michael of melbourne

Guest: mick (sydney, nsw, australia)
Date of Stay: 01/02/12 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

this apartment has a creative feel to it, and i found it an excellent place to launch my ventures into the theatre district, which i did a lot. the park view from the window is fabulous, and i spent lots of "thought hours" just drinking coffee, looking out the widow and wondering about how i finished up staying at such a great spot. when not out the door at the theatre, i cooked for some friends in the polished kitchen, and can confirm that everything works. to sum up ... an apartment which is well placed in the right area of paris with a lovely 'feel' to it - and i have stayed in lots of apartments in the world which do not have that.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

weekend in Paris

Guest: purple (Fremantle)
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 10/30/11

I spent a delightful weekend in Paris in August 2010 with 2 friends and stayed at this delightful apartment. It was a "working weekend"( lots of talking) but was made fantastic by the location. I especially like the way the view from the balcony over the park across the road also allows a delicious glimpse of Sacre Coeur if you turn your head. It is so close to Metro ( Place D'Anvers), bikes and walking distance to almost anything you need and I particularly like the Indian restaurant nearby. It is well equipped and elegant and comfortable and I am planning to go again soon for a longer time.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Wonderful apartment with lots of Paris charm!

Guest: parisfound (Port Townsend, WA USA)
Date of Stay: 05/19/11 Review Submitted: 06/28/11

I stayed in this apartment for a week in May 2011. All in all it was a fabulous experience. I have rented many apartments over the past 9 years and this was one of the best. The location is perfect; close enough to the touristy areas of Montmartre but also within the excellent residential working class area of the 9th Arrond. There are a number of convenient metro stops within a few blocks depending on your destination. Every kind of shop for food, clothing, etc. is within a few block radius, as well as several museums and parks. The apartment itself was immaculate, beautifully decorated and user friendly. I found the bed especially comfortable and I often have trouble sleeping; the kitchen was wonderfully designed to actually cook which I always try to do when staying in Paris; additionally the Friday market in front of the building has everything you could need to cook and/or eat an amazing meal. Although I didn't need to use the television, it was challenging to figure out but I have since been informed by the charming owner (a lovely Australian author, be sure to read her wonderful book about renovating this apartment) that the instructions have been updated. The bathtub is absolutely wonderful and I love my baths; although there is a shower attachment I found it a little low to truly have a comfortable shower but worked well enough; I would take the bathtub over the shower most days. Although the weather was quite warm when I was there the apartment stayed at a perfect temperature and was so pleasant to have the windows open in the late afternoons with sounds of children playing drifting in. As mentioned in a previous review, if the noise is a problem closing the windows eliminates noise level. I love that the apartment reflects the wonderful taste of the owner and ones feels they are staying in a real paris home rather than a sterile rental. I have stayed in Paris over 18 times in the past 9 years and this is one of the very best experiences, thanks Barbara! Communications with the owner were excellent, easy and friendly. I highly recommend this property!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Three Weeks in Paris

Guest: Rosemary (Newcastle Australia)
Date of Stay: 04/27/11 Review Submitted: 06/12/11

My husband and I recently spent three wonderful weeks in this apartment. We have stayed in several apartments in Paris in this price range and this was by far the most comfortable and best equipped we've seen. The kitchen and bathroom were a real treat after some we have experienced. Even though I was quite sick for a week of our stay, the lovely view over the park lifted my spirits and ensured that I never forgot we were in Paris. Being able to read Barbara's story of her purchase and renovation of the apartment made the stay even more interesting. The convenience of this apartment is a further plus. Everything is close by - metro, bus stop, supermarket, Friday afternoon/evening market, restaurants (we especially liked the food and staff at La Table d'Anvers) and, of course, Montmartre which is such an amazing place, especially early in the morning before the tourists arrive. Booking our stay was easy, Barbara always responded quickly to emails, and we received a warm welcome and introduction to the apartment from the concierge. We are already planning our next visit.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Great location if you love Montmartre!

