gruezi

I am looking for an apartment for 1 or 2 weeks in November.

I am a solo traveler not needing a lot of space but wanting sunlight, cleanliness and a real neighborhood with shops and bistros. My budget is not too tight but I would like to spend less than I would need to spend in a 3-4 star hotel yet know it would be clean, safe and cheerful.

I usually stay in the 6th and also have stayed a few times in the 1st, but am open to suggestion, although not keen on the 7th even though there seem to be some lovely apartments there. I see a lot about the Marais, but can't get my arms around that neighborhood and think perhaps it is not for me.

I am thinking Ile St. Louis may be a neat idea. I wonder is it too quiet as I will be alone or maybe quiet is nice but I do like to have some shops and cafes...? Any solo traveler have experience there?

I am needing a bit of a restorative vacation that is cheerful despite the November gray so I hope for a pleasant apartment as I will spend some time in it. I plan to have a leisurely look at art all over Paris, eat well at lunch and dine in for dinner as I don't like to eat dinner out alone and usually have worn myself out by then anyway.

Would love any recent apartment experiences.

Thanks for your help.

gruezi

avalon

I always book with Vacation in Paris. Have stayed in #122 on rue St Andre des Arts , just aa few stps away from Place St Michel and #201 ,across from St Paul cathedral and 2 blocks from Place Bastille. Both are in lively areas with good transprtation options.VIP is really easy to deal with. They have lots of apt to choose from.

gruezi

Thanks Avalon for your help and specifically the apartment numbers. I have seen the photos of 122 and will have look at 201.

I think Guenmai also has staying in 122...

thanks!

Gruezi

avalon

You're welcome.I think you're right about Guenmai having stayed there

Marija

We're staying here in October:
http://www.parisbestlodge.com/nd.html

gruezi

Does anyone have experience with Parler Paris Apartments? They have some lovely looking studios but I haven't read anything about them here on Fodor's.

I am thinking of branching out to Le Marais so if anyone has an opinion I'd love to hear it... (silly to ask that here

Thanks marija - I also looked at that one. Lovely in the pictures! I hope you have a wonderful stay and let us know.

Thank you.

gruezi

Christina

I think the Marais could work for you if you like St Germain. I'm not super keen on the Marais myself, although I've stayed in it a couple times in hotels, it's just not my favorite part of Paris. So I don't have any apt rental experiences there.

But for the island, the main street down it is full of shops, and some of the side streets. I think there are a couple cafes on it, that I recall. Well, I can think of one, anyway, although maybe it calls itself a brasserie. However, given this is the oldest part of Paris, the streets are extremely narrow and you just will not find the kind of big grand cafes with open air terraces on it, which you may know. It has narrow streets with tall buildings on either side. The only open area is along the Seine. I think there are a couple bistros/cafes, though.

Of course, it's just a short walk across the bridge to the bank, although I don't think it is exactly cosy or full of cafes or residential right around Pont Marie on the right bank. I think the island would be fine for you.

I think www.guestapartment.com has lots in the Marais in Paris, or the Island or maybe both. I don't think they are cheap, though.

mztery

We have stayed a couple of times on Ile St Louis and we found the apts there are way overpriced for what you get. We also thing we'd be unhappy in the Marais - we've stayed in the 6th and 7th in apts owned buy locals here in SF.

Mimar

Have you checked the rental reviews at www.slowtrav.com? There's a recent one for a studio on the Ile Saint Louis.

Guenmai

Gruezi: Yes, I've stayed at #122. I did a thread on it. It'll probably pop up if you type in my screen name.

However, here's another one....www.homeaway.com #226061. Read the reviews as there are 12 of them. This is an excellent one and great location. It's next door to the Hotel de Seine and directly across from Fish.

I like to try different places. Happy Travels!

gruezi

Christina -
Thanks for the frank assessment... you confirm my uncertainty about Marais..

mztery - beyond the value issue, did you like staying there?

