Should I stay in Montmartre?

If you can find an apt at those rates in Paris, grab it. Montmartre is touristy and can be loud at night but that's Paris. Determine if cost or noise is more imp. For a reasonable stay in Arles ck www.accorhotels.com espec the Etap brand.

You'll see tourists everywhere in Montmartre, but their is a big contrast between the environment on the top of the hill versus the bottom. At the bottom, you'll find all the stores selling T shirts and plastic replicas of the Eifel tower. On top of the hill around Sacre Couer, the area is more atmospheric with many cafes. Still filled with tourists, but they're drawn here for good reason. The crowds didn't seem like rowdy stag party hooligans.

I wouldn't call it a "hassle" to get to the center of the city, but Montmartre is more peripherally located than some of the other well-loved neighborhoods. Easy to reach the center by Metro, but too far to walk.

Beth, there is a hotel chain in France called Kyriad and I think there is one in Arles. They are moderately priced, reliable and anything but glamourous or quaint, but they are good value for your euro. We have stayed in several on road trips and have no complaints.

Beth, there is a hotel chain in France called Kyriad and I think there is one in Arles. They are moderately priced, reliable and anything but glamourous or quaint, but they are good value for your euro. We have stayed in several on road trips and have no complaints.

My wife and I stayed in Arles in 2004 at the Hotel Regence. They have a web site. It was quite reasonably priced, immaculate, and air conditioned. It is a pleasant walk from the train station, near a Monoprix and a laundromat. The Place du Forum is a 15 minute walk, and only the Ancient History Museum is really a hike. Since you are going to be there for 5 days you would almost certainly be there on the day of the market, which is held between the hotel and the Monoprix, and that would be great fun. Parking is a little tight, but not too bad, and you are at the edge of town, so driving out to the Pont du Gard etc is easy. We loved Arles...it is old ( some people call it dirty, but its not--it just has the worn, lived-in look of a place that has been around a very long time). Have a great trip!

Montmarte has a very different feel depending on which part you are in. There are non-touristy interesting parts and tacky parts, so it depends on where you are. And you should know exactly how far your apartment is from a Metro stop--as long as it's near one, I wouldn't worry about being too far out, but if it's a long schlep I'd think twice.

I'd do some searching on the apartment rental reviews part of the Slow Travel website-I know Montmartre has some fans there, and the reviews are usually detailed enough so that you can get an idea of what the area is like.
http://www.slowtrav.com/france/vr/list.asp?r=Paris

There have also been quite a few threads on that site about apartments in Montmarte--search the France forums. There are ex-pats who are regular posters that can tell you about the particular location of an apartment if you ask, too. And don't forget about Google street view--that's a good way to check out the street at least.
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums

Thank you for all of the replies! This is a very helpful forum!

Roe, I just sent a reservation request to the Hotel Regence! It looks really nice.

Christy, thanks for the link. I'm about to check it out now.

Beth,

The Montmartre area would not be my first choice of areas to stay in Paris, especially as this is your first time in the city (I'd agree with the "touristy and tacky" description). There's probably a reason why the "cheapest apartments" are in that area. I'd suggest staying in a more central area, within easy travel time & distance to all the major attractions you'll be visiting. I normally stay in the Rue Cler neighborhood, and probably will on my next visit also.

You might compare the apartment cost with some of the budget Hotels listed in the Guidebooks. While staying in apartments for self catering does have merit, there are lots of small shops where you'll be able to purchase inexpensive lunches. Most Hotels provide some form of breakfast, so you likely won't have to worry about that.

For Hotels in Arles, you might consider www.lecalendal.com/. It's in a great area, within easy walking distance to the Amphitheatre, other sites and some good restaurants.