I am doing a seperate post as well for this one...Ok anybody have an opinion on this apartment? 22 meters is pretty small but its on Rue Lepic, and thats good right?? There are many testimonials on this apartment all good, just kind of worried about the size...it has a loft as well but looks pretty cramped up there?

I keep coming back to location, location, location...this appears to be in the best place so far!!! What do you think?? Anybody???


http://www.beau-paris.com/apartment-rentals/html_pages/pid17_english.html

I don't know about the usefulness of that "loft" since it looks like you can just shimmy your way up to lie down under the eaves there. Still, might be a cozy place to read. The apartment is certainly very tiny, with the bed taking up most of the floor space. But when you consider that you'd likely encounter just than in a budget Paris hotel room; at least here you have a little table to sit at and your cute Suzy-Homemaker-sized kitchen.

The street is great for food shopping and people watching!

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The apartment is certainly very tiny, with the bed taking up most of the floor space.

I think that's actually the sleeper sofa taking up space. Doesn't look very comfortable to me! I don't know how I'd feel about climbing that ladder to get to and from the loft bed ...

I guess it depends on how much time you expect to be in the apartment. That sofa looks pretty small (as does the TV ) so not much "lounging around" space if that's important to you.

lesfaye, I think this is a really personal issue that only you can decide. Somehow you've got to balance budget, location, and the apartment itself (size, layout, furnishings, amenities) based on what's important to you and how you see "living" during your stay in Paris.

For some people the apartment itself is really important-- for others (especially with a tight budget), the location is more important and the apartment's just a place to sleep, store suitcases, and have a couple of simple meals.

Perhaps with the favorable turn in the exchange rate you have a little more flexibility with your budget?

Kathy

Will you be happy with a short stay in a small lodging?

Three things to think about: the disposition (25 square meters can be better than 40 square meters, depending on the floor plan, furnishings and even the view); your attitude/style (are you neat and tidy? do you cringe at crowded elevators? are you content while still? do you pace the living room?); and economics.

The September 2008 issue of Elle Decoration features a 12.5-square-meter Paris apartment, with every square centimeter put to use! Fascinating. And I think it would be fun for a while - for one.

Our first home in Paris was a 60-square-meter apartment. I signed the lease and moved in (with no furniture) while Aralynn was in the U.S., finishing academic activity and arranging the move. I WAS pacing the lodging - two tiny bedrooms, a little living room, a dining room of about the same size and a stand-in-one-place and touch-all-the-walls kitchen - and wondering, will our marriage survive this?

The phone installer came, saw it all, and said: "You have A LOT of space here."

I thought: Oh, O.K.

And before long, we were sharing that vast estate with two American students, one in a bedroom and one in the dining room.

Dave

Kathy's right, it's a personal issue. For me, I have found that I must have a real bed (at least real mattresses on the floor) or else I do not sleep well, which affects the rest of the day and my disposition. Perhaps the loft has a real bed? I didn't see...Whatever you decide on, keep us posted and do a review afterwards! Maybe there's a million-dollar bed up the ladder and it's a secret!

Thanks for all your comments everyone...

Our last apartment in Paris was 30 meters, we thought this is perfect we never want to go any less than this BUT, we are really on a strict budget this time only because we will be spending two weeks in comparison to five nights like last time, so we really have to watch the pennies.

I just found out our other option fell thru so its starting to seem like this is meant to be this one. I have really not found anything else on Montmartre for under 500 euros per week with this location.

If I can fall out my door and be surrounded by lovely little streets, food shops, wine and cheese shops, restuarants/bars galore then I think this might be it.

Any more comments on the street and the area would be great? We are looking for a more cozy atmosphere in the neighborhood with of course all the options for food and drink above. DO you think this street/area fits the bill?

THanks again!

Rue Lepic is itself excellent - for the great market, for its winding charm, for the whole Amélie mystique. It is in the still true Bohemian side of the Butte Montmartre, not in the package tour side.

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Originally posted by Americana in Parigi:
Rue Lepic is itself excellent - for the great market, for its winding charm, for the whole Amélie mystique. It is in the still true Bohemian side of the Butte Montmartre, not in the package tour side.

Oh yeah! Thanks Americana I was hoping you would chime in...we have gone ahead and rented this place, tiny as it is, I am sold on the location and the commentaries from previous guests and the owner has been very prompt and frendly with his responses. Maybe we could meet for a drink this time???

quote:

Maybe we could meet for a drink this time???

Avec plaisir. Perhaps at the café des Moulins? You can check out the movie Amélie to see if you like the café. In fact you check out the street...
When are you coming?

I just checked the map. The studio, admittedly small, is on the corner of rue des Abbesses and rue Lepic. Wonderful location. In addition to great food shops, you are surrounded by
- rue Durantin (with the pretty square Bateau Lavoir, where all the impressionists hung out)
- rue Tholozé, where Jean Cocteau designed a wowey interior for the movie theater "Studio 28".
- rue Burq, another funky hilly street with the good eatery Café Burq
- and rues Véron, d'Orsel, la Vieuville, with wonderful hip boutiques.
To see rue d'Orsel, check out Truffaut's classic "the last metro" which uses the theater on the street.
On top of rue Burq and top of rue Lepic, you see the last 2 surviving real moulins of Montmartre.
Just remember: when you get out of the metro Abbesses (your nearest and nicest metro), don't - repeat don't - take the stairs, or you walk 5 floors up. Take the tomb-like lift.
Bon séjour.