I have read all past posts regarding renting a place in Paris... reputable companies, better locations, etc... Thank you to everyone who contributed. It was such an incredible resource and has helped us with our planning so far.
We made a list, inquired about availability, and have narrowed it down. My husband and I are now at a standstill because we cannot decide which apartment is best for us. So, I am asking for your help. I would appreciate your opinion on which apartment is a better choice and why.

We are going in February. We are in our mid to late 30's and this is our first trip to Paris. We plan do visit the famous sites but we are really laid back travelers. It more about the experience for us, rather than getting everything in.
The two apartments we are deciding between are from parisbestlodge.com
"Crazy view" on the Ile de la cite
parisbestlodge.com/quai.html

"Dauphine Magic" in St. Germain
parisbestlodge.com/dauphine.html

Merci beaucoup!
Christina

I think you've chosen two good apartments, both in great locations. I would choose Crazy View because I love to have something to look at out the window. It will be fun to watch the boat traffic. That apartment also has a nicer kitchen and is slightly bigger than the one on Rue Dauphine. Living on the island in the middle of the city also appeals to me.

And I could probably live with the decor of the Rue Dauphine apartment but those decals in the kitchen would drive me crazy.

Both locations are convenient and central for sightseeing and just wandering around. You'll enjoy yourself no matter what your choice.

That is a killer view from the Ile apartment, but I would choose the St. Germain option. My trips to Paris tend to be in Feb also, and I always feel like the Ile is a bit of a ghost town at night. I prefer more lights and activity at night. I know some will disagree with this...just my impression from 3 previous trips.

What about having a Boulangerie and other necessities nearby? I fantasize my husband running down to grab us a few croissants.

What about having a Boulangerie and other necessities nearby? I fantasize my husband running down to grab us a few croissants.>>

if you go to the address of each of your choices on google maps, you can put "bakery" or "supermarket" into the search function, and it will show you where they are. you can also use the street view to give you an idea of what your environs would be like.

personally, my heart says the "crazy view" my hear says the other one. how much time are you planning on staying in the apartment? and at night, what can you see?

You guys are a lot younger that we are, so the stairs might not bother you, but the third or fourth floor (4th & 5th U.S.) with no elevator would nix both of these for us. If you are mountain goats, running down for a few croissants in the morning would be a snap. It would wipe me out for the day.

We are staying in an apartment on Ile de la Cite in May, but we only have one flight of stairs to contend with. After a day of walking my legs down to nubbins, I won't have to dread the ascent to my bed.

My opinion as a "Paris Lover" is this------Can you say "The Buci"? I'd choose St. Germain for more activity right at your doorstep. We always stay on Ile St. Louis and it is very quiet at night so I have to agree with Sidny above. Some think The Buci is too touristy, and it is, but if there is anything going on in the streets at night, it will be there and also at Notre Dame and along the Seine.

Yes the view from the Ile de Cite apt. is great, but for location I'd choose St. Germain. There will be many shops & boulangeries right outside your door, and you are right by the Passage Dauphine which is covered if the Feb.weather gets to you. In the St. Germain area, the streets are narrow and buildings close together which I think would protect you better from the cold and wind----if you were going in the warmer months I would suggest the Ile de Cite property.

We also do the "bakery thing"---I make coffee while MDH runs out for a baguette and croissants in the morning. That's the extent of my cooking in Paris. We prefer apts. over hotels for the space, privacy, ability to have coffee and a frig for wine and snacks, but more so for the feeling of our own place in Paris.

It will be interesting to read your trip review when you return

Since you can't choose, I'm sure the decor and lack of elevator doesn't matter to you of either (they are only one floor difference, so I wouldn't choose on that, either), but you are just asking about the location.

I would choose the St Germain one. That other apt isn't even on Ile St Louis, it's Ile de la Cite which isn't even that residential. The particular location is actually about the oldest part of Paris FYI, there are some buildings in the immediate block or so of that apt that are the oldest buildings in Paris. There is one bakery on the island I know of, but it's not too far from that apt Nicole Lohezic, an artisinal bakery, on rue d'Arcole. Of course there are plenty of shops of all kinds around the other one in St Germain.

I would never choose an apt on that island myself, I think it will be dull at night, nothing much around that apt (I have been where it is) and you'll have to be going elsewhere -- I don't know where, either Ile St Louis or the Latin Qtr or over around hotel de VIlle, I guess. The closest metro would be either Cite or Hotel de Ville, maybe they are equal. Now that isn't too far, it could be about the same distance from the other apt. to a metro (eg, Odeon), but going across that bridge in February may be no fun.

Thank you for all your responses. You make many valid points. The stairs and decor equally don't thrill us, but we can overlook both since location is most important.

"The Buci"??

I've done the google map thing with the street view. I spent an entire day playing with it... walking the streets. It's still difficult to get a sense of what is really there.

In the evenings, we plan to go back to our apartment, drink some wine, eat some cheese and bread and fall asleep. We plan to dine out only one or two evenings. That is why we're considering the view.

