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Paris as solo traveller: 16th district or Latin Quarter?

Paris as solo traveller: 16th district or Latin Quarter?

Old Aug 6th, 2011, 08:39 PM
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Paris as solo traveller: 16th district or Latin Quarter?

Hi Everyone,
I've been browsing through these Forums for quite a few days, seeing some amazing suggestions and really helpful information for my upcoming Europe trip.

I am in my mid-20s travelling solo this fall to Paris for a few short days. Extremely excited about this, but also a little apprehensive as it is my first time EVER travelling alone.

I currently have the following dilemma; after reading books and guides and reviews, as well as talking to friends, I have my heart set on the Latin Quarter.
However, I have found a very cute apartment through the AirBNB rental site in the 16th district for a LOT cheaper than any hotel I have seen in the Latin Quarter - I'm talking 150Euros vs 55 (!!!).

Anyone have recommendations for either area?
Safety is my first priority. And because with sites like hotwire and priceline, I'm used to 4 and 5 star hotels for cheap cheap cheap (in North America), so it'd be lovely to stay somewhere quality as well ...

I'm excited to explore the touristy parts of Paris, but also already imagining spending my evenings in cute coffee shops/bars and doing some vintage shopping.

I also welcome any recommendations on restaurants and bars. or anything else for that matter!

Thank you so much for anyone's suggestions in advance!
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 09:30 PM
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With such a price difference, I would stay in the 16th, which is my least favorite arrondissement.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 09:37 PM
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I find much of the 16th pretty sedate, maybe moreso than would appeal to someone your age. Where in the 16th is this great find? Closest metro station would help place it. Not to be a spoilsport, but when a place is cheap there is usually a reason and it ain't benevolence on the part of the owner.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 10:14 PM
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we stayed here and loved it.
http://www.vrbo.com/250968
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 11:23 PM
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I too find the 16th sedate and very quiet bit,but for $100 difference I would put up with it!
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 12:32 AM
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Have you tried Hotwire and Priceline for PARIS ? Their prices are often just as impressive as the deals you get for the USA.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 01:35 AM
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Stay in the Latin Quarter - you'll have more fun there. It has nothing to do with safety or traveling on your own - both areas are safe.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 01:56 AM
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Everything is close by in Paris, so you don't have to stay in the same location where you prefer to hang out. With one apartment three times more expensive than the other, it makes sense that you'd stay in the cheaper apartment. The Latin Quarter can be reached in a few minutes, despite being almost on the opposite side of town (remember that Paris proper, within the city limits, is only a few miles across).

Safety is not an issue. Essentially all of Paris is safe.

I have to wonder why the apartment is so cheap in the 16th, though, especially since the 16th is a much more expensive district than the Latin Quarter. Something seems fishy about that.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 03:45 AM
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Hi K,

"If it's too good to be true, it probably is".

>I have my heart set on the Latin Quarter. <

Go. In 30 years you won't remember the money, but you will always remember being in the Paris LQ,

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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 04:26 AM
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Consider the 18th: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-the-18th.cfm
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 05:03 AM
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AnthonyGA that was my thought too. 55 Euro for an apt??Sounds fishy to me. I'd search the forum for AirB&B. Iseem to recall some posts about it a short time ago.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 08:44 AM
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The 16th arr. is huge, so just saying it's an apt there doesn't mean much. You have to give location for anyone to assess that. The entire arrondisement is not full of expensive apartments, and parts of it are rather far away, relatively, from things you'll want to do, say if you are on the far bottom of it. There are certainly parts of it that are as cheap or cheaper than some parts of the Latin Qtr. No you aren't going to get any great hotel in the Latin Qtr for 55 euro, but there are one or two.

If that money is very important to you, stay there, but you will be able to find lots of places in Paris that cheap that are not that nice or in far out areas. YOu can find lots on Airbnb that cheap or cheaper, and in areas more within central Paris, so it's not clear why you picked out that one in particular to compare a hotel to.

