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Post by mez on Nov 3, 2010 21:05:56 GMT -5
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Post by sistereurope on Nov 3, 2010 21:22:36 GMT -5
I had to laugh Mez...I also always have a list that's longer than my arm and I so agonize! So I sympathize ;D
I just wanted to say that I did love "my" apartment overlooking the canal. And the owner was so great to work with. Can't remember if it had a washer, but otherwise, it meets your requirements and I sure fell in love with it.
Good luck hunting!
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Post by mez on Nov 3, 2010 21:47:36 GMT -5
Thank you, Sis. ;D I must admit I did hover over the "post" button before pressing it. I am somewhat embarrassed at the long list.  |
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Post by sistereurope on Nov 4, 2010 7:10:37 GMT -5
Oh no, my lists are twice as long as that, and I only consider a few areas! Don't ever feel bad, you are among kindred souls. ;D
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ardea
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by ardea on Nov 5, 2010 19:22:23 GMT -5
Mez,
It was fun looking at your 'short' list. If it were me, I would drop the hand-held shower one as that drives me crazy--the flat is very nice though. I would also drop the ones that are at the top of your budget. Why spend so much when you have lovely choices for less?
The flat in the 5th seems overpriced for what they're providing--the only real table appears to be the one on the balcony. And that street will be quite noisy.
Also consider how comfortable a sofa bed will/will not be. I've found futons tend to be a bit better. And if the flat has a sofa bed, will you have to put it up (and then down) every day to have a comfortable place to sit? I would leave it down, but I have friends who couldn't abide that.
I think it will come down to where you want to base yourself in Paris. The flat in the 16th does look quirky & fun & I would consider it as I've never stayed over in that area. I also liked the one SisterEurope found.
Overall, considering rental prices, prices at the surrounding cafes, restaurants, and metro connections, etc., and for what it's worth here are my top choices from your list. I like SisterEurope's best--great location, good interior, and vouched for by someone on the forum. The Arlequin one even with the sofa bed--the location is great. The Nation one is in an excellent, local neighborhood & though small & not fancy, it's light & cheerful, plus the price is right. And the one in the 16th--it is unique & for some reason it appeals to me.
I also liked the one with the small bathroom. That wouldn't bother me, but the fact that there are only stools as table seating might quickly grow old.
But wherever you land it will be great because you'll be in Paris. Have fun deciding.
Ardea
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Post by sunshine817 on Nov 6, 2010 0:30:45 GMT -5
I'm with you on dropping hand-held showers. You can buy suction-cup doohickeys that hold the shower head, but who wants to spend vacation time chasing down mundane crap like that?
French sofa beds are a different breed from the US ones (you know, the one with the paper-thin mattress and a reinforcing bar that threatens to grind your shoulder blades to dust) -- the French ones I've slept on have all been very comfortable...that's not to say they all are, but the "clik-clak" may not be the horrid creature we all think it is.
The 16th is very well-heeled, and very quiet -- and a total snooze as far as restaurants and things to do are concerned. It's also not next to anything, really (except a small slice that runs up to the river next to the Trocadero) Depends on what you're looking for.
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Post by mez on Nov 6, 2010 2:35:31 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. I must admit I am erring to SisterEurope's. Knowing someone that has stayed there is appealing and does take so much work out of searching. I can spend my "spare" time in creating an itinerary instead.  |
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Post by geordy on Nov 6, 2010 8:32:11 GMT -5
Not sure I'd want to deal with pulling out and putting away a sofa bed on vacation...I can see if you are a family..but for a single or couple..no. Washer might be a plus..advantage of an apt.!..but some folks seem to think more bother than needed. May...balcony sounds lovely..and yes location is everything...where do you want to be?   |
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Post by denise on Nov 6, 2010 13:31:43 GMT -5
:)Thanks Mez, I have just spent a very dark, cold and rainy afternoon, pleasantly perusing this list. AND I have got a new apartment list for future trips.
