Apartment hunting in Paris

[luvparee]

I have pretty much decided to rent an apartment for my next trip to Paree! I was in an apartment in the 7th last summer and loved the experience. I will be traveling solo (hopefully!!) and want to be able to shop the markets and feast on roti chicken and other wonderful market purchases!

This trip I'm doing the lesser knowns of Paris and I'm leaning toward the 3rd/4th so that I can really enjoy more of the areas of the Right Bank as most of my other trips have centered around the 6th and 7th. However, I have not been to Luxembourg Gardens yet and want to stroll Rue Monge/Mouffetard and get down to the Montparnasse area.

I also want to really get into the Marais and Montmartre so I guess I need to be in the middle of the Seine!!

I have started looking into VRBO sites and, like everyone else, I'm looking for the perfect little Parisian flat for perhaps $100.00 per night!!!

If any of you have stayed in such a spot, please let me know. I am going to make myself get over my Metro intimidation this trip so being away from "central" Paris would not be a problem. I love to walk, but want to make sure that an area that I would come back to at night would be well-lit and safe for a female alone.

Merci!

[Happygoin]

luvparee, try vacationinparis.com I sound like a broken record, but I think they're prices are very good, no big security deposit and I've worked with them a number of times so I can recommend them as reputable. I too am going solo next time and am really looking forward to it! My apt is on rue St Jacques in the 5th. It's a studio and it cost $120 per night. Good luck with your search!

[Ray(aka) tripnebraska]

I would second Happy's VIP referral, we just used one of their apartments, met the local manager Morgan Cannon, who was very nice, and with the current exchange rates paying in dollars is a plus.

[luvparee]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. I spent my lunch hour looking at all the one bedrooms at Vacation in Paris and there are several that got my heart singing!! I wish I was leaving this May/June rather than next year!!! Who knows, I may change my mind. However, with the Euro at a very high rate, I'm hoping it has dropped by next year! What a dream, huh?

All have a lovely weekend! This board is so much fun..........

joy/luvparee

[les]

Yes, the people who run VIP are VERY nice and very easy to work with. Trustworthy.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

I can also endorse Vacation in Paris. Last year this time a good friend went to Paris and we stayed with her at the flat she rented for a couple of days. It was two bedrooms, a couple of blocks from the Musee d'Orsay (just off rue du Bac), small but very well done, and even had free unlimited telephone calls back to the US (through a computerized connection, probably Skype). I don't recall the price but it was quite reasonable.