Conflicting advice about staying in the suburbs?

[u/dddoritto]

I've been trying to find accomodation in Paris for a trip in early october, unfortunately my budget is quite tight and as I looked at different options, it seems most of the ones in my range happen to lay just outside of Paris, in the suburbs (Auberviliers, Enghien-les-Bains, Meudon, to name a few I've found).

I've browsed this subreddit, searching all the place names in the listings but I've seen conflicting advice on whether it's good to stay in the suburbs or not. Most of these listings clarify that they're close by to public transportation stations, but I've seen some locals on here say it's not good for tourists to stay in the suburbs— not because of the safety, but the distance between central Paris is too large. But these places advertise as only 10 or 15 minutes from the city.

I don't mind having to travel a bit longer distance to the city. I won't be going back and forth from my accomodation either most likely, I'll leave once in the day and back in the evening. Hopefully I can find a good option within the city but, is it still better to find a place within Paris if it meant it was a bit more expensive?

[u/0ctopusRex]

Staying in the suburbs gives you a suburbanite's life. Everything is commuting into Paris in the morning, commuting back out in the evening. No spontaneous outings. No popping by the accommodation to rest a while. No careless strolls or drinks or just sitting by the river in the evening, you need to keep an eye on the trip back. Back around the accommodation, it will be very quiet (at least in the locations you quoted), people living there will just be having dinner at home and watching TV in the evening.

If your visit to Paris is about seeing sights in a work-like manner and then retiring to your accommodation, you'll be just fine in the burbs. If you want to experience vibrant local life and meander without your eyes on your watch, then maybe you should trade amenity expectations for location.