Picking between Arrondissements
 

Three girlfriends and I are planning to go to Paris in January after a business trip. We are looking at apartments and are stuck between two Arrondissements: 1 and 6. I am curious if anyone can discuss the flavor of these areas to make our decision a bit easier. The Arrondissement 6 is on Saint Germaine--Cafes Flore and Deux Magots. The other is a five minute walk from the Louve: Rue Croix des Petits Champs

I've stayed in both, and my pick would be be the 6th. It has a great energy, and night life. Even though I was alone and not 'partying', it was fun to wander the streets in the evenings and see all the people and store fronts. And I always felt safe. I think the 1st is much quieter, and doesn't have as much to see.

As a Parisian, I would choose the 1st.

I would never characterize the 1st as quiet. To me it's the heart of the business district, so it's really quite busy.

I can appreciate why a Parisian would prefer the 1st, but for a tourist I'd pick the 6th.

Keroauc--Sorry, i accidentally posted my reply as a new post. Not sure how to delet, but I was curious why as a Parisian you'd pick that area. Less bohemian--more high class? Let us know. Thanks for your reply.

Keroauc--Sorry, i accidentally posted my reply as a new post. Not sure how to delete, but I was curious why as a Parisian you'd pick that area. Less bohemian--more high class? Let us know. Thanks for your reply.

The 6th is the most expensive arrondissement in Paris (in terms of real estate), and also the absolutely most popular with Americans. It absolutely lives for high end tourists.

The 1st arrondissement, in spite of the Louvre, still has authentic streets where tourists are not a priority.

Thanks everyone for your feedback! We're still back and fourth. The apartment in the 1st is much nicer--so we may go that direction. Interested in all feedback. Keroauc, where would you recommend as the best Arrondissement to stay for a first-time visitor who is visiting in January? Thanks, again!!

Choose the 6th. I'm almost at the end of my month here and I don't want to leave. Yes...it's high end and touristy but you can go a few blocks away from Bd St-Germain and find quiet streets. Every time (like tonight) I come out of Monoprix (supermarket) and see St-Germain-des-Pres church lit up against the sky I want to stay forever.

This is a very convenient area and I'm so glad I chose it. It was a great experience.

I've been vacatoning in Paris, almost annually, for 3 decdes-plus and have stayed in a LOT of districts and after staying in the 6th in 1981, well that's where I've been ever since. It has a lot of energy along with great shopping and just a great feel. And yes, there will be those who say that there can be lots of tourists walking around in the 6th, but it's Paris and a tourist city. That's never been a problem for me. Happy Travels!

There is no best arrondissement to visit, and each person will have his own preferences.

I live in the 18th arrondissement, but if I could easily move, I would almost certainly choose to live in the 10th or 11th, because they are still authentic and quintessentially Parisian, not very chic, but with a bohemian quirkiness that is generally a portent of coming trends.

I think if you really like the apt. in the first a whole lot better, it will be fine. I don't like St Germain myself that much, it's just too full of tourists and expensive and not normal -- to me. However, I will admit that a lot of first-time tourists do like it and you probably will, also. It's hard to say without knowing how you like certain kinds of areas as to how you'd feel. Paris is a large city, there are 20 arrondisements, there isn't one area that is best for everyone.

If I had to best, I'd say the 6th would be more foolproof.

Marci:

We stayed in an apartment on Rue Croix des Petit Champs (#44) this past June for 12 days. The gals I travelled with found the location particularly convenient to the Louvre, which is right down the street. That is also where the "main" metro line (line 1) is, so it is easy to get to things. Lots of buses as well.

Both Parisvision and Cityrama (the two largest tour companies) have offices within walking distance, so if you take tours anywhere, it will be easy to get to their offices to pick up the bus.

Please e-mail me at if you need more information: [email protected].

Marci,

I have been a tourist to Paris often. Think of the 20 arrondissements as 20 villages, each with a unique texture and richness. (read "Around and About Paris, the trilogy by Thirza Vallois). If you love the apartment in the 1st Arrondissement, then take it. In Arr. 1-8, location is totally irrelevent. If you are in the 1st you can WALK to the 6th in under 15 minutes, by metro, 5 minutes. The 6th is very tourist oriented.

Which arrondissement you choose is very subjective. Thus far, I have rented apartments in the 5th, 18th and 11th. When I return, I will choose the 10th, 11th, 18th or 20th.

Why? fewer tourists...and I can be anywhere in the 20 Arr. within one half hour by metro...actually, not much more time by walking.

Whatever you decide, enjoy!

Not to throw you off but we stayed in the 4th in June of `06 (and I grew up in the 16th). We stayed in Apt. #22 from www.rentparis.com It was a super decision, the place was spotless and the people although business like were very nice. Michele

How old are you and your friends and how significant of an issue is budget -- do you all make equally good money? If expenses really aren't a problem (you don't mind paying $7 for coffee, etc.) I think the 6th is a great place for 3 girlfriends who want to shop, hang out at cafes, etc.

The Marais seemed to have a lot of energy, very vibrant and young -- but there were still reasonably priced restaurants and cafes, etc.

I have been puzzled about why everyone likes the 6th so much for some time..I guess it's because I dislike the St Michel "tourist trail" going west to the church....I like the 4th arr.the best..
The area I like most in the 6th is the area bordering the 5th and south..I think I will stay there and see what I'm missing.Maybe I need to spend more time there.I found the Boul evard St Germaine so noisy with all the bus traffic.But wherever I stay I always like to be a 5-10 minute walk from the church and that eliminates the 7th for me.

