And still no feedback from the OP.....

The OP might decide to go to Barcelona, instead...

Wow, thought I was asking a simple question. Apparently not. I appreciate all the spirited recommendations. I am confused about apartment rental being illegal though. There are a plethora of apartments listed for rent online. Plus a veteran travel agent who is going to try to help me never mentioned I might be breaking the law.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Oh, my get ready for the onslaught of info on apartment rental in Paris. Just because it is online doesn't mean it is legal and the authorities are cracking down on those. In short, and I am in no way an expert but this is what I understand....

Apartments can only be rented out short term (max 4 months/year) and if the apartment is the owner's principal residence. Paris is attempting to make apartments more available and affordable for its citizens (rather than vacationers). There is a list available from the Paris mayor's office online to check to ensure the apartment you are renting is legal. The "law breaking" is not on the renter but on the owner but you could run into trouble if the apartment is not legal and there is a crackdown (no apartment when you get there). Many residents do not enjoy renters inhabiting their buildings and many who live in Paris don't appreciate vacationers renting apartments that are year round rentals and no one's primary residence.

I am sure there will be more from others who know much more about the issue than I do.

If it were my first visit I would want a hotel just to have the support of a concierge or front desk to answer the million and one queries and make recos about restaurants, etc.

However, if you do rent an apartment first be sure that you understand the possible issues involved (that it may no loner be available when you get there or canceled shortly before arrival leaving you scrambling for a place to stay).

Since you were not specific about the number of people or bed configuration required it's hard to make specific recos. But we always stay in the center (5, 6, 1 or 8) so we can walk to at least some sights even though we have been to Paris at least a dozen time.

11th

I will ask--does your "veteran" travel agent go to Paris regularly.
I am in the hotel category 'cause there is a front desk to help out in emergencies, make reservations, advise on stuff.
The time line is "about to"--when is this occurring. School holiday?

A veteran travel agent probably doesn't know anything about what is happening in Paris now regarding apartment rentals. I've never known a travel agent who truly knew anything about local happenings anywhere in Europe. They work on computers, not on the ground. Just because there are a plethora of apartments available online does NOT mean they aren't illegal. Almost all of them are, and you might find yourself out on the street without a bed to sleep in.

Book an apparthotel or stay in a hotel. You'll be far better off in a hotel, anyway. No need to learn how to make French appliances function, no need to learn how to master building and apartment codes, no need to figure out when and how to put out your trash, no issue with pissing off the legal apartment owners who dislike the transient renters, etc., etc.

So there will be up to five of you at one time.. ? ( I am confused by unclear info)

Note many apartments .. even two or three bedroom ones.. have ONE bathroom.. with a few teens., that would be my nightmare.. lol . Now, some apartments may have more bathrooms.. but they are not going to be the inexpensive rentals.. and you may find some of the bedding is sofa beds, which are generally not that great.

I doubt any "veteran travel agent" has any expertise in apartment rentals but uses an expensive agency that will pay her a commission for your rental.

I would get two or three hotel rooms( as I said.. not sure how many of you there are going to be) . A bathroom for every 2 of you.. or maybe 3 ..

If you do rent an apartment it seems you would have to rent one large enough for all of you .. but only for the first 6 days.. the last 5 days you are paying for a bigger more expensive apartment but there will only be 2 of you then .. so wouldn't it be easier to book multiple hotel rooms and only pay for the days they are actually needed?

When are you arriving?

There was a new law passed in July, which takes effect this Fall.
No vacation apartments will be listed on the internet unless the owner has complied with City regulations and received a registration number. Only legal apartments with registration numbers will be allowed to advertise on the internet.

Since in most cases, complying with City regulations is extremely expensive and complicated, it's fair to say that a great many apartments will be taken off the market. If they cannot advertise on the internet, they will probably be sold.

If you're arriving in the very near future, you might be able to squeak into an apartment - but then again, you might not want to risk a last-minute cancellation if your apartment is taken off the market. It would be very difficult to find alternate lodging for this many people given short notice.

