Apartment in Montmarte

Hi Joseph
This is a good flat in Montmartre - HomeAway 936870 . It is listed a 2 bedrooms but it actually is a 1 bedroom with double bed and a sofa bed in the living room. Large balcony, 7th floor with elevator. Great views across the top of Montmartre up to Sacra Coeur. Two minute walk from Lamarck Caulincourt metro. On the back side of the hill so not as touristy. Great food shops and local restaurants. We will be staying there this May.
It is registered.

Perfectly Paris sort of specializes in this area and we have rented several apartments with them that were excellent. IMHO you want a location near Lamarck Caulaincourt metro; just as with the Marais, landlords get rather generous with labeling something 'Montmartre'; be sure you know where the place is before booking.

I would opt for an apartment with air-conditioning, because you never know about August.
Most rental apartments do not have air-conditioning, but the owners might provide fans.
If you are not used to having air-conditioning, you might be miserable.

You may actually not need to make your reservations as far in advance as you think. August is not as busy a tourist season as June/July, and since so many Parisians clear out that month, apartment rentals are more prevalent (assuming you're renting a true AirBnB or similar that is a primary residence and just rented occasionally). In the past, I've found that those rentals tend to become available about 2 months in advance. As a matter of fact, I've tried to rent further in advance than that and been told that it was too far in advance and they weren't sure of their plans yet :) Not saying you need to wait that long (especially if it makes you uncomfortable), but just to keep in mind that the French don't necessarily plan as far in advance as Americans do.

Keep in mind that most private apartments don't have AC, so do make sure they'll have fans for you! Or, if no AC is a deal breaker for you, be sure to keep it in mind when you look for places.

Be sure the apt you rent is legal and has a registration #.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/regarding-illegal-rentals-beware-the-noose-is-gradually-tightening

Having lived through the great heat wave of 2003 in August when it was 105F for several days and not cool at night, I'd get a hotel with AC this time of year rather than an apartment; almost no apartments have AC and those who advertise is often have the musty useless portable units that vent out a window. I have never had one of those in an apartment that was not moldy and not useless.

This is all such great information. Thank you all so much for your prompt postings.

Joseph.

There's a reason people clear out of Paris in August--possibility of heat. Generally apartments are not air conditioned unless it is set up as a full-time rental through an agency. Those are in high demand. Someone's Airbnb, where they've pushed aside their clothes in a closet and stuff in the bathroom to accommodate a renter or sub-letter, most probably won't be air conditioned. There will be tons of tourists at tourist sites in August, even if it's easier to get a parking spot on the street for locals. When I lived in Paris, the August temperatures were not as drastic as they are now, tourists were much fewer, and I loved being able to zip down major streets without traffic. Times have changed, alas.

I'd suggest a hotel with air-conditioning, because August is normally hellacious...
You might have to book 2 rooms, however.

Almost all the parks stay open until about 11 PM, so the residents and visitors can have a break from the heat.
Don't leave your trash on the ground - the rats are everywhere - put anything in the plastic bins.

Chexbres
A while ago you admonished us in a post that we should all give up our seats on a Paris bus to the elderly, the infirm and pregnant women. Now you tell us not to leave trash on the ground in parks. You needn’t take it upon yourself to parent us and teach us manners. Our upbringing equals yours, I have no doubt.

Are you especially attracted to Montmarte? I've stayed in Paris six times from two to five nights. Two times have been in Marais, one just southeast of Notre Dame, one near Republic square, one near Gare de Lyon (because afterward I had to catch a train to Lyon), and one in Montmarte. The conclusion I've drawn is I'm happy with any location that is walking distance from Notre Dame (because it denotes the center) and not happy further out. I wouldn't be particularly happy with anything out toward the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe either.

Of the group, I was least happy with Montmarte. I wanted to stay in Montmarte to try it and really wasn't happy being away from the center. The "art scene" in Montmarte for me was more tourist trap art than serious artists. The newness of Sacre Coeur, along with the small army of scammers in the area, also put me off.

Brad, I very much agree with everything you said. Very well said, and in a way I haven’t read on this forum before.
Can I quote you?... : )

I don't find chexbres' post to be anything other than gentle reminders that we are guests in a foreign land. One of the most irritating things about European travel is the presence of loud and rude tourists (many American) who choose not to adhere to European standards of courtesy. There are a lot of us, including most of the people in these Forums, who understand and love the 'travel as a political act' philosophy, but there are others who are so ethnocentric that they cannot resist acting as though others are not watching. I have personally seen littering and inconsiderate actions that gave me a bitter taste in my mouth, and left me to wonder whether I should correct the offender and thereby trigger an unpleasant confrontation.