VIP ID 230 is near the Dauphine apt., close in price, closer to Metro (good for Februrary trip) 5th floor walk-up. The decor is less . . . pink . . . than Dauphine as well.

Ok... I haven't been able to pull the trigger. My husband is looking at "nicer" apartments... Particularly, Cecile's apartments.

Guenmai... If you read this, at this point since my husband has raised our budget, I'd be interested in knowing about your favorite place.

I'm also open to le marais.

I prefer Le Marais to St Germaine. St. Germane was full of tourist whereas some part of Le Marias has neighborhood feel to it. I rented an studio apt on Rue de Brague from RentParis.com, I thought the location was perfect and the apt while simple and smallish was perfect for the two of us. There was a washer/dryer in the bathroom which i appreciate. Nice shops and great restaurants were within walking distance. The building was inside a courtyard with a big gate in the front which is very french and elegant and homey. A doorman looked before he buzzed people in so it's safe. Not that I had felt unsafe anywhere but I love details. My apt was on the 4th or 5th floor and there was an elevator. There was no view to speak of except the window in the kitchen overlooking a side street. There was a school of some sort on the opposite side, I see young people wearing very interesting clothes hanging out with one another in front of that school, could be a fashion school judging from what they wore. The weekly rate was about 100 euro per nite. Hope this helps.

If the stairs don't thrill you, keep looking. You have to drag your bags up and down those stairs. If this is your first visit to Paris, after being out and about all day, it will likely be all you can do to drag yourselves to the front door. And, flights of stairs would discourage you from going "home" during the day for a break, to drop off items to lighten your load for the rest of the day, etc. In most of those old buildings, stairs are narrow and curved.

I'd also be wary of those tiny shower (only) bathrooms.

Can't say I agree at all with the above sentiment that St Germain is full of tourists but the Marais is not. The Marais is jam-packed with them, and the streets are often very narrow so it can be worse. Both quarters (or any) will have some areas without them or that are less crowded. In any case, I sure would not pick between one or the other based on the idea that one is more touristy than the other.

I don't actually like either one of those areas because there are so many tourists in both, but I've been traveling to Paris a long time so it isn't really a comparable situation. I think I'd prefer St Germain myself. I just really don't like the Marais very much, to be honest.

I didn't say 'St Germain is full of tourists but the Marais is not'. I said, 'some part of Le Marias has neighborhood feel to it'.

I know, but you are implying that this is different from ST Germain. Parts of St Germain also have a neighborhood feel to them, or don't you agree.

For a first trip, the neighborhood won't matter that much. It's better if food shopping, etc., is within steps rather than blocks. If you'll be out and about all day, you won't be spending that much time in your neighborhood during the day, and at night, it's nice to have plenty nearby. If you're light sleepers, street noise could be a concern, though.

My daughter and I stayed in an apartment on rue de Buci in October and loved, loved, loved it. I've stayed on rue de Seine and rue de Verneuil before, but rue de Buci topped them all for location. Anything we could ever want or need was within a 2 minute walk (although I was disappointed to discover that the fromagerie had closed since last year. The neighborhood has a lively vibe that is lots of fun. We both agreed that we don't ever want to stay anywhere else.

xpi6tiva: It's www.homeaway.com #226061. Click on the review icon and then scroll a bit and click on the green icon where it says, "Read All Reviews" and all 14 reviews will pop up. Happy Travels!

I forgot to add, as far as tourists go, you'll be there in February, not July. I've been there in November and other times of the year and it wasn't what I'd call crowded or crawling with tourists even in the heart of the 6th.

I'm from L.A. County and we have what I'd call crawling with tourists. LOL! It doesn't bother me. I just go on and do what I need to do. For years, I was also in the 6th, in the heart of the summer. That was back in the 70s/80s/ and up to 1990 though. Then, due mostly to circumstances, I started going to Paris during various other months.

During one Thanksgiving week in Paris and in the 6th, it was like a ghost town. I went to my friends' restaurant on the rue Gregoire des Tours, right off the rue Buci and the various restaurant workers were standing in the doorway trying to grab onto whatever customers that they could. I was at my friends' restaurant from 7PM-10PM and only one table was occupied and with two people. Happy Travels!

Theflock, can you share the information/website on our apt? I'm staying with my daughter in a flat by Rue de Buci in June.

xpi, I agree with others who recommend the 6th rather than the Ile de la Cite apartment. The latter area is lovely ,more like a self-contained village, but a bit too quiet for me--as Sidny wrote above, it feels at times like a ghost town, and imagine in winter i'd feel even more that way.

Guenmai-
Thank you! Unfortunately, that apartment is booked for the first half of our trip.
My husband said that he wants to look forward to coming back to the apartment at the end of the day, so... We're now back and forth between...

http://www.cecile-apartments.com/par...-apartment.php

http://www.cecile-apartments.com/par...-apartment.php

Theflock- The one on rue de buci is already booked
I know the one in st. germain is 5 floors up (doesn't bother us) and has a slightly lower ceiling height which will probably still be ok for my husband.

Both neighborhoods look nice and convenient. We are simply hoping for the quintessential parisian experience. Are we asking too much?

Gosh, those 2 cecile apartments look gorgeous!!! I want to go now...

I know, Kraines... once my husband looked at them, I couldn't get him to consider anything else.
We've decided on the St. Germain Luxembourg apartment!!
http://www.cecile-apartments.com/par...-apartment.php

Now I get to research places to eat, markets, etc...

Merci to everyone who offered their opinion! I don't think I'd be as confident with my decision if it wasn't for all of you.

XPI--WHICH apt on Rue de Buci???Do you have a URL link for the Theflock's recommended flat?

I am staying in one on Rue de Buci in June, via Vacation in Paris. Wonder if it is the same

Congratulations on your choice!!! It's a wise decision. Like Christina, le Marais doessn't "do it" for me the way the Let bank does. Personal opinion, of course, but having stayed once in the Marais, and also in o the 5th and 7th, I'd go with the 6th, and have booked in the area for next trip.

DO spend some time in the Marais, though--try the yummy falafel at Mi Va MI (I think that is the name) or the more famous place with the big line across the lane.

BTW, in matters of both hotels and flats, I agree with your husband--it's great having a beautiful, welcoming and cozy comfortable place to come back to at the end of the day--part of the whole experience! So the challenge is finding something affordable that is also wonderful!

Oh--and your chosen place is right near Gerard Mulot's bakery. YUMMYYYY!!!

CaliNurse I was just thinking the same thing about Gerard Mulot.....best tart citron ever!!
We stayed in the Marais for the first time in October....we really enjoyed it (and were within 3 blocks of a Gerard Mulot) but both of us said, we just prefer the 6th.

xpi6tiva: Congrats on your apartment find and it's unfortunate that #226061 wasn't available and also not to your husband's liking. For me it's an apartment that I do look forward to coming back to. Its very cozy and I love relaxing in it at night and watching the great TV with all of the cable channels. I really feel very much at home in that apartment as it's what I call frou-frou free. Smiles. Have a great trip. Happy Travels!

Oh Guenmai... I didn't mean my husband didn't like the one you recommended. I didn't show it to him since it wasn't available. I meant the pink room. I should have been more clear.

We've gone a bit over our desired budget but my husband justified it because I got ridiculously cheap airfare. I would rather he up our budget than I.

Calinurse...
Here is the link for the one on rue de buci that I believe theflock was talking about.
http://www.cecile-apartments.com/par...-apartment.php

Of course we plan to visit le marais. I love falafel here at home and can't wait to try it in Paris. I believe that everything is going to taste better there.

A tart citron sounds super yummy! Would that be seasonal?