Hi all,

My wife and I are planning a trip to Paris in September (we will be there for five nights) and I’d love to get your thoughts on the following apartments. We've never rented apartments for a vacation and are curious if anyone has thoughts/concerns about these apartments, the rental company Vacations in Paris, or these locations:

http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_108.htm

http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_102.htm

http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_57.htm

Our budget is around $150/night (preferred lower, but don't want to make too much of a comfort sacrifice), so any other suggestions are welcome!

Thanks for the advice!

Dan

Of the three I would choose Door # 2--so much light and great location. #3 looked good as well.

#1 seems shabby and very small.

I'd also choose #2. #1 has a better location but climbing a ladder to the loft wouldn't be for me and #3 is too far from The Seine.

If it was up to me, I'd keep looking and try and get closer to The Seine. Try www.vrbo.com

Here's some great info on apts.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ent-thread.cfm

We rented apts often in Paris, but most above your budget, so I can't help there. However, IMO choose as close to the Seine as you can get.

Apartment #1 is in my neighborhood of over 30 years. Very central area, but I wouldn't want to stay in that apartment. It just looks claustrophobic. I had VIP#122, in 2008, in the same neighborhood, but north of Blvd. St.Germain. I don't know how much it's going for now.

Of the three apartments that you've listed, I'd personally take either numbers 2 or 3 and would go with #3 first. Happy Travels!

2 or 3 would be my choice; one has my favorite location, but it is so small

I also think #1 is too small and shabby looking. #2 is more attractively furnished, but it's a studio apartment, not a 1-bedroom, so for comfort, I would go for #3. That has a true separate bedroom and living room, which is a wonderful

But I think you would do well to keep looking. I did well with a VRBO apt 2 years ago, and there are many more options available.

I've used Vacation in Paris several times and have been very pleased, esp since their charges are in dollars and you are locked into a cost not depending on the rise of the Euro. Of your three, I would choose #3, it has a real bed, the bathroom has a shower curtain and a washing machine, and you have space to move around. But, the location although fine and safe is a little north of the Seine; you will just spend a little more time on the metro or walking. Personally I would continue to look for something a little farther south in the Marais. You don't mention your ages, but I certainly wouldn't want to climb a loft ladder for the mid-night bathroom runs. And bathroom #2 has a glass door off the kitchen - what???? Go for an apartment though; you will enjoy eating in on your own and just having more space than a hotel room (unless you feel you really need the help of a hotel desk clerk).

Out of these three, I would take #3. Agree with the comments above.

The only window I could see in the first one looked like a door--is it ground floor? And the loft wouldn't work for me.

The second one has such an odd set up with appliances in the living area but the sink and stove top in the "porch" room. So you have to walk through the bathroom to get the water to put in your coffee machine and to wash dishes? Maybe I missed the sink there, but it's too inconvenient.

The third one has space and light and isn't too far off the beaten track. It looks much nicer.

I would take #3 in a heartbeat. I really like the Square du Temple so for me that's an ideal location. I have also stayed in a studio right around the corner from the Place des Vosges place you are considering and loved it. Another time I stayed in a hotel right near there.

The Place des Vosges is perhaps a slightly better location than Square du Temple for first-timers or older people for whom it's important to be right in the thick of tourist Paris. I'm getting a little tired of staying so close to the river and now would choose elsewhere--but that is just my personal preference after several visits.

I'm not going into the pros and cons of your first apartment because I think it looks too small/shabby.

#3 for sure gets my vote
#1 is in a noisy tourist area and looks dismally small and dark.
#2 is a slight improvement but the funky layout leaves me wondering
#3 offers more and better space and design, and the location is good - have stayed in that area a couple times and liked it quite well - out of the tourist fray but close enough to walk many places as well as good public transport options.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! Sounds like #1 is out... I tend to agree that looks small/cramped, just wasn't sure if the price/location outweighed that.

We're late 20's and city dwellers ourselves, so we don't mind navigating public transportation or walking... as long as it doesn't take us 15-20 minutes to get to the heart of the city.

It seems like of the three, folks are leaning towards #3. Question is: If this is a bit too far off the beaten path, which neighborhoods should we be looking at?

Again... thanks!

We stayed here and <b>loved</b> the apartment, the location and the owner was a joy to work with.

http://www.vrbo.com/339804

99 euros a night

Have you looked VIP # 201--haven't stayed there myself, but like that area close to the St Paul metro station- and it is close to your budget. I believe it was fodor's poster Avalon who stayed there recently and gave it a good review.

I have a few photos taken in/around Square de Temple a couple of years ago. From the following link and the next 6-7 pictures thereafter. The first few are taken by Le Marché des Enfants Rouges and then to the Square du Temple and nearby. (Sorry, this was before I got a new camera.)

http://www.pbase.com/leelygoes/image/113351081

I like that area a lot, and it would be my first choice, but there certainly are many pleasant corners of Paris. You can just do a Google directions and choose walking to find out how long it would take the average Joe to get from the apartment you are considering to the Louvre or the nearest métro or wherever.

I'm going to jump in here and say that for a first timer you will want to be close to The Seine. On our first trip we stayed near Montparnasse and Raspail and spent much time walking to the Seine where all the action was happening.

Yes, you can get on the Metro, however, there is something to be said for walking out of your apt. into the lively Notre Dame area.

After 7 trips to Paris we are ready to experience some other areas, but for the last few we have stayed on Ile St. Louis and find it the perfect location. On your first trip you need to be near The Seine.

Do some more research, you'll be glad you did.

The neighborhood of #3 in the OP is not at all "off the beaten path." In fact, it is in a great location with a variety of cafes, restos and shops and from which it is an easy walk to interesting spots. We've booked a 2BR flat in that area for a two week stay in July.

Yes, we stayed in VIP 201 and loved it. In fact I have it rented for 2 weeks in November. The areais lively and has everything you could want nearby, a great bistro,bank, verger, fromagerie and 2 bakeries, a supermarket and a laundramat. I hate the washers in France, tae way too long and the driers never get the clothes dry. Loved having the courtyard to relax with a glass of wine after a day on the streets.The metro is just a few steps away and the are many bus lines right outside the front door.

BUt if you want an opinion on the ones you listed, I'd go with #3

I completely agree with Seamus. #3 is hardly "off the beaten path" but well-located in a very popular arrondisement.

It's advantage is that it's close to everything yet just enough out of the crush of tourists that you might believe that you're in a neighborhood instead of a tourist attraction.

2 years ago, we stayed (in early May) in an apartment on Rue Qincampoix, just off Rambuteau in the 3rd -- and found that the tourist traffic was overwhelming. Loved the apartment, but decided that next time, we would stay away from crowds in the future. The location of #3 is excellent -- walking distance to many things, near a major metro stop, and yet somewhat away from crowds.

I don't agree that it's necessary to stay near the Seine - Paris is a major city and as long as you have access to the metro, it's a quick ride to anywhere you like to go.

Wow, that third apartment is lovely. So luxurious compared to the other 2.

Places des Vosges is one of my favorite areas in the city; it's really beautiful with a great atmosphere. I don't know Square du Temple that well, but it is definitely NOT "off the beaten path" as Seamus and progol said. It's also a great, upscale, prime Marais area, and central enough that I would probably go with Apt 3.

The Odeon area is not that great, in my opinion. I know St Germain is great and chichi, but it just doesn't have the charm of le Marais. Too touristy, not nearly as pretty as le Marais. And that apartment looks awful.

Oh and yeah, I don't see what being close to the Seine has to do with anything. That's not at all a requirement for nice, convenient neighborhoods in Paris.