Macki

HI,

Is this an ok area to stay in? I wanted Marais but it is all booked up and quite expensive.

thanks for any help

avalon

What are you looking for an apt or a hotel? All areas of Paris proper are safe IMO, some are just nicer than others!What about the 5th or 6th if you can;t find anything, And what is "expensive"?

Macki

Sorry, that was not clear, looking for an apartment. We stayed in the 6th on a previous occasion so want to do the other side this time. We are Australian and so the exchange rate is not good. Not wanting to spend over 130 euros a night if can help it. We also have a four year old son so would prefer an apartment with one bedroom.

Nikki

The 3rd arrondissement is fine; it is one of the two arrondissements that make up the Marais. The other is the 4th.

There is a selection of apartments in the Marais at www.rentparis.com. I have rented from them with good results.

jetsetj

we have stayed in the 4th and the 5th.
We LOVED the area in the 5th near Rue Mouffetard market.
We stayed at this apt. http://www.vrbo.com/250968
Our friends stayed a few blocks away at http://www.vrbo.com/166281

i would say no to the 3rd and yes to either the 4th or the 5th....

yestravel

Yes, the 3rd is safe and a good area. Haven't stayed right in the 3rd but have walked around it quite a bit and eaten at lots of wonderful restaurants there. Parts of it seem a bit more residential than the more touristy parts of the Marais.

Christina

It's okay, you aren't that far from things in any part of the 3rd. things should be cheaper there, so it's a good place to look if you are going cheaper. I stayed in the 3rd on my last trip to Paris, actually, near St-Sebastien Froissart metro. The 3rd is considered the Marais down around rue des Frances Bourgeois, anyway, so not sure what you are referring to. Anyway, all of it is fine.

tdk320n

The Marais area (the 3rd and 4th ) are both great places. I have rented from www.parisbestlodge.com. The owner was great to deal with. His apartments are not to expensive and good.
I would contact him to see what he has.

kerouac

The 3rd arrondissement is fine. A lot of it is the traditional garment district -- lots of activity during the day. (But slowly but surely the garment district is moving to the suburb of Aubervilliers.)

LikeLivingThere

What are your dates? The second may be a good option, more central but if you stay away from the big tourist sights you can find decent places in your price range.

Leely2

I like the 3rd, agree with Christina and yestravel.

Leely2

Oh, to answer your other question, I've rented from parisbestlodge.com with no problems but it was a studio. If you do a search, there are some apartments in the 3rd by the Square du Temple (has a playground) recommended by posters on this board that might be nice for you with a young child. I like that area, feels relaxed.

farrermog

Perhaps something like these in the 3rd and 2nd -

http://www.vrbo.com/79965

http://www.vrbo.com/49273

http://www.vrbo.com/214859

(Macki - 130 Euro is currently around 190 AUD. This time last year you would have been looking at almost 250 AUD and even four months ago around 215 AUD.)

StCirq

The 3ème is just fine. Go for it. And then come back and tell us about it, because a lot of Fodorites think it's important to stay in a certain few arrondissements, and that's just not the case.

Christina

I really like Square du Temple, it's a nice park, so if I were staying in that area, I'd like to stay around there. There are lots of shops on rue Bretagne, also.

Macki

Thanks for all your responses- sorry for not being more clear about what I meant by 'expensive' - I am Australian and so we don't have the best exchange rate. The 3rd on Rue du Temple looks good as we are right near a playground. Will report back how we found it.