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-   -   which apartment would you choose? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/which-apartment-would-you-choose-761339/)

yellowrose477 Jan 14th, 2009 11:49 AM

I have not yet heard back on apt. 122. I am at work so I cannot call and tonight it will probably be too late to call. Maybe tomorrow on a break I can call if I don't hear back. I love the view in Crazy View, but I'm not sure about climbing so many steps after a long day of sightseeing. We are both 54, and in good physical condition, so maybe I could eat more eclairs and work them off climbing stairs. I'm so happy to be making plans - but still am obsessing about apartments! I will be happy when I have a reservation in hand.

yellowrose477 Jan 14th, 2009 11:51 AM

I just heard back and #122 is already booked. Too bad. Here is the list they sent to me. It is overwhelming for me. Can you help narrow down the good ones? Thank you.
Thank you for your email concerning our Paris apartments. Unfortunately, the apartment that you originally requested has already been reserved for your dates. We do have the following apartments currently available for your arrival on Saturday, Mar 14, 2009 and departure Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 (8 nights). All of the apartment below are in your price range.

ID#2 - Garden Studio Apartment
13 Passage de l'Union
http://www.VacationInParis.com/apts/id_02.htm

ID#19 - Latin Quartier Studio
32 rue des Carmes
http://www.VacationInParis.com/apts/id_19.htm

ID#38 - Louvre Loft
9 rue Mandar
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_38.htm

ID#42 - Tower View Studio Apartment
33 rue Poissonniere
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_42.htm

ID#49 - Studio Picardie
16 rue Picardie
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_49.htm

ID#50 - Marais Art Deco One Bedroom Apartment
44 rue du Vertbois
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_50.htm

** This property requires confirmation by owner:
ID#76 - Louvre Terrasse One Bedroom
56 d'argout
http://www.VacationInParis.com/apts/id_76.htm

ID#78 - Top of the Eiffel One Bedroom
30 avenue de suffren
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_78.htm

** This property requires confirmation by owner:
ID#87 - Studio With a Million Dollar View
44 rue des Abbesses
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_87.htm

** This property requires confirmation by owner:
ID#94 - Artiste Studio
31 rue Gabrielle
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_94.htm

** This property requires confirmation by owner:
ID#95 - Lola's Studio
15 rue Veron
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_95.htm

** This property requires confirmation by owner:
ID#96 - Picasso Studio
47 rue Gabrielle
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_96.htm

ID#108 - Odeon Style Central Studio
14 rue Gregoire de Tours
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_108.htm

ID#114 - Square St.-Lambert
7 rue de Viroflay
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_114.htm

ID#133 - Marais Studio Catherine
60 Rue Chapon
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_133.htm

ID#134 - Chapon Marais One Bedroom
60 rue Chapon
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_134.htm

** This property requires confirmation by owner:
ID#137 - Gorgeous View on the Eiffel Tower Studio
13 rue Jean Nicot
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_137.htm

ID#144 - Sainte Anne Studio
11 Bis rue Ste Anne
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_144.htm

ID#152 - Montmartre/Sacre Coeur One Bedroom
6 rue Houdon
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_152.htm

** This property requires confirmation by owner:
ID#159 - Tres Jolie Studio
87 rue de Sevres
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_159.htm

ID#160 - Authentic Paris One Bedroom
3 rue de Prague
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_160.htm

ID#161 - Lamarck Montmartre Studio
32 rue Lamarck
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_161.htm

ID#176 - Cozy Central Right Bank Studio
95 blvd. Sebastopol
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_176.htm

ID#184 - Canal St. Martin Economizer
161 Quai Valmy
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_184.htm

ID#187 - Heart of Montmartre One Bedroom
48 rue des Trois Freres
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_187.htm

ID#208 - Saint Paul Studio
92 rue St Antoine
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_208.htm

ID#213 - Grenelle Studio Delight
153 rue Grenelle
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_213.htm

ID#219 - Duquesne Delight!
25 ave Duquesne
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_219.htm

yellowrose477 Jan 14th, 2009 12:00 PM

I looked over a few of these apartments and most of them seem to be further out. I thought that I read for first time visitors to Paris, staying in the 4, 5, 6, area is good. Is this correct information? We like to walk and would like to be in an area where we could walk to many things. I'm disappointed that #122 was already booked. Must be a good one, but I am sure there are many others out there that are just as good. Thanks for all of your help. I really appreciate it.

