Appartement Baron

A one bedroom apartment in the center of Paris for 85 euro per night for two people - what's the catch, you wonder? First, let me say that for the same price in a hotel you would be crammed into a space about half the size of the bedroom. So to have a bedroom (with French double bed - 140cm), living room with fireplace, small kitchen and bathroom with shower, in an up and coming location like Oberkampf where there are many hip bars and restaurants cropping up, is a pretty special event. And to make it even better, the owner leaves some breakfast items in advance so you don't even have to haul your tired self to the store to buy jam and coffee. Elizabeth Baron, who lives there most of the time when the flat isn't rented, has made her place quite cozy. If you're on a budget and want to experience Paris in an apartment, this is the place.

About the area:

The 11th Arrondissement is one of the most densely populated quarters of Paris. Located on the right bank (North side) of the Siene, it borders the 3rd and 4th Arrondissement to the West and the 20th to the North East. Comprised of various sub-neighborhoods that are often described as up and coming, trendy, and "bobo" a mix of bourgeois and bohème. Although common for guides to comment on the variety of bars and restaurants in any particular Arrondissement, this is especially true for the 11th. The various neighborhoods create a mix of calm, residential streets and large, lively boulevards, as well as parks and a strong feeling of "local" community. It does not feel populated mostly by tourists as the areas closer to the Louvre and the Marais can, nor does it feel away from the action or that you're sacrificing being in the "center" of the city. There are also many notable sites in the 11th, such as the Place de la République, and the Opera Bastille. There's also an Edith Piaf museum and the long outdoor market at Blvd. Richard-Lenoir. The area around Oberkampf is trendier, more on the bohemian side, and a good bet for small cafés and restaurants. Just outside the 11th you have the Marais to the West and the Père-Lachaise cemetery to the East. There are many major Metro station and buses so the rest of Paris is very accessible.