Has anyone out there rented from this agency in recent times? I can't find any references to them in these talk forums since 2007, and I am considering renting from them. If you have any advice too about the LOCATION of this apartment, I would appreciate it. (7th arr near les Invalides). I want to be walking distance from choice of restaurants and some liveliness at night - but not tourist madness...I believe rue Cler has a good variety of restaurants?
http://www.specialapartments.com/1_codet.html

I haven't heard of that firm, either. But that apt. looks really nice to me, I like it a lot. Part of it is probably just the photos and lighting, but it looks very comfortable and warm.

That's a convenient and good location, should be quiet. It's right near the Hotel Muguet.

It sounds like it will suit you, but what do you want when you say you want liveliness at night? That isn't an entertainment area, but there are a few cafes and people walking around at night.

Rue Cler doesn't have hardly any restaurants at all that I can recall (I did stay at the Muguet a few nights a couple years ago). They have a couple cheap cafes that I can think of, but I don't remember any other restaurants on rue Cler. It's mainly for shopping, not dining. There are some restaurants in the area, though.

We found two places on Rue Cler that we really liked. Cafe Verganno (our receipt said Delizius though) was great for coffee. We had breakfast there one morning, which made my mom very happy, lol! It was very simple, but good. The other place is Cafe Rousillion which is where we had a great lunch. It is on the corner of Rue Cler and Rue de Grenelle. We were staying at the Muguet when we found these places and really enjoyed the area. Close enough to walk to places, but also quiet.

JCS, I haven't heard of this rental agency before...but the apartment does look very nice, and seems well priced for the neighborhood. I would get references from former renters before proceeding. IMHO, the 7th arr. is a great location, with many very good restaurants in strolling distance, but nightlife activities are limited in this area. EJ

I can't find anythng about the rental agency except this thread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...cialapartments

the legal aspects and bad review puts me off, as I can't find other positive comments on Fodours to balance this. Also, the comments on the guest book on the actual website are rather vague, general comments, rather than rave reviews which I associate with other agencies (such as vacationinparis, parisperfect)

By "liveliness", I mean I want to be 5 mins or so away from a place where there are people walking around in the envening, where we can stroll to a choice of restaurants without having to catch the metro, preferably where there are people sitting outside eating at night?? The last time we went to paris we stayed near rue Montorgueil, which was very good! But I was wanting to stay on the left bank this time for a change.

The other apartment that we are considering is near rue Mouffetard, which I believe has lots of restaurants, but again I am worried that it might be deserted at night? Also, from the google map street view, it looks like it might be dark there at night (is it safe there??
Here is a link to our other choice.
http://www.parisattitude.com/apartme...umProduit=3736

It is much cheaper, but large, which is what we want. My husband, however, thinks it is a bit too cluttered with personal stuff and dowdy...

well, rue Cler isn't lively like where you were, nor like around St Germain and the Latin Quarter, no. There isn't any entertainment around there, I wondered if you meant that (movies, music, etc). But there are a few cafes on the corner that will be open somewhat later and there are people on the streets. I wasn't at all nervous walking home to Hotel Muguet at night from the Ecole Militaire metro stop. I don't stay out super late, but sometimes 10 or 11. It's a safe area.

There are places to eat around there, but not a big variety in the immediate block or two of that apt., so it depends what you need. I didn't eat around there that much, I went elsewhere to dine. It may close up early around there, people don't stay out that late around there. I think you will probably like it okay but if you want a wide variety of restaurants within 5 minutes of the apt that stay open pretty late, maybe not.

I just stayed in an apt. on rue Mouffetard last Fall. I know that area and like it a lot. Rue Mouffetard actually is pretty quiet and closed up in the evening when it gets late, a lot of people think it is real lively all the time -- especially on weeknights. Now that just means it is pretty quiet around 10-11 pm or later, it is lively earlier, and more lively on the weekends. There are definitely more places to eat and cafes around there, though, that's for sure. There are cafes open later right near the Censier metro stop which is where I often would hang out.

There are zillions of restaurants on a few surrounding streets, not necessarily right on rue Mouffetard, where I'd often eat. such as rue Pot de Fer, Thouin, place Contrescarpe is lively pretty late (although a bit younger vibe in many places).

That second apt. isn't really on rue Mouffetard, though. My apt. actually was right on rue Mouffetard. Sounds noisy, but it wasn't as it really looked onto an interior courtyard and my apt. was not right over that pedestrian street. But rue L. is only about two very short blocks away from Mouffetard, and I think maybe some restaurants are right on Thouin, off it.

Somebody on here recently said they thought rue Mouffetard was what people meant when they talked about how the Latin Qtr was too touristy. I thought that was an odd remark, myself, as I've rented an apt. on or near it twice myself, and don't think of it as the peak of touristy at all. It's nothing like around place St Michel, near the Seine, rue de la Huchette, etc. As I said, on weeknights, it's really just locals who live around there and pretty quiet. There are tourists on the market street during the day buying things, sure, and in some of the cheap restaurants in early evening. But that will definitely be true over in rue Cler area, that's for sure, in fact I think more so over there. Rue Cler is more expensive, also, it's an expensive street market for Paris, but for buying a few things over a few days, that won't matter much.

Both areas are very safe, yes. The immediate street where the apt. is could be dark at night, in both cases. I didn't fell any more comfortable walking home to Hotel Muguet late at night than my apt. on rue Mouffetard. Probably less comfortable, actually, as it does seem a little more deserted in the 7th, less open. However, your apt. on rue laromiguiere is not that close to a metro stop. But if you are thinking of walking home from a restaurant at night, that won't be an issue and I think they will be about the same in that regard (desertedness and darkness).

I don't know which you would prefer, it's hard for me to judge. I prefer the rue Mouffetard area but many Fodorites adore the 7th and rue Cler area and say there are a lot of restaurants. I didn't feel that way, at least not within a couple blocks of that location at night.

Thank you all for your comments. In particular, Christina, I really appreciate the time you have taken to give such a detailed response.
We are not looking for bars/clubs, rather restaurants/cafes where we will not feel too isolated i.e: other people are eating there too, and some people walking around in the street. I imagine we will be in bed by midnight, so either area sounds OK. Your comment about the metro station is true - I must check on google how far it is from the rue Laromiguiere apt.

If you prefer the one near Invalides you will find a zillion restaurants in the area.

Just pull up viamichelin.com and click on restaurants and you will find some 25 or 30 restaurants...I could name many right there on La Tour Maubourg/LaMaotte Picquet etc.....Pascos, Chez les Anges, La Cusiine, Le Florimond etc. etc.....

I always stay in the 7th..very familiar with the location of the one you are looking at, but I prefer the 7th in the St. Dominique/Bourdonnais area. 4 Constant restaurants and many others. The 7th is loaded with restaurants in every price range.

Enjoy your planning..

Joan