Neighborhoods in Paris for rental - advice on area for a family?

The 16th is one of the traditionally poshest parts of Paris - the only possible problem might be old ladies in cashmere sniffing about your kids playing in the garden and overexciting their teacup dogs...

Out of the three areas you mention.. 6th, 7th and 16th.. the 6th will be a bit more lively and central.

I agree with Pat, of those three I would choose the 6th (St. Germain). It's the most central and a very nice area. Lots of fun there for all of you. And the easiest area to walk to many places you'll want to go to.

I'd want to know more information about the one in the 16th before deciding if it's a possibility or not. It doesn't say what floor it's on. You need to know if it is in fact near the rue de Passy, a wonderful shopping street with high quality food and other products, and if it's near a metro. As stated above, the 16th can be a bit insular. The other thing is that it's only one bedroom, so the three children would sleep in the living room.

Try lodgis.com also. And what about the 5th and 4th?

Agree with Bets about rue de Passy!!!

We stay almost every year at a hotel right on rue de Passy and we LOVE the area. Where we stay is smack dab between two metro stops (Passy and la Muette) and it’s within sight (and a 10 minute walk) of the Eiffel Tower. The neighborhood is lively, filled with families and kids, but not loud and crazy. Streets are extremely safe at night. Rue de Passy itself has a lot of excellent shopping, two Monoprix locations, a multi-story “mall,” a movie theatre in a 19th century building that’s really cool, and many smaller shops, bakeries, produce stores, cheese emporiums, wine shops, etc. There are a number of friendly cafes and bistros, plus Russian food, Chinese food, Thai food, Japanese food, and delightful little boutiques, including a fabulous kitchen shop that I adore. There’s also a weekly street market up near the la Muette station.

In short – fantastic Paris “village” living, much like rue Cler probably was before Rick Steves fell in love with it. :-)

So don’t count out an apartment on/near the rue de Passy!

We stayed in the 6th in Dec. of 2013. Very quiet neighborhood, but close to cafes, shopping and the Luxembourg Gardens. I have included a link. We stayed in the St. Germain Luxury two bedroom. Great experience!
http://www.parisvacationapartments.com/

We have two kids and we always stay in an apartment in the 6th near Luxembourg Garden. The park and kids' playground there provide a relaxing break from the city. Our kids (now 13 & 17, but 5 & 9 on their first trip) love this neighborhood, and you can walk to all the big sights.

Along a similar line, I am looking for a suitable neighborhood for my family (2 adults and 2 boys). We are looking for something clean, safe, with nice restaurants and bakeries. We don't mind taking the Metro into the center of town. Le Marais seems nice but is pricey.
The apartments in Levallois Perret seem significantly less expensive. Does anyone have any knowledge of this neighborhood?

Thanks

Levallois Perret is a nearby suburb, just outside the peripherique (ring road highway. I'd use google streetview to scope out the neighborhoods.

FYI for those with children:. The Tulleries are not particularly welcoming to children (from what I have seen all the grass is fenced off and running around on the path is frowned upon, however others may have more accurate information). BUT right in the garden there are in-ground trampolines, meaning the trampoline itself is at ground level rather than 3 feet in the air. For a very reasonable charge, my kids jumped and jumped on the trampolines, a well deserved outing after many museums. If you google "trampolines in Tuileries", you will see more information, including photos, a map and even a YouTube video. the trampolines are located on the Rue de Tivoli side.

There is also a free playground at Tuilleries.

Thanks everyone! I have booked the flat in the 6th! It just seemed like we can walk to more of the sights from this location than the one on the west side of the Eiffel tower.

Philip, I nearly ruined my keyboard spitting coffee with laughter as I read about the old ladies in cashmere in the 16th. :)