If by the 1st you mean on the island, I am absolutely facinated to try that my next visit. What's the hotels? Oh never mind, I see we're talking about apartments...beven better!

The islands are not in the 1st - they're in the 4th. Attention in the 1st focuses on the Louvre.

You know, the western tip of Ile de Cite is in the 1st... otherwise, the rest is in the 4th.

I didn't know the western tip of the island was in the 1st -- not that it matters as that is a park and there are no hotels there, anyway.

I don't like the Marais that well, either, so I am a real oddball (don't like the Marais or St Germain). But Hypatia, I was wondering why you said you couldn't stay in the 7th because you want to be near a church. There are lots of churches in the 7th, you could be near one if you want to stay there. I do agree that the part of St Germain I would like best is not the part most of the folks who like it prefer, which is the area around bd St Germain. I like the area south of that a bit, more around the gardens, but south of that you get into an area I don't think is called St Germain. I went to school there one summer on rue d'Assas at L'Institut Catholique and lived near Notre-Dame-des-Champs metro, and I like that area but don't think it's exactly St Germain. Maybe it is, I walked by the home of Toklas and Stein on the way to school and that is always called St Germain.

I really think for this trip it doesn't matter too much and both would be fine.

Thanks, everyone. We decided on the First--after much conversation--largely because it's a nicer place and with it being cold in January and there being four of us, we figured that would be best. We are still a walk from everything. We are all between our thirties and forties, to answer the one question. We are renting the apartment through www.welcometoparis.com. But if you have any more suggestions, I've enjoyed reading your responses.

I have made a pact that no matter how much I loved the last hotel I will try a new one in different Arr. each time I go to Paris.Then it's like you're a first timer.

Yes, I plan on staying in the 7th(at some point) but I love being able to walk by Notre Dame and see what happening there.Sometimes there are concerts etc.

I totally agree I love the vibe up the hill by the garden.But walking uphill to go home?

I dont really care that much for the fashion area.The problem is finding a suitable place in my budget,a couple of blocks from a goog metro stop, in the 4-7,that I haven't stayed in before...
yes, that one thing about the St Germaine area ...there seems to be a lot of kids out late night

Also, Suz, there are places with a view of Notre Dame on the island at www.vrbo.com. They look nice--and that fascinates me as well.

Marci:

We rented our apartment on the Rue Croix des Petits Champs from Welcome 2 Paris as well. They were wonderful to work with. Sophie is a gem!

You need to be aware that the final payment will include an "agency fee". I was not aware of this until I booked.

Also, the full amount is due when you arrive (deposit before then). You have to have this in euros, as the company does not accept credit cards. So you'll be travelling with a fair amount of cash until you can hand over the amount due.

Several of the agencies with websites that we contacted said that they had to "check with the owner" on availability. This now leads me to believe that some of these owners also rent the units out themselves (perhaps on vrbo.com), so you might check to see if this same apartment is also available directly from the owner WITHOUT an agency fee.

You have to weigh whether it is worth a little more money to be dealing with an agency. I can tell you that Sophie and her crew were extremely responsive from beginning to end, and were also very accessible by mobile phone. Sophie was also very flexible regarding occupancy, time of departure, and collection of the balance (the gals in my party came in on different days. She allowed us to pro-rate the payment as each person arrived!) The deposit was returned promptly.

E-mail me if you have questions: [email protected].

Marci, I think you made a good choice about staying in the 1st arr. and my reasoning is that it will be so cold out, but you wont have far to the tourist buses and the louvre. If it were warmer weather I would say definitely stay in the 6th as near to Luxembourg Gardens as you can. No one minds walking around in lovely mild weather...and I think in the 6th there is a lot more walking ,

On my first visit to Paris I stayed in the 2nd arr. close to the Louvre,about two blocks to it and the buses - it was April and still quite cold out. In the area there was a grocery store, a corner "diner" type affair that served wonderful mussels, a chinese restaurant, and it was fairly centralized.

This year in May (and it was warmer) I stayed at an apartment in the 6th. Restaurants and buses weren't as close but being a block from Luxembourg Gardens made up for it :)

I think you made a good choice, but I would also follow the suggestion made above and check out if the same apartment is listed in VRBO -rentals listed by and dealing directly with the owner. Many of them are apartments owned by Americans with phone numbers in the states.

Hope you'll let us know how Paris in January was.

A lot of agencies do have to check with an owner about availability, but that doesn't lead directly to the reason is that the owner is renting it themself on VRBO. Agencies often do not have exclusive rights to one that is always vacant, so almost all agencies have to check with an owner to see if it is free on the requested date. The main reason is because many owners allow several agencies to rent their apartment, not because the owner is renting it themself. Other reasons are that the owner may want to be there on those dates, or other things. I have seen a couple that were on an agency's website and on VRBO, and I think in that case, the price was actually the same. It surprised me, too, but I've seen that.

My choice is the 14th. I love staying in Montparnasse.

Since coming to love the Aventine in Rome, I'm ready for anything next time in Paris ... the 16th would be similar, I think: quiet, residential, home-like. But still Paris.

That said, I've stayed in the 1st at Hotel Britannique and loved the location: dead center in Paris, about a block off the Seine, 3 minutes to Ile de la Cite, close to the Louvre, Place des Voges, the Marais ... really a manageable walk to anywhere in the center. And yet Avenue Victoria is relatively quiet and doesn't see much vehicle traffic. For shopping, you're still close to BHV (a treat for us hardware and housewares hounds), boutiques of the Marais, Rue de Rivoli etc. Easy to reach Beaubourg, the Picasso ...

I think you'll like the 1st just fine!