if you ask for a room in the back, free wi fi, safe area, St. Michel metro which is an RER location also, if you need to get to the airport.

I always look for value for my money, and for the location, you get a TON of value, just go with reasonable expectations. The Ritz it ain't

Leely2

If I were your age I'd stay at Mama Shelter.

Have a great trip!

karolina

thanks so much everyone!
booking in the next two days...lots of options...excited!

cw

I just checked the link for your apartment in the 16th and it comes up "no longer available." I don't know if I just can't seem to access it, or if it had been removed.

I think that for a few days you should stay in the Latin Quarter, or if it appeals to you at Mama Shelter. I would think that for a first visit, you would want to be where you can walk around at night in a lively area.

fishskis

Mama Shelter is cool and well-priced, but not well-located, especially for a first time solo visitor.