Montmarte in Paris?

pookiesboo

Hi, just wondering if anybody has an experience of staying in Montmarte in Paris. We are looking at places on Airbnb and there are some lovely apartments there but have heard the area might be a bit dodgy. We were initially hoping to stay in La Marais but they are considerably more expensive. If anybody has ideas of other areas to look at I'd be grateful.

Strumms

Yes it's a bit grimy up there alright and the surrounding metro stations are a bit more likley hotspots for pickpockets etc. It's improved a little bit in the last few years but not to any great degree especially at night. Maybe if it was just a couple going away and you got a suitably good deal you would live with it as you won't be spending much time in the area but not with kids in my opinion anyway.

If you can give us an idea of your accommodation budget you might get a better answer on places to stay.

pookiesboo

Strumms wrote: »

Yes it's a bit grimy up there alright and the surrounding metro stations are a bit more likley hotspots for pickpockets etc. It's improved a little bit in the last few years but not to any great degree especially at night. Maybe if it was just a couple going away and you got a suitably good deal you would live with it as you won't be spending much time in the area but not with kids in my opinion anyway.

If you can give us an idea of your accommodation budget you might get a better answer on places to stay.

The very most I'd want to spend is €450-480. The place doesn't have to be the ritz or anything as we'll just be using it as a base and a place to crash every night. Does 450 sound like too little for accommodation for 7 days0

whiskeyman

pookiesboo wrote: »

The very most I'd want to spend is €450-480. The place doesn't have to be the ritz or anything as we'll just be using it as a base and a place to crash every night. Does 450 sound like too little for accommodation for 7 days0

Paris is one of the dearest places in the world for accom.
I wouldn't even be expecting much if I was paying 100 per night to be honest.

Strumms

I've never used airbnb in Paris but if we were speaking of hotels then yes. I'd be looking at spending around 100 euros a night for just a half decent hotel in a decent area ie. Not Montmarte or around Gare Du Nord. The quality of accommodation in Paris is not of the same quality as here or other major travel capitols even. Also expensive. If you stay in a decent 2 star hotel in Dublin ie. clean but very basic and no amenities the same hotel would have a 3 star rating in Paris. 3 star here is given a 4 star over there etc.

It really depends on how bothered you are about Montmarte. If it's just a place to lay your head and you are confident and streetwise and will have your wits about you especially at night and in the metro stations then it's good value I guess. It's well connected by the metro which is the one plus but at night be prepared to see the odd street walker, lines of sex shops and sex theatres with people trying to agressivly coax you in... Yes couples too ! A firm **** off is required.

munchkin_utd

€65 per night is cheap for paris.
Theres hotels like Ibis Budget which would be about that price but that really is the cost of bargain basement places.
I'm a bit of a fan of Ibis Budget as they have a cheap and cheerful brekkie with unlimited coffee and baguettes which for me is all I'd want for breakfast anyhow.
If you are out and about all day then it makes no sense getting a swish hotel anyhow , as sure if you arent leaving your room for the duration of the holiday sure you could just as easy not bother going to Paris at all and just go to a swish hotel somewhere nearer home.

pookiesboo

Thanks for the replies. We usually use airbnb abroad and some of the places in Paris airbnb are beautiful for as little as 60 quid a night. It's just the areas we are unsure of. Is la Marais a really nice area to base yourself in?

Strumms

pookiesboo wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. We usually use airbnb abroad and some of the places in Paris airbnb are beautiful for as little as 60 quid a night. It's just the areas we are unsure of. Is la Marais a really nice area to base yourself in?

The Marais is nice and overall quiet and non touristy in the main. Considered very hip these days with good bars and restaurants. Bastille is walkable from there too which has good nightlife and places to eat also and is a bit more lively at night but mostly locals as opposed to tourists. Get a good deal in the Marais... Snap it up.

pookiesboo

Strumms wrote: »

The Marais is nice and overall quiet and non touristy in the main. Considered very hip these days with good bars and restaurants. Bastille is walkable from there too which has good nightlife and places to eat also and is a bit more lively at night but mostly locals as opposed to tourists. Get a good deal in the Marais... Snap it up.

Thanks, the area stood out to me alright!

Unshelved

I love Montmartre - it's like a village within the city. The further up the hill you go - the nicer it is. Pigalle and the area around Clichy should be avoided - mostly sex shops and it's quite seedy but that's definitely not true of the whole area. the area around Abbesses metro is fine. There are loads of cute shops and good restaurants and bars and it's brilliant for just wandering around. It even has its own vineyard! There's an excellent bus service to the Louvre - bit of a change from the grimy metro in the summer - you see lots of sights on the route. Watch the movie "Amelie" to see the other side of Montmartre!

The Marais is nice too - but I'd disagree with the poster who said that it's not touristy! I find it's extremely crowded with tourists - even in winter. However it is central and handy for sightseeing.

Strumms

Unshelved wrote: »

I love Montmartre - it's like a village within the city. The further up the hill you go - the nicer it is. Pigalle and the area around Clichy should be avoided - mostly sex shops and it's quite seedy but that's definitely not true of the whole area. the area around Abbesses metro is fine. There are loads of cute shops and good restaurants and bars and it's brilliant for just wandering around. It even has its own vineyard! There's an excellent bus service to the Louvre - bit of a change from the grimy metro in the summer - you see lots of sights on the route. Watch the movie "Amelie" to see the other side of Montmartre!

The Marais is nice too - but I'd disagree with the poster who said that it's not touristy! I find it's extremely crowded with tourists - even in winter. However it is central and handy for sightseeing.

Touristy is St Michel and Montmarte, Champions Eleysses etc... the Marais is nothing compared to that. It's not tourist free just not a tourist magnet and I've been there in the winter and summer alike and it's calm enough... Montmartre is nice enough but you can't negotiate your way around and into the metro really without negotiating Clichy and Pigalle.. Marais wins everytime...few nice bars up that way but it's negotiating all the other crap..