Area to stay in Paris?

We just returned from a week in Paris where we had an apartment on rue Jussieu in the Latin Quarter. We were very close to two metro stations and within walking distance to all of the major sites. We rented a very nice apartment through Alcove & Agapes. We had a very interesting as well as inexpensive Paris Greeter tour for two. We also took advantage of a Paris Walks tour. Everyone was very nice.

Jan mentioned the Paris Greeter program, and I wanted to say that I highly recommend it too. They will accommodate however many people are in your party. Check out their website. I did a Marais walk a year ago with a volunteer and it was a fantastic experience. I use vrbo.com and homeaway.com to find apartments.

I suggest you get an apartment in the 4th, 5th or 6th, the closer to the river the better. Those areas are central and walkable to many sites and are very safe. For 5 people the metro will start getting pretty expensive. Also, if you are staying further away you will spend more time in transit and it would be more difficult to stop by your apartment mid-day if necessary. When you find possible apartments look on the map to see how close they are to metro
stops. Have a fantastic trip!!

thanks for the responses. From what we've found on vrbo, Montmarte area seems to have larger apartments at a cheaper price so even though the metro would get expensive, I think we'd still be ahead dollar wise. We just want to make sure we can enjoy the neighborhood.
We aren't going until next July but we have found that some apartments on vrbo do have some July bookings already so we want to make sure we don't wait too long. With a family of 5, we are limited to what we can fit into comfortably.

I wouldn't choose Montmartre, especially with children. Do some research about that area. There is a reason it's less expensive.

I wouldn't choose Montmarte even WITHOUT kids. It's just a little too gritty for my taste. Yes, I know I'm a tourist and not a native. My idea of a vacation (especially a family vacation) is not staying in the seedy side of town...which is what I've encountered every time I visit Montmarte.

I'd stay in the 16th arrondissement, somewhere along the rue de Passy. We travel to Paris at least once, and frequently twice, each year, and always stay at l'Hotel Hameau, 48 rue de Passy. I am certain there are apartments in the area, although, as above, we always go the hotel route. I recommend the area because it is a very family-oriented, safe, clean neighborhood, with lots of affordable bakeries and cafes - and a couple of Monoprix, one of which is enormous and has an astonishingly good market featuring produce, cheese, staples, etc. AND a great "deli" ion of prepared hot and cold foods. There is a grammar school near the hotel, so lots of kids and parents. There's a place to get keys made, a dry cleaner, a McDo, a gourmet cooking shop, plenty of cute boutiques, a few little parks, and quite a variety of decent restaurants, including Russian, Thai, and a sushi joint. From 48 rue de Passy (which I reference as a central point - but anywhere in the neighborhood would be great) it is a 10 minute walk to Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower, so you are very close to "the big sites" without being right in the white hot center of the very expensive action.

I like the 4th 5th and 6th, but I booked some friends into an apartment in the 14th ( they had a family, and a budget, and it was a late booking so pickings were slim ) and they loved the area. I have stayed there myself before, right on border of 5th, so can attest its a family suitable area, and only a short ride into all the attractions.

Another echo of Andrea and Tim with their counsel to search elsewhere than Montmartre.

I just returned from Paris and stayed in the 3rd, by the Pompidou center. I loved it! I have stayed in the 4th,5th,6th,8th,9th and my favorite, the 1st. It's all personal preference, really. There are bakeries and cafes and metros in every area. I finally got to the 7th this trip to see why Rick Steves recommends this area. It was lovely and the street Rue Cler has everything one could need in one area. But I find it too far from the things that I want to see and do, except the Effiel Tower.
I really don't think you can go wrong in area. They all have positives and negatives, except as others have said Montmartre. You will only know what area you like after going there and experiencing it yourself! Happy Travels!!

You have all been very helpful, thank you. I will definitely not look in Montmarte area.
One of our concerns is the size of most of the units in 1,2,3,4,5&6 that are in our price range. They look great, but this being the last week of a month long vacation, we suspect the teenagers (and likely us) will need to be sure to have some space from each other :). We have found some that would likely work though. We have also found some beautiful looking places in 9 that we may consider and a couple in 13 that are in a building with a pool that the kids which probably love. So many choices and decisions.........