Hagan Jan 14th, 2009 01:05 PM

Two years ago we stayed in a one-bedroom apartment just off Rue St. Andres-Des-Artes. I can't begin to tell you how terrific the location was - I felt like I was in a movie, because it looked just like I had pictured Paris. Steps to 2 metro lines, 10 minute-walk to the Louvre, 2 blocks to the Seine, 5 minutes to Notre Dame, and the street is lined with wonderful cafes, patisseries, boulangeries, even a grocery.
The apartment itself is spacious and makes you feel like a Parisian because the owner still uses it as her home part of the year. It is filled with art, books, etc., not empty like some vacational rentals. Plus, it has a lift.

Here is the website:
www.perfectplaces.com/vacation-rentals/24752.htm

The owner is Francine Carpon and she speaks English.

Wherever you stay, have a great time. And I agree with a previous poster - location is EVERYTHING!

yellowrose477 Jan 14th, 2009 01:54 PM

Thanks you very much - but that one is a bit above our budget. It looks wonderful though. Too bad we could not go a couple of weeks earlier before it was high season.

hmmm Jan 14th, 2009 02:11 PM

Listings 19 and 78 are centrally located, one in the 7th near the Eiffel tower, one in the 5th north of Luxembourg Gardens.

laughingd2 Jan 14th, 2009 03:38 PM

YellowRose,

Of all the ones Vacation In Paris sent you most recently, I think #208 is the best. It is close to both Place des Vosges, a metro stop, and the river. It has a real staircase to the mezzanine sleeping area, and it is bigger than most of the studios at 33 sq. meters. The price is great.

The apartment doesn't look charming, but the location will more than make up for it. Besides, we stayed in a 30 sq. meter apartment through VacationInParis a few weeks ago, and while not charming, we quickly made it our own and had a spectacular time both in and out of the apartment - and there were 4 of us in the tiny apartment!

I think the location has the best of the Marais (close to the river, rather than out in the 3rd). We're almost 54, and would choose this apartment out of all the choices, by a wide margin over #144, which would be our second choice.

Guenmai Jan 14th, 2009 05:28 PM

I'll need time to go over your list as it's very long. I'm very busy at present. But, I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can. And yes, #122 is VERY popular. It's on rue St. Andres des Arts. Happy Travels!

yellowrose477 Jan 14th, 2009 06:06 PM

I have been going over VRBO tonight. There seems to be more there than I like on the list that was sent to me. My husband said, just pick one! That is probably the best because wherever we go, it will be new for us and we will love it. And lets face it, we won't be spending all that much time there. Patti

yellowrose477 Jan 14th, 2009 06:36 PM

http://www.vrbo.com/161541

My husband thinks this one is good. He would like to stay on the island.

cathies Jan 14th, 2009 08:01 PM

Hi yellowrose477, I had a look at the apartments that Thierry has available. 3 of the 4 are VERY small, if I was booking I would take the Eiffel apartment which is almost twice the size of the others and in a good location with what looks like a huge bedroom (by Paris standards). It is in a nice area close to a metro station which is all you really need for a first visit.

The apartments in the first list you posted are also really small. Make sure you look very carefully at the photos in some of them you can see the kitchen and the bed in the same room.

Good luck choosing!! Cathie



We booked a 1 bed apartment through him last year and he is a FANTASTIC landlord.



cathies Jan 14th, 2009 08:07 PM

Sorry, meant to say that Thierry is a fantastic landlord.



Guenmai Jan 14th, 2009 09:54 PM

Personally, I'd take the St. Germain studio from Paris Bestlodge, I think it was. The location is very good and especially for a first timer. Since it's so late to be booking an apartment, to get everything one wants is going to be very hard if not impossible unless you get lucky with a cancellation. I booked #122 about 9 months prior to my end of March 2008 trip.

