I also spent a month in an apartment in the Marais, which I liked, but I just really prefer the Left

It has been a while since I've been on these forums! I took a hiatus from traveling and trip planning ever since my husband and I set the date for our wedding, but now that it's finally over, we're back at it again! So exciting!
cruise europe We have a unique opportunity to go away for more than 2 weeks so we decided to spend 31 days in Paris (Jan 14th through Feb 14th). cruise europe We chose Paris because we live in Manhattan and wanted a similar city that has different neighborhoods to explore and tons of things to do. I've received recommendations for Le Marais, which people have compared to West Village, so naturally I am drawn to this neighborhood because it is my favorite.
The apartments shown are mostly cruise europe in very active areas. In fact, one has a cafe at ground level with the likely effect of late night noisiness. If the windows are single paned and the apartment cruise europe on a lower floor, that could inhibit cruise europe sleep. The apartment with the shower in the bedroom? cruise europe Poof! Make that one go away!!! You will end up with a very humid room and quite unattractive, at least to me.
Paris isn't a huge city. Metro can get you from Point A to B really cruise europe quickly, so I wouldn't lock onto an area because it is central to places you want to visit. In fact, a friend once told me she walked the breadth cruise europe of the city in a little over an hour...
My husband and I spent a month in an apartment loaned to us a few years ago. That was a glorious experience. One warning: be incredibly careful with your possessions when using Metro. Wear a money bag around your neck inside your clothing. The Roosevelt station cruise europe was widely known then as the station where one is robbed!
cruise europe i stumbled across feelslikehomeinparis.com just now and some of these apartments are really lovely and are all in montmartre. i am beginning to like the idea of staying in montmartre which seems less touristy compared to marais.
If you really cruise europe want a non-touristy, regular residential Parisian neighborhood, you're going to have to go to where the tourists don't tend to venture - the 11th or 13th or 20th arrondissements, for example. Then again, they're not the West Village.
I like the apartment in the 15th (#3 on your list). My daughter spent 2 years in Paris and her apartment was on rue Vaugirard in the 15th. Of course I visited often and I liked that neighbourhood, quite lively in some spots, quiet in others, good access to transportation and close to the lovely St. Germain neighbourhood. For me a cafe right downstairs would be a plus, I wouldn't be that concerned about noise. Especially in the wintertime, I think that neighbourhood would be great with everything close by.
I also spent a month in an apartment in the Marais, which I liked, cruise europe but I just really prefer the Left Bank, ie south of the Seine. especially the 6th. The 15th has the advantage cruise europe of being close to the 6th but much less expensive.
Personally I wouldn't stay in Montmartre. cruise europe I think getting around in the winter would be more difficult from there, as it's further from the centre, and though some areas are fascinating to visit, I just didn't like the feel of some of the grittier neighbourhoods. But that's just me, lots of people love Montmartre. Be sure to check the distance to the nearest metro station or bus stops.
Public transportation is a little spotty in some spots that are the less touristy area, meaning no close metro stop. That one apt is in-between Abbesses and Sacre Coeur and overlooks the church (it says), so I don't think I'd call that particular cruise europe location less touristy. Maybe a little because it's down the hill a bit from place du Tertre which is 100 pct tourists pretty much. At least that location isn't too terribly far from a metro stop, though.
I think Montmartre would be fine for certain folks, but they would know what they were getting into. I wouldn't recommend it for someone who has never been to Paris and doesn't know French, cruise europe in the winter especially. It's hard to tell, some folks could end up loving that, if it weren't winter I might not think it so bad but in the cold and gloom, going to/from that location (which is up on a hill, you know) may get pretty old after a while.
cruise europe I've stayed in all of those areas. I would splurge and go with #1. It is so central (lots of interesting walks as you head out from that point and less metro/bus required, which I prefer) and it's in a great area (wonderful shops, cafes, restaurants, people). Plus, it just looks so Parisian!
WE have a friend that has an apartment on Rue Vaugirard that we usually stay at when we go to Paris. We are right down the street from the Vaugirard Metro so this apartment is quite near our friend's apartment. We LOVE this neighborhood cruise europe and I cannot highly recommend it enough. Walk up the street to Rue Cambronne and you will have bakeries and one of our favorite little restaurants Pizza Flora. There are also grocery stores nearby.
Do you realize that, with an apartment in New York, you could swap with someone in Paris and stay for free in a great apartment. Check out House Swaps on the Paris board on Craigslist and see how many people want to come to New York.
Related to apts; I like all of them;the 1 is gorgeous, the n 3 is located near the aparthotel wher we were last september(this was closer to the Seine, in Rue du Theatre.Good zone, with many good shops in Rue du Commerce, residential; I will go again to this zone without doubts.
N 4 on Rue Lepic; I really like rue Lepic; near your apartment you will find the famous Cafe d'Amelie (Cafe du Moulin); amorino and many many restaurants, one of them on rue Lepic much closer to Sacre Coeur there is a restaurant that has good food.
Strasbourg(for one or two days);Reims,Chartres,Mont St.Michel,castles on the Loire and many more.Let us all know your trip report when you return; as one month in Paris is something we will do no further than june 2014.
Have been to Paris several times, and this year for the first time stayed in Montmartre on Rue Lepic for 4 nights. It was fun, but I was quite ready for another area after that. We came back to Paris 3 weeks later and stayed for 2 weeks on Rue du Bac in the 7th. Liked it much better for a longer stay. More centrally located and easier to walk to many destinations.
you're right... and no thanks! we'd rather be in a "touristy" area that is simply convenient to everything than "live" amongst the local Parisians. lol. my husband and i are going to try to find something cool to do and/or eat at a restaurant in every single arrondissement tho... even in 11th, 13th, and 20th!
i agree... i can see what you're saying exactly about traveling back and forth from montmarte and i think i will grow tired of it quickly. i don't want to feel like venturing out to explore central Paris to feel like such a mission.
yes... one of our requirements for the apartment was for it to look very parisian... big windows, juliette balcony/windows, elegant moldings cruise europe on the wall, haussamanian style... we love it all! #1 is so beautiful, i wouldn't be upset if we were stuck indoors!
cruise europe we actually started out with our idea of "living" in paris for month with an apartment swap! we have listings on both lovehomeswap.com and homeexchange.com , but it was extremely difficult to (1) find someone who was willing to swap with us in JANUARY (2) for an entire month at that and (3) with an equally awesome apartment in a desirable neighborhood... especially at the last minute! when all of our prospects fell through, our plan b was to sublet our apartment to offset the cost of renting an apartment in paris. i'm actually happy we ended up with plan b because we are generally really picky about lodging when we travel. we do love the idea of apartment swapping though and hopefully we can line something up for our next trip!
i've never posted a trip report but i may just do that for this trip because i'm sure we will have much to contribute in terms of "off the beaten path" activities and neighborhoods! thank you for your side trip suggestions... i will look into them for sure!
Congrats on your choice. That's a great apartment, and you should enjoy the location cruise europe - very lively, touristy yes, but fun, close to everything. You'll quickly cruise europe identify your favourite cafe or bistro from the many to choose from in the neighbourhood and beyond. It's great to start feeling like a regular.