Paris Travel Answers

Well you've narrowed your choices down very well. With all 4 you will have no problems of security. Appt 1 - great situation but may be noisy due to closeness to Blvd Sebastopol and rue de Rivoli. Appt 2 - This personally is the one I would choose, good area, quiet, not far from Bastille and a relatively easy walk to Notre Dame and central areas. Appt 3 - Although a very nice and quiet area, if you need a metro, there isn't one too close, although the Port-Royal RER station isn't far. Appt 4 - If you are close to St. Eustache that's not a bad area either, just by the Montorgueil walking street. However at night it is not the choicest of areas, being close to Les Halles shopping mall. Although probably the best for shopping and eating. For me it would be between 2 and 4, although I prefer 2. Up to you to check prices and size etc, but whatever one you choose they are all pretty good.

I guess I'd pick #2: Nice area with some shops and cafés around, and close to a metro station.

Hi. Great choices. You really can't go wrong. Personally, I would choose #2 because I love that area and we enjoy the Place des Vosges and have a couple favorite restaurants nearby. #1 is fine and in a good shopping area and very central. The nearest Metro is Chatelet and it is a busy, confusing, noisy, crowded station so not much fun on a regular basis (although it is central and useful). #2 is also good shopping, lots of cafes, the wonderful Place des Vosges and you actually have 3 Metro stations within an easy walk. They cover Metro lines #5, #14 and the very useful line #1 so you would have easy access to all of Paris. You are also within walking distance of many tourist sites. #3 is in a nice neighborhood but it is farther out and you didn't say which Metro station you were near, but it looks as though your Metro options may be limited. You would waste sightseeing time taking the Metro more often. #4 has a lot of Metro stations within a decent walk. You would be centrally located and be able to walk to the Tuileries Gardens, Notre Dame, the Louvre, the d'Orsay, etc. very easily. The neighborhood doesn't have the charm of #2 but would be convenient. As I said, you really can't make a bad choice although I would rule out #3 just to save time. Personally I would choose #2 but if I couldn't get it, #4 would make me very happy. Enjoy your trip to Paris!

my short answer is this, no security problems whatsoever in any of these areas. then 1) might be a bit crowded noisy area, but its personal preferences 2) best choice in my opinion fantastic area 3) val de grace is nice too, second choice 4) ok too my third choice Hope it helps your decision

So far everyone - unanimously! - has suggested #2. That's rare on VT. ;-)

It helps that we're looking at locations, not looking at apartments. You start considering comfort as well as location . . . and #2 is in a GREAT location.

exactly beausoleil, at least for me I am only talking about location, never been in those apartments. cheers

They are all good locations. Number 1 would be my least favorite and, like gwyned, my first choice would be near Val de Grace Hospital, but then I prefer to be away from the touristy areas and closer to French life. I love Rue Montorgueil and rue Montmartre so my second choice would be near Saint-Eustache church. Probably for your sons, that would be the better choice. There is lots of activity there.

I came out of an internet cafe around 23:30 just South of St. Eustache and the area was dark, groups of young adults here and there not apparently doing anything. One of the few times I felt uncomfortable in Paris around midnight.

Yes Karl, another one of the nice areas during the day becoming less frequentable at night. Especially at the moment with all the work going on in Les Halles forum, a lot more homeless seem to have gravitated to the area, although there is a large police presence.

yes at 23h the area around les halles or St Eustache is not the best. Doesnt do anything to me around there but for a visitor first time might be uncomfortable. I emphasizes the choice No 2 is the best location of those mentioned. Cheers

Good to know about the dangers of Saint Eustache, but I was surprised when Gwyned told me that the 15th around Gare Montparnasse was dangerous. So I often learn something new in these forums.

dangerous for a first timer yes, there are gangs here too you know. And if I recall was gang incident when someone from the 13 came into the 14;not the 15. they have numbers on their jackets...lol!!!

Thank you all for your help. Unfortunately, #2 is gone, so we are going to go with #1.

Enjoy your trip.

ok you made the decision now enjoy it.

Gwyned, wasn't that incident with the gang in the 14th on the bus at Alesia and Ave Général LeClerc? I remember that. It's not far from where I live. I suppose that could happen anywhere. I know several years ago at the MacDonalds near where I live it got kind of rough around 11 pm. They had to get extra security. People were coming in from other neighborhoods. It's calmed down now.

of course it wont happenned every day, but it does happenned see Le Parisien online like I do and see the stories.

Perhaps it's the possibilty of the succulent food that brings them into the Mc Dos.

At the time chezMcDo had big screen tv and showed fut (soccer). Now they have put in a MacCafé in place of it and moved the big screen to another section. They show only the news now. So it does not draw the same crowd.

Hi, Hope my answer is not too late ! I would go for the one near Chatelet, good location, easy access to metro and RER. If you like to walk it is nice, you can reach most of the touristic places by walk. Street seems quite as well. As regards my self, I always rent an apartment near Champs Elysées : rent-apartment-paris-france..... I love it ! Enjoy your trip !