Travel agents and real estate agents will tell you what you want to hear so they can make a sale. Some of them are aware that vacation rentals in Paris are illegal, and some may prefer to keep their heads in the sand.

If you need kitchen facilities, you should look at the Citadines and Adagio apart'hotel chains, which are legal.
What these places lack in charm doesn't matter, since once you step outside, you'll have all the charm you need.

There are different prices depending on the neighborhoods - best to look in the 11, 12, 14 and 15th for better prices. Transportation is very convenient in any location, and these neighborhoods will be more interesting, since "real people" tend to live here.

Besides, if you're travelling with that many teenagers, it would be much nicer to have someone else change the towels and sheets, instead of spending your entire vacation doing laundry.

Nonw it could be interesting to find out who these teens are--children and nieces/nephews (yes, maybe boys AND girls) OR is she trying to be a tour leader for friend's kids. Oh, my. What a can of worms THAT would be, particularly since OP may be one of the ones never been to Paris.

I frankly do not see how the (excellent) French regulations will prevent illegal apartments from being advertised since the vast majority of the websites concerned are not based in France.

On the other had, it is true that the authorities will be keeping a close eye on the major rental websites and may pounce on some of the apartments at any moment. Some of the more rebellious agencies even give vacations renters instructions such as "do not answer the door if somebody rings the bell."

<Macross on Aug 18, 16 at 11:47am

Oh my Gretchen, that horse has been beat enough. There are already enough of those threads.>

Y'all watch it. Macross HATES to have this apartment rental thing brought up again.

"This apartment rental thing" is very important to many people who are not aware of the recent legal changes.

If Macross doesn't like reading these posts, they are easy to avoid.

We will be a party of 4 until 9/17. Two adults and two teenagers 13 and 19 (daughters). Then an adult couple until 9/21. The reason for the apartment was to try to sample, I know briefly, the local life in Paris. This may be naive but, several people I know have enjoyed short term rentals in Paris. Their suggestions like the ones in this forum have been widespread. Sometimes when you get varied feedback from multiple sources you can find trends. I will pass the info regarding the new legal situation dealing with Paris apartment rentals over to my travel agent and maybe with her connections she can make sure the apartment she suggests is legal. My conclusion is the IV-VI Arrondissments with the V being controversial. Centrally located and possible more appropriate for those who are unfamiliar with Paris. Metro location appears to be the key factor. I have stayed in numerous hotels including several in Europe. In fact this is the first leg of our trip to be followed by a stay in a very nice hotel in Athens finishing with another cruise. Sometimes you want to be a little adventurous. I sincerely, thank everyone for their advice.

I have stayed in the 6th ( I think), the 9th and the 14th. LOVED the 14th. Lots of transportaion within minutes, bus, metro, RER, nice neighborhood feel, very close to th 7th and the 4th and the hotel was lovely and very reasonable.

It is really hard to say "what is the best area", that is a very subjective answer.

Definitely beating a dead horse. Oh, well. It was news to the OP, so maybe it's a good thing. Anyway, most people renting apartments for short-term stays in Paris are doing just fine - as can be deduced from the many trip reports on this site and elsewhere, and the many bookings evident on airbnb. But yes, the risk of having an apt reservation cancelled on you seems to be slowly increasing.

5th arrondissement: the Latin Quartier is hell on earth, but once you head further south the 5th is a lovely, classic Parisian residential arrondissement. And you can be near Pantheon, jardin du Luxembourg, jardin des plantes.... I've read that as long as you stay well south of rue des Ecoles, you can avoid the tacky tourist trap streets (but maybe someone can confirm).

My favorite to stay in is the 6th, for glamorous, delicious, central, and often pricey fine-French living. I haven't done the outer arrondissements (besides 16th), but the 2nd is my least favorite (I find it grimy, boring, and ugly).