Hi - my husband and I are planning to spend one month in Paris with our 18month old daughter in April. We are looking to rent an apartment, but for one month central Paris is too expensive. Therefore we have decided to look on the fringe or just outside Paris in a location that is close to a metro that will easily take us into central Paris.

I need suggestions on areas conveniently located just outside Paris. Many thanks for any help!!

I would check out places in the inner suburbs such as Vincennes, Saint-Mandé, Issy-les-Moulineaux, Boulogne, Levallois-Perret and Neuilly (Neuily being the most expensive place).

I think Vincennes and Saint-Mandé, on the east side, are likely to be the less expensive of the towns of Trudaine's list. Closeness to a Metro station may make the rent higher, so calculate how far you are willing to walk, and verify distances.

What price are you hoping to pay for your apartment rental?

Maybe people can suggest places that would work for you with a price range in mind.

When I was in Paris last week, I took a trip to Chartres. I noticed some interesting-looking towns along the way like Epernon, that are not that far by train (not metro). However, the commute could get expensive unless there is some sort of monthly deal for commuter train tickets.

In all the places Trudaine is referring to, real estate is more expensive than in most of the north-eastern quarter of Paris (arr. 10, 18, 19, 20). Of course, when you are no Parisian, it is difficult to know whether one address belongs to the "good" or the "bad" 19th. Having said that, with the help of an honest realtor (yes, they do exist! ) and the locals on this board, I would advise you to stay intra muros in the places usually ignored by the American contributors of this board, but where roughly one third of the Paris population lives. Believe me, you'll be much better off living in the Buttes Chaumont or Ménilmontant than petit bourgeois Issy-lès-Moulineaux or Saint-Mandé where you have to trek for miles to find a métro or a decent restaurant.

Could you give us an idea of your price range, and whether you'd be willing to rent a studio or need a separate bedroom?

I lived in Courbevoie for a while, which is just by La Defense. Very easy to get into Paris, and tons of new apartment blocks were being built so, I bet some are being rented (www.pap.fr if your french is up to it).

Puteaux on the other side of La Defense i very nice too...

I agree with Art-Vandelay. Remember, there is far more to Paris than the arrondissements usually referred to on this board. Finding an apartment in Paris is often a matter of luck, but good things pop up where you least expect them.

For instance, I have seen some really good deals on smaller apartments in the 16th. Apparently, in that arrondissement, small apartments are not as much in demand by the locals. Also, there are many parts of the 15th that are very agreeable.

Don't give up on Paris. It just takes some looking.

Of course I'm a great fan of the double-digit Paris arrondissements. I live in one. But let's take a deep breath. One needn't trek for miles in the suburbs to get to Metro station. It's just a matter of finding a place reasonably near a station. The larger problem for the OP, in my opinion, is the length of stay. The vast majority of short-term rentals in Paris are priced by the week, a April is high season. Those with a term of one or several months are more likely to cater to business people, with the rents often paid by companies. In that case, they're much more likely to be in "prime" locations, with the rent higher.

Hello everyone! I've been off line for a few days so sorry for being silent. Anyway, our budget is about 2,000-2,500 euros /month and we would like a min of about 60sqm and 2 bedrooms. My research so far says this is possible but most things I've found so far hv been booked unfortunately.

Your suburb suggestions are v. helpful.

I've done some more hunting and wld like your opinion on the following addresses: 1) Mairie du 19eme - opposite Buttes Chaumont, near metros Laumiere, Jaures & Bolivar.1400sqf which would be great. 2)Blvd Clichy, 18eme. Wld this be too noise & lack atmosphere?

As per Art's comments, I am keen to know more about what you think of the above. Is the are for each decent, how long to get into central Paris, etc. etc. I heard the Buttes Chaumont parc isn't that nice - true or false?

Neuilly will be as expensive as central Paris; Vincennes is OK; a lovely suburb on the RER is Sceaux; if you could find a place there aI am sure you would like it.

To ILV :

Mairie du 19me : good location, facing the beautiful parc des Buttes-Chaumont, desirable residential neighbourhood in the "good 19th". Unique neighbourhood (for Paris) made up of individual homes around the rue de la Mouzaïa. Becomes more working-class/immigrant as you move north towards Jaures, Laumière, and the Bassin de la Villette. Not very far from the Cité des Sciences and its park at La Villette.

Boulevard de Clichy : depends on where exactly : the boulevard itself is busy, noisy, with a rather working-class feel, but there are nice residential areas on both sides of the boulevard. Some "adult shops" in the nearby Pigalle area.

If the Clichy apt is right on the Blvd de Clichy, I'd avoid it ... likely to be noisy and, depending on the block, could be rather seedy. Buttes-Chaumont is a really cool neighborhood. All in all, I think it might be a better fit for a family with a child. The only disadvantage is, it's a bit further out from the center of Paris, but we're only talking 15 or 20 minutes travel time, so it's no big deal.

ILV... hmmm the apartment opposite Buttes Chaumont sounds interesting. Care to share a link to the apartment rental site? I'm looking for something in the double digit arrondisements for my adult daughter and I next January.

Sorry, haven't visited the site for a few days too... Agree with Trudaine's comments re Buttes Chaumont. But within your budget you should be able to find something more central. Just out of curiousity, I asked the real estate agent this afternoon what my apartment would be worth if I cared to rent it out (which I don't, sorry! ): he said it would go for € 1,300, and it's 63 m², South facing, in Gambetta, which is as nice as Buttes Chaumont, but with better métro connections to the center.

Hi everyone and thanks for your great comments. Danna - here is the link to the site which a home exchange/rental site. http://www.sabbaticalhomes.com/Offer....aspx?id=27615. Anyone had experience with this type of rental?

Anyway - do you think this is in the "good" or "bad" 19th?

Based on your comments, I am broadening my search to find our gem.

By the way ... here's a little joke for you .....

A cat called one-two-three and a cat called un-deux-trois had a race across the English Channel.
Which one won?
The one-two-three cat of course. Un-deux-trois cat sank!