Mimar - I did check there but missed the studio on ISL... will check again... thanks

Guenmai - may I ask is one sunnier and more cheerful than the other? I do not want to stay somewhere dark and gloomy as it will be November and I will be coming off a very difficult few months... Thanks for all you input here on Fodor's - I've read a lot of your post in the last 24 hours!

Thanks all - keep the advice coming please.

gruezi

denmal

If you search on Denmal , there is a trip report from our apartment last May in Paris w/ Pictures - If they are not still online - email me at [email protected] and I will send them over .. It was a very good apartment in the 1st with large window and a very small balcony , big enough for chair

Christina

Not sure it was much help, it's just my own feeling. A lot of people really like the Marais, I just don't. The streets are narrower than on the Left Bank where I like, there isn't as much green space or broad open areas and it is too crowded for my taste. Now I do not like shopping, and a lot of people like the expensive shops in the Marais. I just don't. I also find it more difficult to find decent cafes and places to eat. At least the kind I like, not small, expensive places that are real packed, which you can find some of in the Marais.

mztery

Re Ile St Louis
One of the apartments was so funky is really affected my view of the ile. The 2nd time, we loved it - there is really nothing to do but walk; eat berthillion ice cream; window shop the lovely shops and walk some more.There were a lot of tourists so relatively crowded when we went in springtime but it didn't seem to hamper our experience. We also met some of the nicest local parisians that we have on any trip.

TPAYT

http://www.servissimo-paris.com/apar...-paris_EN.html

This is one of the places we stayed on Ile St. Louis. Small, but excellent location. You can't be too tall though, as the upper loft bedroom & bath have a 5'8" head clearence. Price is terrific and we will stay here again. Their office is just across the Seine on the right bank close by.

Now for our favorite www.guestapartment.com We stayed in Hibiscus on Ile St. Louis and it was my favorite place. A bit pricy, but we loved it. It was a large studio overlooking Rue St. Louis en Ile. I see that they also have 2 smaller studios, Lily and Daisy, that look fantastic. They have an office right on the Ile, and Phillipe & Tom will help you with anything you might need. Did I mention that I loved that place---yes I did. We also will stay here again someday.

Ile St. Louis is very convenient to everything with many good restaurants, bakeries, grocery shops, etc.

Good Luck!

TPAYT

Now that I read your initial post again, I wouldn't choose the servissimo apt. as it faces a courtyard and may be rather dark in Nov.

But do look at Guest Apt.

jkbritt

We stayed here for two weeks in July of this year. Loved the area. See: Nadine Studio 30 sqm Paris 9e near Montmartre/Opera E-mail : [email protected] Website : http://locationparis9.canalblog.com

gruezi

Thanks everyone for the update on le Marais and on various possible apartments in Paris.

I think I am narrowing down to Ile Ste Louis or the 6th...

TPAYT - the hibiscus looks like a very good possibility. It is at the top but within my budget. It looks like it also looks on a courtyard though... I am hopeful it gets light. The colors and decor do look very cheerful. Thanks so much for your help. I will also look over what else they have.

I appreciate all the feedback. I've never rented in Paris before so am a bit nervous.

gruezi

schnauzer

Hi Gruezi,
Have you thought about the 18th, this too is a great neighbourhood, very funky cafes and gorgeous streets, if you are a little way down from the Sacre Coeur then the area becomes very local as it were. I have used Perfectly Paris the past two times and have been more than happy with them. Very fair to deal with and accommodating. Have a look at some of their places, I know the Caulaincourt Charm where I stayed this year is very light and airy and I have booked - I think it is called something like, Rooftop Vista for next year. I too needed something light and airy and Gail recommended this one for me as Caulaincourt was too expensive for two years in a row.
Schnauzer

avalon

Several firnds have stayed in rooftop vista andloved it. I think there are a few reviews and pictures on Our Paris Forum

http://www.ourparisforum.com