Place de la Nation Paris apartment-- too far out?
 

We are planning a trip to Paris for Christmas sort of at the last minute, and I need help with apartments!

Background: We go to Paris frequently, and have usually stayed in the 6th Arrondissement. This trip, though, it will be my husband and me and our college age son, and my brother-in-law and sister-in-law with their teenaged daughter.

We will be visiting family who are staying in Paris: our daughter and her SO, who are working there, and our niece, who is in school there.

So we're looking for a large apartment (that sleeps at least 6) particularly with a large living area,since we'll be celebrating Christmas there with at least 9 people

And to top it all off, we're trying to keep this trip relatively on a budget.

Anyway, I've found this apartment:
http://www.vrbo.com/89523

It looks really nice to me, and is HUGE -2300 sq. feet, but it is not centrally located at all.

It's right on the place de la Nation, and the metro/RER station is just outside the door.

My reasoning in thinking that this apartment might work for us is that it's for a bunch of people who won't have any trouble negotiating the metro system, and it's a nice, large apartment for hanging out in as a family.

But I'm really not familiar with the Nation neighborhood. It is a safe area? The apartment website says that there are plenty of grocery stores, bakeries, etc, in the area.

I welcome any input from the Paris experts here- especially those of you who live in Paris.

Thanks a bunch!
Marcy

This is to me a great neighborhood - full of vitality and the kinds of shops you describe. A real neighborhood as well with relatively few tourists and actually very well poised to get anywhere in Paris by metro - and not a bad walk to places like Louvre, Notre-Dame, Pompidou, etc. A bit more blue-collar than areas to the west but to me an ideal place.

Dear Marcy,

Just my thoughts as a Parisian, who has lived many years not far from Nation.
Be assured that Paris outside the 6th is not about burning cars and youth gangs...

Nation is basically a fine middle-class neighbourhood which many Parisians find convenient because it's a mass transit hub, in particular with both the RER and metro line 1 which crosses the city from east to west. It's a bit more upscale on the south side of the Place(12th) then on the north side (11th).

As place de la Nation is basically a huge roundabout, the only thing I would be careful with is street noise, if the bedrooms are on the "place" side.

Place de la Nation has some convenient businesses : a good mid-range grocery (Casino), with a cafeteria upstairs, a boulangerie, a wine shop, a pharmacy which is open late, and what used to be "my canteen", a brasserie called Chez Prosper.

The areas' main features are the old 18th century toll houses as this used to be a former city gate, the adjoining columns bearing the statues of medieval kings Philippe and Louis IX Saint Louis, and in the middle of the place, Dalou's allegorical bronze group "The triumph of the Republic"!

On the 12th arrondissement side, you have a pleasant residential neighbourhood around the avenue de Saint-Mandé and the place Daumesnil, with some commerce as well.

Thanks, Bob and Trudaine,
That's really helpful!
I think the most important thing to us will be the proximity of the metro/RER station.

I think it could be fun to experience a different Parisian neighborhood.

Does anybody have any comments about the apartment itself?

Marcy, given how difficult it is to find a really large apartment at a reasonable price, this is a find. It looks great and as you know Paris is small enough that virtually anywhere is convenient by metro or bus.

marcy, I think that apartment is a great find (although like you, I didn't know much about the immediate neighbourhood). It took me a couple of minutes to figure out the internal layout, but I think I have a good picture in my mind.

First observation: the kitchen is large enough for several people to move around in at the same time, something you'll really appreciate when preparing food for six or more. I also like the large windows in the LR and DR, and it looks like the kitchen and at least one of the BRs have good windows. (They may overlook an internal courtyard? I wish owners would add floor plans to their listings.) And the third thing I like is that there are two couches in the LR (but I didn't notice any armchairs), again something that is important when people want to sit and talk or to read.

I'm also impressed by the price. My wife and I have been looking at two bedroom apartments in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th for a week in February, and we're so far seeing less space for more money. I'm glad you've asked about this area; we hadn't expanded our search to this district, but now we will.

Anselm

Sounds like a great location to me. It will introduce you to real Paris, if you have not already encountered it, unlike the total bourgeois ghetto of the 6th (most expensive arrondissement in Paris to buy an apartment).
Don't miss the Porte de Montreuil flea market if you choose that location. It is a REAL flea market, unlike most of the Porte de Clignancourt flea market.

OMG rent it! Thats a great price and a lovely apartment. Nation is a great "true" Paris neighborhood. Devoid of tourists + + + . You have good transportation choices from Nation as well. I have bookmarked this apartment for future reference!!

I think it's reasonable for an apartment that size. The only thing I would worry about was the noice, and it being located directly on TOP of the RER/metro line would concern me, as I've been in buildings like that and you can hear the trains running underneath. However, it says it is on the fourth floor, so that's not so bad (I wouldn't want it if it were first or second floor for that reason). I think it's a good choice, although it is too bad that people who have a nice place like that are so cheap with the furniture in the bedroom. I've seen that a lot with vacation rentals, I guess they just don't care and dont' want to furnish the place nicely. At least the living room looks nicer.

Safety is not a problem. Place de la Nation is very large, and the character of the streets surrounding the Place is variable, though none of them are shabby. The most bourgeoise close surrounds are in the 12th arrondissement, but close to the Place, the 11th is fine, too. Boarding the No. 1 Metro line, you can be in the dead center of Paris in no more than 15 minutes.

Thanks everybody, for the encouragement-- I think we're going to go ahead and rent it.

I'll report back and let you know how it is.

I appreciate all your input , this place really is an amazing resource for information!

Add another voice to the chorus saying go for it.