For me now the important thing is location, location, location. followed by price, price, and then newness, newness. Even the best of apartments get tired after two or three years of rentals and spasmodic cleaning... my new rule for apartments is that they need to be within 5 minutes of line one, which crosses every other line and good bus routes as I now have issues with my foot...and I got SO fed up of walking in the Metro in May.
So here are my comments.
1. Canal st Martin...You can't beat a personal recommendation and unbaised review. So if you like the location, it ticks all your boxes.
2.Dewet....Newly renovated, very cheap, but no washer. Near line one, which would be a plus for me. but if you tour round on google maps it is in a very residential area, This would be too quiet for me.
3.Foubourg st Dennis Great looking apartment, good price. Again ticks all your boxes, but for me the location would not be right and I don't like ground floor. Too noisy and I don't feel secure.
4.Looks very nice but three years since renovation and if you are going to stay in this area you may as well rent sistereuropes apartment.
5.8th arrondissement. This is not stunning enough to pay the extra.
6Rambuteau....New, good location, near line one. But, very small, pul out sofa bed and small shower room, although it looks like the shower room is well planned with a walk on shower.
7. St Paul/Marias..Again a good location but pull out sofa bed.
8.Contrescarpe.....I had this studio on file and lost it so I am glad you found it again. In my file it had good reviews. I really like the look of it but I take the point about "where do you put your clothes?"......the shower is a wet room so I am not so sure it IS a hand held job, I just think the shower head is overhead so you can't see it in the photo. I had a shower like this in one of my apartments and the hand held thing was in addition to the rainshower overhead.
This is one stuido I may be tempted to sacrifice my new rule of "I need to be within walking distance of line one"
9.Rue Daval 11th....looks very quirky and nice. Within walking distance of line one and the market, but again, a sofa bed...... Besides I am renting centreparis Roquette studio, round the corner, (newly renovated, separate bed,) for 55euros per night. No washer though, but I will find a laundrette.
10 Marias..looks new. Good location. Not much seating. Is there only a curtain on the shower room?. Could be privacy issues. Again a tiny shower stall. 4th floor walk up
11.Rue des Ecoles.Tiny. Looks tired. Sofa bed. Not an exciting location in my opinion. Balcony is it's saving grace, but it looks out over a busy traffic on street.
12.Great location, but nowhere to sit except on the bed and I know this apartment has not been updated for a while. I have seen this apartment before. Check with ouiparis if it was the one she used.
13 Auteuil....I once spent a day in this area, (if it is the same place) and really liked the village atmosphere. but I would have to explore on googlemaps first.
Nice apartment and lots of space AND a balcony, which strangely they don't have a photo of.
The other thing to take into consideration is the cleaning fees, some are included some not.
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So thanks for an interest on a Saturday afternoon.
Denise
love from England
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Post by Jody on Nov 6, 2010 16:03:42 GMT -5
Denise, you need to look at the apt we just used, vacation in Paris, Marais Garden Delight, #201. The bus stop with 5 or 6 lines was right outside the door. The Line 1 Metro a few yards...meters...up the Rue St Antoine. All 1 ground floor, really well equipped,and right across the street, a wonderful verger for fruits and veg, a fromageries , 2 boulangeries/patisseries, 2 wine shops. a supermarket, a BNP parabis for money, right around the corner from Square St Catherine, even a Starbucks!Lots of cafes within a few feet. And it has a really nice courtyard to enjoy the pleasant weather. It had a washer/dyer but I prefered to use the laundromat next door for the convenience of not spending time using it in the hours they suggested, And the dryers next door got the clothes dry and you didn't have to hang them on a rack to complete the process!
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Post by denise on Nov 6, 2010 16:43:27 GMT -5
Don't worry Jody, I have already got it on my list.