Airbnb isn't a regular rental agency and it may be the people renting out their apt on there are doing it illegally, so that price doesn't particularly surprise me at all. It's just a site for private owners to rent out a room or their apt over the internet.

If the apt you like so much is in the Passy neighborhood or near rue de l'Assomption or near the Trocadero, I think it would be fine, I like those areas. Well, the Trocadero area is convenient, I like the others better as residential places. I know Airbnb has some small apts listed in those areas from 60 euro. The only ones I see listed at 55 euro in the 16th are not apts but rooms, but perhaps I missed something. Getting a room for that price is less surprising than a whole apt. I still think you would prefer staying in the Latin Qtr overall for your vacation, which is just a few days and you've never been there before. Given what you want to spend your time doing, spending evenings in bars is not going to happen if you are in some inconvenient, sparse area, far from a metro station at the bottom of the 16th.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 08:47 AM
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BTW, upon re-reading your post, you are in your mid20s and have never traveled alone before. Renting an apt over the internet in a city you don't know, in an area you don't know, from strangers seems like a real bad idea to me on several levels.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 09:18 AM
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I think you should post the actual addresses for the flats that you are considering.

Both those areas are large and it is important to know exactly where the apartment is located before making a decision. Why not post the actual links to the flats?
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 10:01 AM
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Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for all your responses.
The apt in question is this one: http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/49480
Any thoughts?

I've booked apartments from airbnb before and I've always had great experiences. I'm only hesitant with Paris because I've never been there before (I'm a frequent traveller, just mostly around North America and the only time I travel on my own is to stay with friends) so it's hard to gage.

Any suggestions for hotels to stay in in the Latin Quarter?

Thanks again!
I really appreciate everyone's feedback!
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 10:05 AM
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I am with Ira. I would question what kind of place this could be. The 16th is very much a high end residential area, and I would say is sometimes hard to navigate for the Metro (we go when we are in Paris to see the place my parents lived). It is quiet, and while I agree that Paris is safe, there is just not a lot of fun commerce going on.
For the comparatively small amount of money over the trip I'd go somewhere more central.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 10:17 AM
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I've stayed on the 16th and the Latin Quarter. Having alwasy stayed central, I decided to go further out.

It was what I wanted. Non-touristy, no crowds. I had my local cafe at end of street for morning breakfast, wetn to movie in Passy area, walked to some restaurants in area and metro Mirabeau was at end of street. I was about 2 blocks from the Seine, and at night I could go down and see Eiffel not too far away.

Nice area, bit upscale.

But...there were not really any tourist sites in the area. So, no walking to see "the sites". And, it was quieter at night, so no bulsting resturant and bar scene.

All good, but it also meant I had to take Metro every day to go places. from where I was, it took under 1/2hr, for example, to get to Marais area to catch a walking tour.

Form the airport, I had to change from RER to Metro line, and going back Metro change to get to Montparnasse.

Apart from couple of times eating in 16th, I would tour every day, eat, then head back to hotel. Not conducive to going back, dropping stuff off, then going back centrally

So...staying there will get you a bit of a local feel, and it would be maneable in terms of getting into centre. But, if you want to be able to walk to some sites, have bigger choice of restaurants and nightlife, 5th might be better.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 10:28 AM
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I also think a young person in your age bracket would do best in the Latin Quarter.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 10:31 AM
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My nephew rented a place in the 3rd on that website, for 58 euro a night. I lost the link

First time visitor...central. But if you really like the place and price, it is not a disaster if you did stay there.
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Old Aug 7th, 2011, 10:49 AM
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Since you'll only be in Paris for a few days why not pay the extra and stay where you want. Look around for a hotel that is less than E150.

http://www.hotel-grandes-ecoles.com/
http://www.balcons.com/
http://www.eurocheapo.com/paris/hote...esmeralda.html
http://www.hotelduglobeparis.com/
http://www.123france.co.uk/en/0/hote..._en/index.html

The last one looks worn out in the reception area but I've seen one of the rooms and it was clean and the bathroom was brand new and large.

Not all of the above are in the Latin Quarter; some are in the 6th but near to the Latin Quarter.
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