Accommodation in Paris - What is this area like?

Hi everyone, Long time viewer, only few time poster (once I get back from my trip I will contribute more!)

I am searching for some accommodation in Paris and we are looking at an apartment in the Epinay-Sur-Seine area. What is this area like? Is the public transport ok to get to the major sites?

Look forward to hearing from you!

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EPINAY-SUR-SEINE is a northern suburb of Paris (approx. 14 km) located along the RER %26#39;C-1%26#39; (heading in the direction of Pontoise) northern extention, served by the EPINAY-SUR-SEINE station (RER fare 2,90€..point-to-point Carnet--23,20€...or Zone 1-3 transportation pass) The RER %26#39;C-1%26#39; ligne train ride will take approx 30 mins (train frequency 1-every-15-minutes) into CHAMP de MARS-TOUR EIFFEL RER in central Paris.

There%26#39;s also a SNCF train connection from Gare d’Epinay-Villetaneuse to the RER %26#39;B%26#39; ligne and Saint Denis and onward to Gare du Nord and Paris stops for the RER %26#39;B%26#39;ligne.

EPINAY-SUR-SEINE Info--

www.epinay-sur-seine.fr/epinay/index.asp

Not sure why you%26#39;ve chosen to stay out this far from Paris.....but in the general vicinity will be AUVERS-sur-OISE (made famous by VanGogh) and CHATEAU d%26#39;AUVERS--

http://www.auvers-sur-oise.com/

http://www.chateau-auvers.fr/

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The reason is budget. We are looking to spend about 35-45 Euro a night! We are also looking at Hostels.

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Hi,

If I were you I wouldn%26#39;t stay in Epinay-sur-Seine for your accomodation. It%26#39;s not the most dangerous suburb in Paris urban area, bit it%26#39;s not the nicest one either. It can get very seedy and tough in some social estates around, and the town itself is not particularly pretty.

Besides, you do have suburban trains to get to Gare du Nord, but they serve mainly commuters, so the frequency drops significantly after rush hours. And then you will have to take the metro or the RER once arrived at Gare du Nord, which means you will spend some time in public transportation instead of visiting the city.

If you are really on budgets, here are some ideas:

- look for hostels, especially the new one near Stalingrad which looks very nice;

- look for hotels in lesser known Paris arrondissements, which are equally and sometimes more rewarding in terms of %26quot;Parisian feel%26quot;, since they are less touristy: the 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 could provide good opportunities for your budget;

- look for hotels in other nicer and better connected suburbs: Vincennes comes to mind, but also Issy-les-Moulineaux, Neuilly, Clichy-la-Garenne, Levallois-Perret.

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I would try renting a studio. If you stay for 7 days you can get a studio for 2-3 people at a lower rate than a hotel or even a hostel room. Try www.homelidays.com, www.pap.fr (also in English) or www.fusac.fr

I think you will be much better spending your money on renting a studio than staying in a hotel/hostel.

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If budget is the only consideration for the choice, then I wouldn%26#39;t stay out in this area. You can find modestly priced small 1-stars located IN Paris. If necessary, try to %26#39;up%26#39; your hotel budget a bit...and trade a few extra €uros per night for the additinal TIME you will gain in Paris, rather than %26#39;commuting%26#39; between a place out in the %26#39;tall grass%26#39; and what you%26#39;ve come to Paris to see, experience and enjoy.

A couple of very conveniently situated choices (though a bit more than your proposed budget) might be--

HÔTEL TIQUETONNE (1-star)-- 6 Rue Tiquetonne (nr: rue Saint Denis) 75002, Metro: Etienne Marcel--

eurocheapo.com/paris/…hotel-tiquetonne.html

RÉSIDENCE-PENSION du PALAIS--78 rue d’Assas (at rue Vavin) 75006, Metro: Notre Dame des Champs; RER%26quot; %26#39;B%26#39; Luxembourg--

http://www.hotelresidencedupalais.com/

HÔTEL des VOYAGEURS--22 rue Boulard (btwn: rue Daguerre %26amp; rue Liancourt) 75014, Metro %26amp; RER %26#39;B%26#39;: Denfert-Rochereau--

http://hotelvoyageursparis.free.fr/english/

Check out some of the listins at--

EUROCHEAPO HOTELS--

http://www.eurocheapo.com/paris/

For a relatively new Paris %26#39;hostel%26#39;...but well out in the 19eme arrondissement--this one just openned a year or so ago--

www.st-christophers.co.uk/paris-hostels

This hostel is relatively conveniently situated in the lower-5eme-Latin Quarter--the active rue Mouffetard/Place Monge neighborhood--

http://www.youngandhappy.fr/

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I agree with KDKSail that you could find a much better and more convenient area without spending much more. For example, he cites the Hotel des Voyageurs, which my wife and I stayed in last September. It is in a great area (check out the Rue Daguerre online) and only a couple of minutes away from the metro and RER stations. The rooms are 55 euros, but you would likely save enough on transit fares to make that equal to staying way out in the sticks at 45 euros. On the other hand, if you need an apartment in order to save on food costs, then clearly a hotel won%26#39;t do. Hope you find something suitable.

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A few years ago I took my then 15 year old son to Paris and we stayed at a beautiful pensionne in Vaux-sur-Seine about 25 minutes northwest of Paris. We had to take the train to and from Paris. It really interfered with our evening entertainment. Remember that people eat late in Paris and that evening entertainment gets started late. Because of that we were unable to go to jazz clubs, etc. I wouln%26#39;t do that again. I suggest that you stay in Paris so you can get back to your hotel/apartment by foot, metro or bus.

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