richardab

Chez Vous is pretty darn expensive!!!!

Patrick

Suzanne, I forgot about those mezzanine things. I outgrew summer camp and sleepovers a long time ago. My vacation in Paris does not allow for sleeping in a "bunk bed". And let's not forget those in dormered ceiling rooms where if you stand up when you get out of bed, you crack your head on the ceiling.

Seamus

Let me echo Opaldog's endorsement of the apartment on Rue Mornay (I think I actualy referred her to it) as a great deal if you are looking for a clean, comfortable, safe, convenient and reasonably priced place to stay. We really enjoyed out time there, and the fact that the owner is in the US makes it a very simple tranaction.

epi

Just a quick comment. I agree that chezvous.com is expensive. We rented through them twice, and while they delivered and were reliable, we got much less value than we have with bienvenueaparis. We just found their apartments a bit shabbier than the pictures showed and definitely over-priced. I do love their website with the floorplan, though.

Jocelyn_P

Boy, we must have really lucked out when we stumbled upon the apartment we ended up renting in June:

http://www.vrbo.com/47620

I didn't realize simple, clean, quiet, desirable location with a REAL BED was so hard to come by!

By the way, this was first floor (second floor American) with an elevator, completely enclosed shower and even new matching towels for 80E/night.

twk

Regarding Chez Vous:

Yes, they are expensive, but primarily if you do not have the right number of people. If you've got a good ratio of people to beds, they aren't that out of line. Also, you pay in advance but there is NO security deposit. And, you're dealing with a California company (big plus for English speaking Americans).

They have the absolute best web site: what you see is exactly what you get, and they have floor plans with photos of all principal rooms.

Regarding all apartments: before you rent, check out the neighborhood you are intersted in on the French Yellow Pages: http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/

Use the category features to find what is near your address (restaurants, pattisseries, boulangeries, etc.)

You can even take a virtual tour of your neighborhood by clicking on the link for "Photos des villes."

bizzyb

epi - thanks, we're getting excited about our trip, we leave Sept. 3. This is our first trip to Paris, I'll take any recommendations you have. I've learned so much from everyone at Fodors.

richardab - thanks for the link to your blog, enjoyed it and have noted your restaurant recs.

epi

Bizzyb:
I wrote the following for someone who rented the apartment last year (they loved the apartment).


1. Patisseries:
We found that there are two patisseries we like nearby. We did not like the patisserie at the top of Place Bourg-Tibourg. Instead , if you turn left after going out the apartment door, and turn right at the top of the place, on rue de roi du sicile, go to the next intersection and turn left on rue de vielle temple, there are two good patissries within the next couple of blocks.

2. My favorite map is streetwise paris.

3. Restaurants: in most restaurants at least one person speaks english, and some restaurants have english menus.

One piece of info- we are rabid anti-smokers, but often just have to put up with smoke in Paris.

Au Gourmet de l’Isle:, 45 rue St Louis. This is about a 10 minute walk – take rue rivoli to the left (away from Hotel de Ville) and turn left on rue pont phillipe. Cross the bridge to isle st louis, turn left on rue st louis. This is a casual bistro which we love. The ground floor is ostensibly non-smoking, smoking is in the basement. My favorite dish here is an appetizer, snails in cream and bacon. When we order the menu, the price is abouy $50 for two. ( I assume you know the menu means prix fixe meal, and carte is what we mean when we say menu)

Brasserie Ile St Louis 55 quai bourbon. The directions are almost identical to the above, but don’t turn left on rue st louis. The brasserie is on a corner on the left. We enjoy their cassoulet and pork knuckle. This is a typical brasserie – no elegant service, loud, smokey but we like it.

Baracane, 38 rue tournelle: about a 20 minute walk, just past place de vosges. Small bistro, somewhat less traditional food with market fresh items. I also like their cassoulet – as you may guess, I am a cassoulet fan. Probably good to make reservations here. Do try their ladies room if you go.



