Paris - Ile de la Cite /St Louis or the Marais?

[Ohthepressure]

I'm trying to narrow down accommodation options for 4 nights in early June in Paris. We definitely want a 1 bed apartment, I had thought the Marais as it's the right side for Gare du Nord but that's a large area, is south better so it's walking distance to the Seine? Then some places on the Iles came up at sensible prices. Looks very lovely but is it too crowded? We would ideally want a bit of peace (rear courtyard windows etc).

Help!

I've not stayed on the Iles but St Louis always seems quite dead to me. But maybe that would be nice and quiet as a base? I love staying in the Marais, cos it's less touristy than the iles so you can get e.g. proper greengrocers, bakers, cafes. I don't think it's any quieter because it's still very central Paris. The trick, I think is to find somewhere that faces on to a minor back street not the more main roads. I've stayed here www.holiday-velvet.com/paris/paris_apartments/details/cultural+marais/id/2427/ which was practically next to the Pompidou centre and lovely - also very quiet.

That one is booked but that's a great website. I was wondering if the Iles would be a little soulless...

That's my impression, but as I say, I've not stayed there, so can't speak from experience! I'd go for the Marais everytime. Hope you find somewhere nice and have a great time!

I'd recommend a side street off Rue Montorgueil. Very central. Old food market area. Easy to get to on Metro from Gare du Nord.
We rented an apartment from a company called something like Vacations in Paris. They are based in US but were excellent

Le Marais. I love the Ile St Louis, but it has to be Le Marais, for reasons previous posters have listed.

Go for the Marais! Lovely area in itself and easy to walk to the Seine and the 5th arrondissement, and also to the Louvre / Tuileries area from there too...

Right. We're between two apartments in Paris, anything leap out at you about either of these (apart from the price difference?). Is the location near the Pompidou (Rambuteau metro) more of a schlep from stuff than the other which is near the Place des Vosges?

www.homeaway.com.au/holiday-rental/p160258vb

www.homeaway.com.au/holiday-rental/p83907vb

Ta!

Un petit bump?

I think you can see the pompadu from the window of the first one. I'm not sure I'd want to be that close to les halles - I'm imagining tourist prices and noisy evenings.

If I were buying I'd go for the second. And decorate

Thanks, but I've panicked in the face of disappearing options, the first was gone within an hour ofposting, and gone for a place on Ile saint Louis, Rue le Regrattier. It might lack a little atmosphere but it's jolly central and quiet, and the owner sounds lovely.

I've recently stayed with airbnb on St Louis. Loved the location, it was quite quiet at night but felt very safe. We liked the latin Quarter at night which was only about 10 mins walk past the notre dame.

Great to hear Ohanarama, 6 weeks and we're there, eek!