Hi all,
I am considering the following apartment from Perfectly Paris. I like the idea of staying in Montmartre, and we are happy to use public trasportation to get around. It will just be me and my husband (late 20s/early 30s). The stay is for 4 nights.

http://www.perfectlyparis.com/Design...#39;Orsel.html

Thanks in advance!
Laura

Your link is kind of messed up, but I figured it was the 1 BR on rue d'Orsel.

It looks kind of dark to me, but maybe it's not. Mostly, I think you have to judge for yourself what it looks like -- you do notice it's 4th floor without an elevator.

I think it's okay, that's not a bad area near place Charles Dullin.

Sorry about the bad link. It keeps getting split. You can view the apartment at:

http://www.perfectlyparis.com/

Look for "Design at d'Orsel"

Thanks for the feedback Christina. I hadn't thought about the lack of windows.

Actually, I think I've changed my mind and prefer this one:

http://www.perfectlyparis.com/Rooftop%20Vista.html

Thoughts?

Laura,

I like them both, but the rooftop apartment does look lighter and it has the advantage of having an elevator for those days when you're carrying things up to the apartment. It also has good views. They both seem to have the same basic amenities, so no difference there.

If you want to stay in Montmartre, it looks good.

CW

Though it is smaller, I would also go for the rooftop apartment. The elevator and the espresso maker did it for me.

I definitely like the second one better. IN theory, no elevator doesn't sound so bad, but I just think you'll get real tired of those four floors after a bit, and, for example, you won't be willing to pop out for something and back so easily if you have to start thinking about that.

The first one could be fine, they say it has windows in both rooms, but they don't show any good photos with them, so it's hard to tell. Also, they don't have any artwork much in the living room, like over the sofa. It just looks dull.

Rue des Martyrs has a wonderful street market, also, I usually go there when I'm in Paris. It's not one of those roving ones, it's a permanent market street with lots of good food shops on it. Now that's in the part of it in the 9th arrondisement, but that's not too far away.

There are some popular clubs on rue des Martyrs near that apt. which you might enjoy going to. Like Divan du Monde. YOu won't have to go far for entertainment, anyway
http://www.divandumonde.com/

Thanks all. The second one is the winner of the two.

Now another concern. Based on many posts on this site, Montmartre doesn't get many recommendations. I've stayed in several areas of Paris, and they seemed a bit crowed and urban for my tastes. When I visited Montmartre, it seemed have more a village-like atmosphere. That made me think it would be fun to stay there (plus I loved Amelie).

While I've been to Paris before, my husband has not. I didn't think it would be too inconvenient to use the metro to get around. But I certainly could be wrong!

Specific concerns:
Is this location too seedy? Address is 89 Rue Des Martyrs (metro Abbesses). We are not prudes, but I'd rather not have to walk through prostitutes, sex shops, etc. each day.

Will it be annoying to have to take the metro into the central tourist destinations? I have always found the metro to be pretty convenient, and it looks like there is a stop a few blocks for the apartment.

Will this street/area have the village atmosphere I'm looking to find? The reviews on the apartment site mention a great boulangerie across the street, which gives me hope.

But, I haven't provided my credit card, so we could surely pick a different area.

Thanks!

Here is the description of the area from the Web site (perfectlyparis.com):

The cobble street corner of rue des Martyrs and rue des Abbesses is right in the centre of one of the most vivacious parts of Paris. Rue des Martyrs and the neighbouring streets have housed many famous artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Moreau and more. Today, it is still a busy area for art dealers and collectors.

This area has many different styles and moods. We feel that ours is that of the calmer, old style Montmartre. You could easily spend your whole vacation within a 5 minutes' walk in any direction from the apartment: the Basilique du Sacre Coeur, the Dali Museum, theatres, night clubs, a tremendous variety of fresh food stores and markets, bakeries, chocolateries, restaurants, brasseries and bistros. The closest metro station, Abbesses, is only a 2 minutes' walk away. It is located in the lovely Square des Abbesses- where 'Amelie' fell in love!

laura - have you followed my thread and blog about this area?
It might give you a different perspective than usual for this area...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35069084

Hi robjame,
Yes, I read your blog and loved it. It was one of the only positives I've seen though. Thank you for that.

Do you recognize the area where my potential rental is located? The company manager assures me that it is safe and that she lives nearby with her 3 year old daughter.

Did you ever take the metro in to more central areas? If so, was it easy?

Thanks so much,
Laura

I have photos of that area if you wish. It is more towards the touristy area than we were in, and less residential. There are plenty of shops and cafes but I would describe it as leaning towards that part of Montmartre where tourists venture. I would feel comfortable in that region as far as safety.
Commuting by Metro is one or two connections with probably a 20 minute ride. We walked down to the Seine at Ile St Louis (strolling) in an hour and a half and we are old farts.
If you are taking a PDA or computer the free Metro program is amazing - you enter your starting Metro and destination and it works out the best route and connections. Otherwise studying a Metro map will work. Buses are wonderful but we usually Metro-ed.
For people your age I think you would be at home with the clubs, the age of Parisians, activity of the area.

We've stayed in/near Montmartre the last 3 times in Paris (both in the 18th and the 9th). I love it!
There are plenty of Metro stops and if you're like us, you'll probably just want to walk everywhere. No problems.
Since you've been to paris before, why not try some place new?
Here's our last trip, staying on the edge of Montmartre:
http://www.wired2theworld.com/paris2005.htm

My wife says to tell you that it is close to the Pigale area and on Clichy at Place Pigale there are lot of sex shops and that sort of business.

BTW, the second apartment looks fabulous! Great price, location and oh, that view!
Might be the next place we stay...
Let us all know how it is.

If you look at the location it's up the hill from Pigalle, away from the fray. Plus, I didn't really find the area all that seedy. I don't remember seeing any prostitutes, only the sex shops.

I agree Kristina

Thanks both of you. You're making me feel much better.

robjame - I saw the photos on your blog. I loved the morning sights.

Kristina - I will definitely let you know what we think of the apartment.

The area robjame was in isn't really that near this apt on rue des Martyrs, so I wouldn't use that as a judge, and take with a grain of salt anything an apt. website itself tells you about an area -- they are trying to sell it. Montmartre (or the 18th arrondisement) is quite large and parts of it are villagey. I would not describe rue des Martyrs about bd Rochechouart as village-y at all, at least not in the bucolic, rural sense. As I said, there is a large club/concert place on that street very nearby (Divan du Monde), it's a night spot and a main artery in that area (meaning stores of various kinds). There is a famous drag show place right next to Divan du Monde, also (Madame Arthur's), which becomes a disco late at night. There are also some trendy stores and cafes. I think it would be a fun area to stay, but it depends on what kind of village you come from, I guess, or what you are expecting. Maybe it is village-y like the Village in NYC, or the Village People (ha ha).

Here is a link about those exact two blocks around there with some of the popular places, so it may give you a better idea:
http://www.rendezvousfrance.com/pigalle.html

I don't think it's terribly inconvenient for the metro, I've stayed a couple times just a few stops down, in the 9th arrondisment, and it didn't bother me. However, it would some people who only want to be within walking distance of the Seine or some tourist attraction, a lot of tourists do. So it may take you an extra 15 minutes to get somewhere compared to if you stayed more central.

YOu can get some idea of the immediate street, also, if you go to www.pagesjaunes.fr and look at the building and surrounding ones. That apt. is above a pizza restaurant. I wouldn't want to low a floor as it could be noisy, but it doesn't look like that restaurant has outdoor seating. If I recall, it's on the top floor, though, so that would be good.