If you were staying in a hotel, the room would be about the same size or smaller. So, if you look at it as a room with a kitchenette, then it's not so bad. Plus, as I said, location, location, location. And the supermarket is a short walk away along with the open air food market, same area as the supermarket, and rue Buci with the food stores which is one of the streets that one can enter the supermarket from. Also, the laundromat is right on rue de Seine at rue Buci. Same area as the food. Throw in the laundry and you'll have plenty to stroll and see while the wash is being done. Just remember to put the temperature on the lowest setting as it's in celcius.

So, go for it. Just don't wait too long and be further confused with all the choices and then end up with nothing that was considered. Good luck! Happy Travels!

Guenmai Jan 14th, 2009 09:57 PM

Oh, the other choice, since nothing in the 6th seems available, my second choice, for a first timer, would be the I'le St. Louis for quaintness.

I'll do some further searches. I have a list of apartments somewhere. If I find something interesting, I'll post it to you. Happy Travels!

beaupeep Jan 14th, 2009 10:39 PM

http://www.all-paris-apartments.com/...ductId_772.php

My sister and I rented this studio this past summer and absolutely loved the location! It is one block from the Tuileries and we walked everywhere. There is a Starbucks a block away and we ate breakfast there every morning. It may not be the most romantic for a 25th anniversary with two twin beds but I googled St Honore Studio and got lots of others in the 100€ range.

beaupeep Jan 14th, 2009 11:13 PM

And before anyone starts nagging me about eating at Starbucks, since moving to Switzerland I have had my fill of croissants, so blueberry muffins or bagels are heavenly to me!

yellowrose477 Jan 15th, 2009 05:09 AM

Good Morning - These apartments are available and in our price range. I only need to know which location would be best. These, I think, are the final choices for me and my husband. And yeah, twin beds would not be so good for an anniversary celebration! Didn't really want a studio since he likes to stay up later and watch TV. If you all think one of the previous studios is in a better location, I will certainly reconsider.
http://www.vrbo.com/196327; (1131 E for 8 nights)http://www.vrbo.com/140080 (140 E night, plus 50E cleaning fee); http://www.vrbo.com/166281 (850 euros); http://www.vrbo.com/161541 (1000 Euros);

Hagan Jan 15th, 2009 05:53 AM

YellowRose,

I e-mailed the owner of the apartment I recommended in my earlier post and told her other flats were giving a weekly discount.
She wrote back this AM that she would rent it in March and possibly early April for 1000 Euros a week, as it is still low season.
I don't know why she posts otherwise on her site! We have stayed in touch via e-mail since we stayed in her place with our two grandsons 2 years ago. We just fell in love with the apartment and the area, and I have this dream that someday I'll be able to return!

Anyway, if you're still at all interested, I think you (or anyone interested) could strike a deal.

Good luck on whatever you decide.


Guenmai Jan 15th, 2009 05:54 AM

OK. do you have a map of Paris? The St. Germain one is in the south end of the 6th, down by Luxembourg Gardens. The studio, that you're now not considering, VERY unfortunate, is at the north end, in the direction of the river, a better walking location.

The one that's in the 5th (?) at Port Royal, is again in the south end.

The I'le St. Louis ones should be fine. The I'le is very charming, just more isolated and no metro on the I'le. So, it'll be a walk to the metro. And as far as markets, and the other things that are close to the studio, on the 6th, I don't know where they're located on the I'le. I haven't stayed, on the I'le, just go there for strolls, and to sometimes eat.

As for TV, unless your husband understands French, there won't be much TV watching outside of CNN and a handful of old, B-rated movies. Even in Apt #122, which had two TVs, the TV downstairs did NOT have cable, so only French TV and the TV upstairs, in the bedroom, had cable, so I did watch CNN. So, had you gotten that apartment, your husband would have been watching TV upstairs in the bedroom, no different than in a studio. Happy Travels!

avalon Jan 15th, 2009 06:38 AM

I like the area of 196327, but the description does not state what floor it is on or if they have a lift. I'd hate to have to walk up 4 or 5 flights of stairs.


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