Love denise
Ps this is not my thread it's Mez's
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Post by mez on Nov 6, 2010 20:22:16 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your feedback - and especially to you, Denise. Your effort is well above the call of duty, so an exalt is coming your way. You really can get lost when reading the listings - I hadn't realised how many on my list had sofa beds! I have reviewed my list, culling furiously...and SisterEurope's is basically the only one left. I am going to trawl through the Vacation In Paris site and see if there is anything there that I like before making a decision. I have used them twice before, so there is some comfort in that. Jody, your apartment looks lovely, but I am not sure how well I will sleep knowing I am on the ground floor - especially since I am travelling by myself. It's for the same reason I umm and ahh about Luc's apartment. Mind you, that became a moot point as his place was already booked out for the dates I was looking...and on a second look, Apt 201 is above my budget. Thanks again, Mez |
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nutsabouttravel
Full Member
Fais que ton r?ve soit plus long que la nuit
Posts: 154
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Post by nutsabouttravel on Nov 6, 2010 21:35:53 GMT -5
I would go for Sister Europe's place. It's in a great, fun location and the decor of the apt. itself is one of the most attractive on your list. I remember the beau-paris apt. (#12?) because I almost rented it for a few days a couple of years ago. I didn't and then later found out that it had a bedbug problem (maybe this is why Denise remembers it -- there was a thread on this on TA). In any case, they may have solved the problem, but who wants to take the chance?
Mary
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Post by mez on Nov 6, 2010 23:53:16 GMT -5
Bed bugs?? No, definitely something I don't want to contend with.  I have sent an email to the apartment owners of SisterEurope's apartment asking about availability. Now, to sit back and wait... |
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Post by denise on Nov 7, 2010 4:04:45 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
CONGRATULATIONS MEZ!
YOU HAVE JUST SENT ME MY 1000TH PM!
Because I have not been around much lately I have been waiting since May on 999. So Hooray! my 1000 PM.
Seriously....Regarding ground floor apartments...I love Jodys apartment, but I also am not comfortable, staying on the ground floor alone. I feel more vulnerable from a security point of view. It is irrational I know, as from a risk assessment basis you are probably safer, being near the exit.
Love Denise
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Post by mez on Nov 7, 2010 8:02:45 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D CONGRATULATIONS MEZ! YOU HAVE JUST SENT ME MY 1000TH PM! Because I have not been around much lately I have been waiting since May on 999. So Hooray! my 1000 PM. Seriously....Regarding ground floor apartments...I love Jodys apartment, but I also am not comfortable, staying on the ground floor alone. I feel more vulnerable from a security point of view. It is irrational I know, as from a risk assessment basis you are probably safer, being near the exit. Love Denise 1000th PM? ? Clearly, I have been under-utilising this feature! At the rate I have been going, it will take me years to reach 1000! Anyway, thank you for my "award". ;D |
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Post by geordy on Nov 7, 2010 8:06:34 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D CONGRATULATIONS MEZ! YOU HAVE JUST SENT ME MY 1000TH PM! Because I have not been around much lately I have been waiting since May on 999. So Hooray! my 1000 PM. Seriously....Regarding ground floor apartments...I love Jodys apartment, but I also am not comfortable, staying on the ground floor alone. I feel more vulnerable from a security point of view. It is irrational I know, as from a risk assessment basis you are probably safer, being near the exit. Love Denise That's quite an ocassion Denise...I remember when Annette rescued me from 666!  I live on the ground floor but it is in the front of the building...no scary back doors or windows!  Hope the apt. comes thru...love the canal views and recall Sis loving them for real!! BTW Mez..how often have you been to the Australian Open? |
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Post by mez on Nov 7, 2010 10:03:34 GMT -5
BTW Mez..how often have you been to the Australian Open? I go every year. 2011 is already booked. ;D |
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Post by sistereurope on Nov 7, 2010 10:07:56 GMT -5
I can not begin to tell you all of the joy I feel in reading that the apartment on the canal in the 10th is hereby and seemingly forever known as "sistereurope's apartment." ;D
I hope it works out for you Mez...hopefully it will become sistereurope's and Mez' place.
(I do hope that it works out for you. I still remember sitting by that window, looking out over the canal, and truly feeling like I was home!)
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Post by mez on Nov 9, 2010 5:31:36 GMT -5
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hahahha