myparis2009

I'm hoping to find an apartment in Paris for the months of June and July. Any tips on a website which isn't geared towards tourists/weekly rentals? VRBO and the likes tend to get very expensive as they envision a few people sharing the suite for a short few days. I'll be by myself and I also want to stay in the 7e which I know is slightly more expensive than the rest of Paris. Any ideas? Thanks.

StCirq

Check out the "Locations" section of De Particulier à Particulier. And read the classified sections of the major Paris newspapers.

gracejoan3

What size apartment are you looking for and what sort of budget?

Joan

myparis2009

I'm looking for a small apartment/studio but do need a bed and not just a sofabed. I'm too old to just live and sleep on a sofabed I'll be in Paris to study French so I'll need a comfortable enough space to study but not much more than that. My budget is abot $1500/month (for now).

adrienne

Here's one that meets your budget.

http://www.parisattitude.com/apartme...umProduit=2029

nytraveler

Well, that one is somewhat above the desired budget and doesn't seem to have a bed - unless that's a twin bed made up to look like a sofa. On the other hand, the budget is only $50 per night - very low.

zeppole

I would check out ads in the new york review of books, london times book review, and of course go through the school if you haven't already.

zeppole

like this person might cut you a deal:

PARIS—REPUBLIQUE. Furnished 30m² studio for 2–3, refurbished in 2009. Available for short term rental year-round. E480/wk. For info and photos contact Michael: [email protected].

(I pulled that of the New York Review of Books)

zeppole

PS: I know that's not the 7e, but just to give you an idea.

Why do you want to stay in the 7th, by the way? I find it quite institutional and where it's not, touristy. Not a lot of fun bargain restos.)

zeppole

and this website

http://www.flexilocation.com/index.php

myparis2009

I appreciate all the replies so far and be sure to look into all these great recommendations. I have stayed at the 7e before and quite like it because it's quieter at night. I can get myself to the buzzing areas easily but would rather stay where it's central enough yet silent at night. If you have a suggestion for another arrondissement that fits the bill, I'm open to it but not a big fan of Marais or Montparnasse. Parts of 6e can be too busy for my liking too. Btw, if the budget is too low and I need to increase it, I will but am hoping not by too much.

StCirq

I agree with you, myparis, about the 7ème. It's been my favorite arrondissement for 30+ years. Institutional? How so? Touristy? Well, rue Cler's touristy, but it's still a lively, pretty street. The rest of the 7ème isn't particularly touristy at all, since most of the tourists are staying in the real touristy areas like the 1ère, 5ème, and 6ème. I do love the 7ème for the quiet at night - that's because it's primarily residential. (There are plenty of inexpensive restos, too).

zeppole

I really sympathize about the noise in Paris. I almost always try to stay on the Ile St Louis when I'm there, just to cut the noise. My secret haunt is the 2e, because no one goes and the streets are too hodge-podge for traffic. (And I thrill to the covered passages, just to get away from street traffic). I'm never wild about the 6th as a place to stay. Funnily, you might like the much sneered at 8e. The area around the canals might do you too. But if you like the 7e, go for it. But it is pricey.

One way to cut noise at night is to get an apartment that faces inward, onto an inner courtyard. It can be dramatically quieter.

zeppole

St CIrq, surely you didn't fail to notice all those gov't buildings in the 7e? It's like staying in Washington DC. And what the heck is that big phallic looking thing right in the middle of the 7e? Some sort of tower? It seems to attract a lot of non-Parisians with cameras who fan out in all directions.

Please list the good inexpensive French restaurants in the 7e.

The 7e seems to have an almost cult-following on Fodor's, but I'd rather stay in the numbers below 4 or the 14th (but you have to be careful in the 14th, because it's hard to find quiet).

myparis2009

Very good points from StCirq and Zeppole, thanks. I do enjoy Rue Cler and I actually like dining out somewhere in St. Germain des pres (6e) but can't imagine how someone might sleep there. I'll look for inward facing apartments. Question: there are some cheaper studios available on Rue Cler. Would it be too noisy at night? I think the street wakes up quite early but that's ok. Does anyone know if I should absolutely stay away from Rue Cler altogether?

zeppole

If there are cheaper studios on rue Cler and you think the neighborhood works for you, I'd go for it. Personally, I might go nuts with all the Rick Steve's toting tourists there, but I live in a tourist town in Italy, and after a bit, you just get used to it. However -- before I go too far in rendering an opinon, I mainly don't go to the 7e, so I don't know if Rue Cler is noisy at night. It all seems so middle-aged around there though!

Where do you have to be on a regular basis during your stay? The 7th isn't the only residential district in Paris. Not by a long shot. And the arrangement of Paris, plus the metro, means that areas of many of the upper arrondisement are just as "central" as the lower 8. So if it turns out those rue Cler studios don't work for you, get out a map and see what else is close in.

StCirq

I wouldn't ever stay ON the rue Cler, but anywhere around there on a side street would be great.

zeppole, I have no clue what the "big phallic thing in the middle of the 7ème" is. Never saw such a thing, or never noticed. The government buildings occupy a pretty much singular block or two where hardly any tourist would ever be walking or noticing, and as such wouldn't ever interfere with tourist activity.

Inexpensive restaurants/cafés, etc., in the 7ème? Well, off the top of my head, and from memory:

I have no idea what the "big phallic thing" in "the middle of the 7ème" is. Never saw or heard of such a thing. Where is it?

Cheap restos? Here you go....

Le Croque au Sel
Pizza Tina
Auberge Bressane
Auberge du 7ème
Creperie Restaurant Agnès
Rotisserie Cler
Le Café de Mars
Chez Jin
Casa Cristo
Tan Dinh
Café le Rousselet
Bistro de Breteuil
Pied de Fouet
Banga de Mayotte
La Fontaine de Jade
Léo Le Lion
Punjab
Kniaz Igor
Chez Ming
Rotisserie Cler
Cafeteria at Le Musée Rodin and the one at Les Invalides.


Need more? I'd probably have to consult my notes. I don't eat in more than a half-dozen or so, at best, on each trip to Paris.

myparis2009

Oooh, a long list of restaurants; I must take with me! I'm most grateful for your comments and ideas. Keep them coming if anything comes to you that might apply to my visit. I haven't settled on the language school yet so I may end up on the right bank or the left bank.

StCirq

Well, wherever you end up there will be Fodorites who can give you great info. I envy you being able to settle in in Paris to study the language.

Cathinjoetown

Hi myParis, Well, your last post anticipated my comment which is that I would want to be within walking distance of the language school if at all possible or on an easy bus or metro route if classes started at the same time as people are going to work. So, for me, the school would dictate where I stayed.

I actually like the 14th, further south near Cite Universaire--a friend did a month rental there a few years ago and I joined her for two weeks--the street was small but a bus stopped just opposite the apartment and at the bottom of the hill was the Porte d'Orleans metro stop--beginning or end of that line, depending on how you look at it, so never crowded going in toward the Seine.

Also very near a lovely park--Monsouris. You might have a look there--I thought the access to "tourist" Paris was great, loved the neighborhood and the flat was huge but inexpensive so folks came and went all month.