One other small concern I have is that the apartment on Ile de la Cite looks like it has very low ceilings. My husband is 5'11" and I don't want him spending 7 days slumped over. Any thoughts on ceiling heights in old buildings?

I guess I'd ask about the ceiling height. It's hard to tell from photos. Older buildings generally have higher ceilings than modern ones, but they get lower as you go higher in the building.

I think the view at night would be interesting with the lights on the buildings across the river and on the tour boats.

I think a Fodorite stayed in Crazy View some time in the past year. I am hoping they'll see this thread and chime in.

I agree the apartment on the Left Bank is in a livelier area, but from the island, you're a short walk to the busier areas. That's its appeal for me, but that's just my preference--we all like different things. If I was traveling alone, I might choose an apartment in a busier area.

I'd take the Dauphine for the reasons listed above. Stairs don't bother me and I don't think I'd want to stay right on Ile de la Cite. But I'd probably be going out to dinner most nights, even if it were just to someplace really casual.

I think you and your husband will have a great time regardless.

I've stayed around the corner from the rue Dauphine apartment since 1981 and there are bakeries, markets, and other food places a few steps away. There's also a Picard about a 5-minute walk away. You can google it. It's a very convenient area.

There's also a laundromat on rue de Seine between rue de Buci and rue Jacob. The area is changing though as I was there some months ago and my favorite bakery, for croissants, was gone. It was on rue de Buci and had been there since before I first started staying in that neighborhood in 1981. It was still there the two times that I was in Paris in 2009.

Across the street, from the former old bakery, is Pauls bakery. It's not the same as the Old School one, but it'll do. It's on the corner of rue de Seine and rue de Buci. There's also another place that has a bakery section that's on rue de Buci across from the flower shop area. The flower shop is at the corner of rue de Buci and rue Gregoire des Tours. And there's a bakery on rue de Seine between Blvd. St.Germain and rue de Buci. And also a really good one on rue de Seine south of Blvd. St.Germain and between rue Clement and rue St.Suplice. My all time favorite though is Poilane, in the 6th, but close to the 7th. It's at 6, rue de Cherche Midi.

It's funny about the running down and picking up a few croissant bit. When I was there some months ago, at the apartment that I rented, one of my best friends who joined me in Paris, asked if I wanted croissants for breakfast. I said that I did and he asked where to go to get them. I said to just go to the place about 1 minute away and I then explained where it was.

Well, he came back much later and said that he couldn't find it. He thought that maybe he was jet lagged and that he'd misunderstood. I didn't know that my favorite place was no longer there.

My friend came back with croissants from Pauls...by no means the same....but it was fine, as I didn't want him running around looking for croissants. He got an A/Plus for effort. Every morning, when I woke up, he had two croissants on the dining room table for me. He'd go to different places to get them. Smiles. Have a great trip. Happy Travels!

Thank you everyone for all your opinions and advice. Our tickets are bought and there is no turning back now. And I know that no matter where we stay, we'll have a great time... Because we'll be in Paris!

I know I shouldn't keep looking because I'll drive myself crazy but are there any other apartments I should look at that might be better? I prefer to stay in the same price point or lower. I already inquired about the much recommended #122 with VIP. It's booked. Any other thoughts? I trust all of you more than myself since I'm not really a seasoned traveller. Last time I was outside of the US was in 2005!

Guenmai-
I noticed Paul's during my google maps walk. Shame the old place is gone. I guess it happens everywhere. Since I love bread and sweets, I will make it a point to try your favorite, Poilane.

Have you contacted Thierry at parisbestlodge.com and asked him what he has available for your dates? You might have more options. I stayed at one of his/his friend's places (wouldn't work for you two, no view, dark, etc., but perfect for me because it was in my absolute favorite location and I needed rest) and paid the same for eight nights as I would for seven.

xpi6tiva: I had VIP#122, in 2008. I did a report on it here in this forum. It's on the rue St.Andres des Arts and next door to the movie theater and although in the 6th, it's a few steps from the 5th.

From what I remember, VIP#122 is more expensive than the two that you have posted above. The apartment that I now have I love, but it's out of your budget range as it's around $1,700 a week, payable in Euros or U.S. dollars. There might be cheaper winter rates however. I'll have to look it up. Happy Travels!

I looked it up and February is the lowest rate at $1,500 a week. February is open, except for around the second week. If interested, let me know and I'll post the info. Happy Travels!

www.parisvacationapartments.com has two studio apartments in the 6th. They are small but look very attractive and February is considered low season. I checked and one of them has availability for a couple of weeks (didn't check the other one). I rented another apartment from them a few years ago and the arrangements were easily made, the apartment lovely, and the people very nice.

I would not be thrilled to stay on Ile de la Cite. Too dominated by large institutions and not enough neighborhood feeling.

Again, thank you. I had already checked #122 and parisvacationapartments.com. They are all booked for our time frame. And $1500 is over our budget for this trip. I'm sure it's an incredible apartment, though.

I'm going to contact Thierry to see if the Dauphine apartment is still available and book it.