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Le Marais Advice?

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We will be making our first trip to Paris during the first week of November. We have decided to stay in Le Marais based on many recommendations from this site, as well as its proximity to metros and tourist sites. Are there certain neighborhoods/blocks/streets within Le Marais that are more desirable than others? We are two females who would like to feel safe walking after dark, returning from a metro station, etc. The bar/club scene is not a priority, but a quiet night's sleep after a long day of running around is.

We plan to do Airbnb or VRBO, but would like to be able to zoom into a desirable area of Le Marais to narrow our lodging choices. Is it best to be closer to the Seine? We plan to metro to sites as needed, but also like to walk when possible. We, of course, would like to have good food options, but do not need/want anything fancy...just delicious and economical. We are not museum people, but we would enjoy visiting the outdoor markets (Enfants Rouges?). Generally, we would like to be in an area where we can amble aimlessly and explore the streets when we aren't travelling to tourist destinations. We'd like to mix structured and unstructured, and try to get a feel for Paris that isn't colored by the presence of a million tourists just like us. We're always open to locations with patisseries, creperies, boulangeries, fresh fruit, etc. that we can visit at the start of the day (and maybe again at the end)! Thanks!

Posted by
784 posts

Just about any place in Le Marais would work for you. I can recommend Cobblestone Paris Rentals. I've stayed in 3 of their properties - in fact, I'm in one now. Look at Passage du Marais, which is on a quiet passage in the 3rd. No street noise at all and the Passage is locked at night. They have any other properties in Le Marais and are very easy to work with. No damage deposit and you can pay you credit card or PayPal. Once you find a place, use Google maps to "discover" the neighborhood.

Posted by
2466 posts

There are no "special streets" to avoid in the Marais. There are dark streets and some dark alleys, and the streets are generally dark, sidewalks are tiny.
No crime to speak of - but you should protect your valuables and keep gadgets in plain sight.
Don't restrict yourselves to the Marais. There are a lot more neighborhoods that are more exceptional. There are no boundary lines separating the arrondissements!

Les Enfants Rouges is a tiny covered market. There are ethnic foods that you might or might not enjoy, but tables are crowded on the weekends.

I would give it a pass, and head for the Bastille market - Thur and Sun mornings, 9:30 to about 1 PM. Sunday is the best day.

VRBO and AirBnB are mostly illegal, and Paris is cracking down on the property owners. If it's this November, you have no time to investigate the properties as well as you should. Apartments might not have safes, or even dryers. Washing machines do small loads and only spin dry, so it's not easy to get anything dry in Autumn.

If you do not need a kitchen, you might stay at Les Tournelles - smack dab in the middle of the Marais, and probably within your budget.
Or, Castex Hotel, which is right near the river.

Or, Hotel Saint-Louis le Marais, which is just around the corner.
Your hotel will be glad to hold your baggage if your room is not ready.

If you need a kitchen, there is a Citadines Richard Lenoir right near the Bastille. There are "laveries" within a block or two that are inexpensive and your clothes will dry.
And a Casino supermarket for other necessities.

I wouldn't want to arrive in Paris, having to haul your belongings around in the rain, if you can't check in before a certain hour. If you are only staying less than a week, the owner might prefer to have someone else who will stay longer, and might cancel your reservation.

To be honest, I think you should go with an apart'hotel like Citadines. You won't have 2 full bedrooms in an apartment, if your budget is tight, so someone will have to sleep on a fold-out couch.

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