Reconsidering place to stay in Paris
 

Dear Paris experts

This is a repost with a better message title (thanks Rex!!) It's about an apartment in Paris:

I had all but decided on VRBO 37031 for 3 of us - a 40 m no-frills apartment that had all the basics we needed for a good price (850E/week) - right off St. Michel on a quiet street - when the REALLY nice owner sent me a requested picture of the WC (toilet) - yech!! Tall husband would not even be able to fit (sorry for graphic).

Anyhow, reconsidering - there is an apartment 2bed by Rentalfrance (Pascal) on Rue des Chartreux (vrbo 18044) It is quite a bit more than the St. Michel one (1200E/week), but is also nicer looking - It is very close to the Lux garden, a desirable thing with my 4 yr old, and has 2 bedrooms...but I have two concerns:

First, it's at the bottom of Luxembourg, closer to Montparnasse (right off Rue D'Assas) - are there metros (other than Luxembourg RER) close enough nearby?? I wanted to be closer to St. Germains - I'm not familiar with this area in terms of accessibility by metro, etc.

Second question: the place is advertised as around 600 sq ft --- for a 2 bedroom? Does that sound even feasible??? I know pictures can be misleading, so I'm a little worried about that!!

If anyone has stayed there or has opinions of any sort (please!!) I would LOVE to hear from you!!

Thanks in advance....Danielle

600 SF for a 2 bedroom apt does not very sound feasible to me, at least not in the kinds of places I've lived. My niece has a 550 SF studio apt (no sep bedroom) and that is a good size studio, but would be small if there were walls to make one bedroom in it. I've had 700-800 SF 1 BR apts that I considered avg but not deluxe. Maybe it depends how they are counting SF -- if they don't count hallways and bathrooms, it may be okay. You could ask that. I think in the US, real estate SF is more a measure of the entire area within the perimeter of the place.

As for the area, it is a little more inconvenient, but not terrible. That is just west of the park extending south of Luxembourg gardens where the observatory is (Jardin Marco Polo). It isn't near any metro stop, but not too far from Port Royal RER stop. There is a bus running along bd Montparnasse (east-west, it goes over to Bastille), and a bus that comes pretty near that street from Luxembourg Gardens around rue Soufflot. I think that's where that bus starts as I've taken it several times when I was staying in Montparnasse. It's around a lot of university buildings. I don't think there's any grocery store nearby though, although probably small corner epiceries, except I remember an Ed l'Epicier on rue Notre Dame des Champs or rue d'Assas that isn't too far. They are not a big, nice grocery store though, but are cheap and have the basics. It would be nice to be that near the gardens.

Christina, thanks!! In the meantime, I have tried to "expand" the horizons, even though I love the Luxembourg area. I haven't ruled out the one I mentioned (18044) but your post made me think. With a 4-year old in the middle of cooold wet winter, convenience and comfort will be #1. To that end, I checked a few more places. ParisPerfect has great places (Scarlett, I think you suggested?) - but none available in my price range - but I also saw a place on Boulevard de Sebastopol that's by Bienvenue a Paris - at 800 sq ft and 2-bedroom, it sounds good. I Heard good things about them on a couple of websites...but not about the Boulevard de Sebastopol place (Place Bourg Tibourg)...anyone familiar with that area or the apt? It's near the Seine, seems right across from Blvd St. Michel, so walkable to Lux -- long walk, but feasible) -- and seems quite convenient...but I wonder if it has any charm?? Anyway, I would LOVE advice!!

Thanks Danielle

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34548573

Hi gambader :)
I found this post from my research on apts in Paris this morning, you really should look through it, and look at some of the places suggested.
We always stayed in hotels when in Paris, but this time we were meeting our son and needed room plus a place to be able to visit ( and feed him ) so the apt option worked for us.
I guess staying for 9 days, you will find an apt the best way to go also.
My best advice is just to keep looking at the apts in the areas that appeal to you, keeping in mind the amount of travel involved in being in a certain area , especially in winter.

Forget about your favorite spot and be open to the 16th, the Marais and remember that the Metro and bus will get you everywhere easily..and the price might be so much better elsewhere.

Look at some more expensive apts and get an idea of what you will want- more square footage, real beds vs cots, sofa beds..
Remember that busy streets are noisy-that apt would be better on a courtyard than with a view..that sort of thing.

Good luck and just keep looking, I got sick of it but we ended up staying in a beautiful little flat.

Also-
type apartmenst in Paris into the Search box and you will get lists and lists of previous posts .. just to keep you really crazy while doing this :)

Scarlett,

Thanks, you're great. I actually have read a lot of great posts over the past few weeks before joining - included Paris, Paris apartment rentals, etc..read through the superthreads and they were very helpful.

Like you say, I have realized that I should not be married to the area since everything is accessible.. at the same time, I fear being in a neighborhood that is not as charming because I wonder if I would miss the Paris feel. It seems to be size/amenities versus charm/favorite area, in my budget (around 1,000Euros/week). There are so many choices, and since it's really the first time we go with a child and in the cold, it's a whole different dynamic.

What I would love as well is to see if a person has stayed in the same apartment I am considering or at the very least in the same area...that gives me some clues. Or if someone has stayed in any place with a child that they loved, I'd love to know that as well.

Thanks, as ever, and I look forward to writing/reading more!

Danielle

Your chances are greater that you will find something in a MORE charming area..:)
Paris neighborhoods are all oozing with that French feel.
We found that VRBO did have the most apts with possibilities..but budget does dictate the neighborhood.
I have a friend who stayed in a one bedroom with a very comfortable sleeper sofa over in the 7th, I would stay there in a minute. I will see if I can find the VRBO number for you..
Good luck :)

Nice reply Scarlett!

your comment, "...oozing with that French feel" made me laugh...

A small bathroom is really very French =)

You're welcome, gambader...

Thank you, Rex!! I have no idea where half my posts are (even checking my screen name) so I must thank you from at least 2-3 posts!

My latest is that the apartments we decided we really wanted aren't available :(( - was in the Halles/Marais section with Bienvenue a Paris...so now I am debating between this Luxembourg VRBO (18044) or this amazing one, but kinda out of the way, IMHO, in the 16th, right off Avenue Georges Mandel. Decisions, decisions!!

Thanks....

http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_74.htm

Try this site. This apt is the one my friend stayed in.

I have no idea where half my posts are (even checking my screen name) - - since all seven of your posts (to date) are on the &quot;Europe forum&quot;, you have to be &quot;there&quot; if you are &quot;checking&quot; your name (using search); if you simply <i>click on</i> your name, you will retrieve them all regardless of which forum you're &quot;in&quot; at the time. Either way, it is sometimes necessary to &quot;Refresh&quot; (F5 in Windows), perhaps repeatedly.