Your expertise needed!

[greyghost1]

Oohh I like that last listing! #78870 in the 15th. Looks like good transportation also.

[grndma]

:)Wow,The last one in the 15th would tick all my boxes, it is going on my list, not sure about the location I would have to check it out on Photos de ville.
Have a good day
Denise
LOve from England.

[ouiparis]

It's 1am here and I can't sleep so I thought I'd give an update on the apartment hunt.

It turns out that the last apartment in the 15th (that you just raved about Denise) is right next to some railroad tracks. I had a look on google maps and used the satellite view...boy, is that fun! ;D It's also a little too out of the way with Plaisance being the nearest Metro.

The current contenders are:

A) Ile de La Cite www.beau-paris.com/apartment-rentals/html_pages/pid47_english.html

• 600 euro
  
• 25m2
  
• Great central location overlooking Place Dauphine; 3rd floor (french) and no lift.
  

B) 8th www.vrbo.com/153496

• 650 euro
  
• 37m2
  
• Close to Laduree! 1st floor with view overlooking inner courtyard.
  

C) 15th www.vrbo.com/171989

• 650 euro
  
• 50m2
  
• Very spacious w/ outdoor terrace and fairly nice view. Has elevator.
  

All three have cable tv, DVD, and a washer (which will be great as we will have probably gone through our undies by the time we get to Paris). I obviously love the location of A the best, but would probably be most comfortable in the accommodations provided by C.

Here's a question I have. Which one of these locations would you feel the least safe walking home to late at night (if any)? Hope you can help this indecisive Libra!

[Shoesy]

Hi there, Oui! I can really relate to your not being able to sleep because it's happened to me quite a number of times.

As for the apts., without even looking at them, I, personally, would choose Ile de la Cite. I couldn't care less about the lack of a lift because I wouldn't use one for fear of getting stuck in it and then passing out from claustrophobia. Walking up a few flights of stairs, even several times a day, is not a bad thing if you're in good health. I would NOT choose an apt. close to Laduree because being there might mean eating too many macarons just a little too often. ;D

[phread]

I'd feel least safe walking home at night around the Madeleine (B) because that square has prostitutes and I don't like getting stopped by men in their cars thinking I may be plying a trade. On the other hand, the prostitutes are rather high end and it makes for some interesting people watching.

I'd go for A, it is in the center of the city and has by far the best options for getting around.

[grndma]

Dear Oui. I TOTALY relate to the not sleeping/mind in a whirl situation.I knew there would be a catch with that appt in the 15th! Crossed off my list.
I've got to say then, me also, the Ile de Cite location wins every time. You are not in the apartment long enough for some of the other considerations to matter.
Love Denise

[annettecinca]

Before reading Phreads "revelation", I was all for apartment B, and I think I'd still lean that way. As much as being on the island appeals to me, I'd love the close proximity of places to walk to that B offers, combined with a choice of really easy north/south and east/west metro lines near by (less transferring of lines to get wherever you're going). It has comfy seating other than the bed or straight back chairs ;D and is a little roomier (not that you'll be sitting around inside all day, but you want it to be comfy when you are there!). As for C, the location is just not as convenient as the other 2 (I've stayed near there 3 times, and it's not an unsafe area at all, just not as handy transportation-wise). Just my 2 cents!

[Laidback]

My random thoughts are that anyone of the 3 are safe; I would rule out the one in the 15th as it is rather far removed from anything of much interest. Have you plotted out just how small 25 square meters is? One room measuring about 15ft. by 15ft. and with an extra 3 flts. of stairs up and down everytime you forget your umbrella , map, etc., which for me is about every other time. This being said, I love the Place Dauphine, day or night.

[ouiparis]

Wow, great feedback everyone! Merci beaucoup!

Phread, do you think it would be safer coming from Concorde? We'd go down Rue Rivoli, turn left on Rue du Faubourg St. Honore, and then right on Rue D'Anjou, where the apartment is located. With the Ile de la Cite studio, will walking home at night from the Cite Metro station be okay? Or would you get off at Pont Neuf?

Annette, thanks for the insight on the 15th. That apartment does seem really comfortable. I don't think I'd mind the transportation issue so much. Did you ever stay around Rue Balard?

[GitteK]

Please, let us not start a "is Paris a safe place" debate.

You cannot be serious discussing whether Cité or Pont Neuf is the safest spot to get off the metro. Or if coming from Concorde is the wiser option. Rue d'Anjou is probably the most BORING street in all of Paris-intra-muros. And when did Place de la Madeleine turn in to a redlight district swarming with hookers and scary men in BMWs ? If anything you should be scared of getting run down by one of those BMWs......not of being picked up against your will . This is not some Columbian jungle !

Sorry for sounding a bit ......... miffed.

[ouiparis]

Gitte, I feel much more safe in Paris than certain parts of Los Angeles. That being said, I am going to be alone for the first time in Paris and I don't plan on staying in my apartment all night. I just want to make sure that there isn't anything to be overly concerned about while I'm walking home from the Metro at night. Had Phread not made that comment about apartment B, I would've thought that it was the best location.

[GitteK]

Penny - trust me, no rapists are awake at that hour. Only tired French people hurrying to work.

[Shoesy]

Gitte - You forgot to mention that our dear Laidback is also awake at that hour. ;D

[sistereurope]

oui,
I've stayed in the 15th, but we were on rue du Commerce which is near several metro lines and right on the border of the 7th. Rue Balard looks farther out to me. Personally, I'm in the Ile de la Cite camp. It's SO central. I stayed on the Ile St Louis my first trip to Paris and found it easy to get around. And as for the steps, look at it this way: they will allow you to indulge in an extra croissant or two!

[Penny]

No Gitte it was the intoxicated persons who were weaving and stumbling all over the sidewalks that were making me nervous.

This was on my first trip to Paris so I wasn't sure what to expect at that time of morning. Kept saying to myself "should have taken a taxi, should have taken a taxi".

[GitteK]

No, Penny dear, you should have been saying to yourself:

"Should have gone home at 23:00 like a nice American girl"
"Should have gone home at 23:00 like a nice American girl"
"Should have gone home at 23:00 like a nice American girl"
;D
;D
;D

And being an insurance person, I would be worried sick that the drunks would fall out in the street and be hit by a car......

[ouiparis]

I've emailed the owner twice (within the past 12 hours) now to have the booking information sent to me on the Place Dauphine unit and I haven't heard back yet.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

[holger]

They all seem to be around 700 euros on the sites. have you looked at perfectlyparis? Parisian Living and Calm at Cauchois are around that. I think they are as nice if not nicer.

[Jody]

5:30 am is one of my favorite times to roam the Paris streets...drives my husband crazy!

[GitteK]

demarais - you should have been with me on La Butte de Montmartre at 05:00 in late September. Pure bliss, peace and quiet. I was the only one awake in Montmartre.