Chez Maitre Paul, 12 rue mons le prince: this is across the seine in the 6th. It is near the Odeon stop of the metro. We always walk there, probably 20-30 minutes. A bit more upscale in feel, but still in the $50 for two range. You might also want to reserve here.

I think all of the above are open on Sunday.

We have eaten at all of the above several times. A new one we found in October was:

L’Argenteuil, 9 rue Argenteuil: Excellent food, pretty restaurant. A bit more upscale


There are many, many restaurants close to the apartment, but we love to walk and haven’t tried many that are close. We noticed an Italian restaurant on rue roi de sicile. Also there are many restaurants in the Marais, including falafel restaurants. It is hard to get a bad meal in paris. Also there are many crepe places. I think you’ll find more of them in the Latin Quarter. I love to get a crepe with butter and sugar fom one of the many small stands. We have also eaten at a fondue restaurant – maison du valais, 20 rue royale. If you feel like fondue or raclette, go there.

I think I posted this info, but in case I didn't:
A great roving market on Sunday and Thursday is on Boulevard Richard Lenoir , about 15 minute walk from the apartment.
A few more suggestions:
do not buy a pass for the metro. Buy the book of 10 tickets - carnet - at the metro stop. It is the cheapest way to go on the metro. The Hotel de Ville metro stop is 1 1/2 blocks away and connects well to everything.
We bought the museum pass once just to try it. It is not worth it unless you plan to see many, many museums.
I could keep going, but I think this is already too long.


Have a great time.

teatoasted

Wow! Timely discussion. We are planning a 20th anniversary trip to Paris in the second or third week of October and were looking at apartments as well as an option to the tiny hotel rooms.

We've stayed at a Citadines in London but I couldn't find a Citadines in the Left Bank. Our criteria for location centers around the following:
1. Should be less than a few blocks from the metro.
2. Have some street life within the 1/2 mile radius (cafe, markets, stores).
3. Ability to walk/metro to museums and other destinations.

We were looking at an apartment at the following address: 14 rue Xavier Privas
75005 Paris from yourparishome

Grateful for any advice.

Dave_in_Paris

There is a Left Bank Citadines, between Boulevard St. Germaine and the Seine, Try this link: http://www.citadines.com/uhot/uwres_ltpms73.htm

helsinkiflyer

You should all try this:http://www.fusac.fr/en/annonces_deta...+Rentals%0D%0A

Itīs the online edition of the magazine FUSAC=FrenchUSAConnetions. Published weekly or every two weeks and itīs free. Not much to read really, but the contact info is great. So are the small ads. Much cheaper to rent straight from the landlord han through an agency.

Dave_in_Paris

Right you are about the very considerable savings, but renting that way is for the very adventurous.

richardab

OK, I made my decision... I've rented this apartment thru parisbestlodge.com

http://www.parisbestlodge.com/rivoli.html

Considering the location, appearance and price, I think I got a good deal. The agent (Thierry) was very clear and friendly with his communications and was patient in answering all my questions. I think the place is really cute and is located right across the street from the St Paul Metro station and church. I love that neighborhood because of all the character, shops and bistros. I could have also rented a lower priced unit from him in St Germain but I really wanted to have a place in the 4th. For many of Theiirys apartments he is the owner so you don't have to deal with agents. He also manages some other nice places for other people. His own apartments are nicely decorated and some have paintings in them that were done by him. I think he's an artist because I've seen his work in other places.

I got the link to his unites thru http://www.vbro.com/

Now all I need to do is get air tickets with my Frequent Flyer miles! That won't be as easy but I have miles to use on Delta and United so I should come up with something.

Patrick

I think you did fine. It does look nice, and has my main requirements -- a real bed, a real shower, and an elevator since it's high up. Since you're going in November the lack of AC isn't an issue. It seems a bit pricey for a studio rather than a one bedroom, but at least the bed is separate -- not a fold out that doubles as a sofa!

overton

Bizzyb and Epi
we have rented the apt. on 3 Place B-T- bienvenueaparis--for april-- if y'all see this ,would you please tell me what i need to bring that may not be in the apt.-- also, favorite bistros in the area-- we can't wait!! thank you