Which arrondissement for me?

This comes up pretty often on the forum, do some searching and you'll see that Ile St. Louis comes up quite often for great location. Or near the Luxembourg Gardens.

Single-digit arrondissements are closer to the river, which makes it easier to walk to more sights. You pay for this convenience. Ile St-Louis is lovely, quiet (except the west end) and expensive. We've stayed in the 4th, 5th, and 14th, nothing wrong with any of them. Good food is everywhere, cheaper is most likely farther from the river.

If safety is your concern, Paris is generally very safe, though pickpockets are an issue where tourists congregate. Normal big-city precautions apply of course. Arrondissements are big and diverse, what you want to focus on is specific neighborhoods. If you have or can download Google Earth, use its "street view" feature to check out the surroundings of any apartment you're considering. Look for someplace within a couple of blocks of a Metro station, ideally one where two lines intersect, to give you better transportation choices. If you're near a Metro, you can get anywhere in Paris quickly and easily. You may enjoy a "real" neighborhood, full of French people and stores and cafes, more than one full of tourists like us with prices to match. For best sleeping in July, look for an absence of nightlife, or air conditioning, or a bedroom facing away from the street.

Don't worry about the arrondissement, just look for a place that appeals and fits your budget. Have fun!

Amazing advice! Thank you!

The circular numbering of arrondisments can confuse those of us who think in right angles. Once above ground, I can see that the lower parts of the 10th and 11th, for instance, are almost adjacent to the east side of the 4th. All three can be handy to the Bastille but accommodations may be cheaper east of the Marais in the fourth (but not compared to the northern part of the fourth.) Not easy! Your instinct in picking a spot near a Metro is sound and there will be some degree of urban concentration and convenience around any Metro stop.

5th arrondissement is the one we liked. It's on the Left Bank and home to the Latin Quarter, Sorbonne and Roman Arena (Lutecia). Rue Monge has many local markets and Place Monge on the Metro is only 2 blocks from the Roman Arena and just over half a mile to Notre Dame. Enjoy your trip!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar%C3%A8nes_de_Lut%C3%A8ce

My female friend traveling alone stayed in a Cobblestone Rental as she liked being independent for meals if she didn't feel like going out for dinner. It was 27 square meters: TINY. We are renting in Marais for next September through Cobblestone in the apartment called "Le Passage Du Marais" which is a one bedroom for hubby and me. But, they have several studios. I have walked in that area and feel secure. This area is walking distance to Notre Dam and the Louvre. I have also stayed in the 7th at Hotel Muguet and stayed some of the time alone. Hubby joined later. I liked this area a lot and there are many restaurants and easy to get to Rue Cler and Eiffel. Metro super close. I had to walk to store at 11 p.m. for supplies (luggage didn't come) and I felt just fine. Hotel very reasonable. The Champs de elysee area is fun to explore but I wouldn't want to stay there--feels too much like a shopping mall atmosphere. Sunday in Paris is dead. It is smokin' on Sunday in the Marais! You are going to love Paris--it is amazing. I can hardly wait until next September.

I like the 4th, 5th & 6th, as close to the river as possible. Especially for first timers. Rick Steves likes the 7th, and more specifically Rue Cler. I stayed there my first time and although it is very nice, there's not much happening there. It's also not very walkable to the things most first timers want to see, so for me it wasn't very convenient. I've rented 2 different apartments in the 5th and enjoyed the area very much. In October we just rented an apartment in the 12th, but close to the border of the 4th and near the river. It was very close to Gare de Lyon, so close to transportation. Our apartment was a small one bedroom, but it had everything anyone would need. If you would like further information about it, let me know.

You want the less expensive life style, cheap but good food-- stay away from the 7th, 8th, and 16th arrondisements for sure. These areas are pretty sterile and close down early except for the tacky Champs Elysee--admittedly pretty all lit at night. Go to 4th, 5th, even 9th, 10th, 11th for areas with a mix of incomes and lifestyles. You'll find all kinds of foods in these areas. Use google street view to get a look at the neighborhood. If you don't find a studio in these areas, we'll fill you in on the others.

So, I found a place that seemingly has all I need for July (e.g. air conditioning, kitchen and washer/dryer) in Canal St. Martin/Rue Lancry in the 10th. Does that sound like a nice place? I am not sure how to use the Google thing to look at the neighborhood but that is my next step to try. Again, thank you!!

Perfect. We spent many months in that exact neighborhood on rue du Chateau d'Eau. You'll find everything from hip bistros on the foodies' lists to tiny Lebanese restaurants and the best baguettes in Paris. Your closest metro, Jacques Bonsargent, is on just one line, but you can walk to Republique, Bastille, or Gare de l'Est which all have numerous lines you can catch. The neighborhood is mixed from very wealthy to very poor. Where we lived it was a little grubbier, but you are two blocks away heading toward the canal.

Well, I took the plunge and booked a week at the one I referenced above. $536 USD for a week in the middle of July is pretty great! Thank you all!