Guest: irondaisy (Danbury)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11

We specifically looked for an apartment that would be close to the Montmartre area without being in the midst of all the tourists. This apartment was a perfect location. Just a short walk up to the neighborhood where you enjoy amazing views of the Sacre Coeur. It's up a hill, so you can take the funicular. We had breakfast there several mornings before the tourist crush arrived and it was so peaceful and fun. At the corner of the street in front of the apartment is a great subway stop that easily gets you all over Paris in minutes and a handy tourism kiosk for recommendations and information. The neighborhood is a little seedy so you have to be comfortable with some Paris dirt, but I felt completely safe and lived like a Parisan for a week. A great patisserie was right at the corner, two options for grocery shopping and a Starbucks only two subway stops away directly in front of the Moulin Rouge. The only downside was the noise. It's across the street from a large park filled with happy children playing day and night. So if you love the sound of children having a great time it shouldn't be a problem. They leave at dark. We also had some weekend trouble with drunks on the street late into the night, but I'm sure that's very random. Loved the apartment, lovely Parisian windows and a great kitchen. Bed could use a pad as we found it a little stiff - but that's probably preference as well. Barbara was excellent to communicate with all the way from Australia! Her process for getting into and out of the apartment without any human involvement was amazing and worked like a charm!

Owner response:The park is full of children playing but if you close the windows the noise is blocked out. Also, these guests were there during Easter holidays when there is no school. Normally the park is quiet except on weekends and after school until dark when the gates are locked. The bedroom is at the back of the apartment and is always quiet. Yes, as our guest said, the occasional drunk person on a Saturday is something I contend with in my own upmarket suburb at home in Australia too. Very random. As for the neighbourhood being 'seedy', two metro stops up, which in Paris is a neighbourhood away even though you could walk it in 5-10 minutes, there are some shops that sex toys etc. but it also has Paris' theatre district and the famous Moulin Rouge, which is itself a bit risque being a burlesque show. What some may consider seedy, others may consider risque and interesting. The apartment is at the junction of several distinct areas quite different from each other. If you turn right out of the apartment, you'll come to a heavily touristic area with many people visiting Sacre Coeur. If you turn left you end up in a quiet, genteel neighbourhood full of residents (many writers and people in the film industry which discovered the area about a decade ago) where tourists rarely venture. If you walk two metro stops away you end up in the 'risque' and theatre district, but then you have to walk past Rue des Martyrs before that, which is one of Paris' famous gourmet food streets, along with Rue Lepic nearby.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

April Paris Vacation

Guest: C.C. (RALEIGH,North Carolina USA)
Date of Stay: 04/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/16/11

Enjoyed this apartment for 6 nights from 4/5/2011 with my husband. The apartment was as pictured in VRBO. The apt was very clean and neat. We liked the convenient location very close to the Metro which we used frequently during our visit in Paris. We also purchased tour bus tickets at the Paris Tourism Kiosk near the Metro entrance. The kitchen was very well equipped. We cooked and had a dinner party with friends and all appliances were in good working order. It was nice having a dishwasher available. We also took advantage of the washing machine. The open air food market on Friday adjacent to the park across from the apt. was amazing. We were even fortunate to experience a 2 day flea/antique market on the following Saturday and Sunday at the same location. We were disappointed with communication. We were unable to receive incoming calls on the apt. phone with the phone number given us. We also could not get the television, internet or wifi operational with the instructions left in the apt. I would recommend this apartment to other vacationers and would rent it again myself.

Owner response:These guests didn't let me know about the internet. I have someone who lives across the park who handles any internet/modem problems and it could have been fixed straight away. There is a switch inside the lounge which turn off the power to the TV/internet/phone. They inadvertently switched it off. lf this happens you need to press a reset button on the side of the modem to start the system up again. Had they told me about the problem l could have let them know and talked them through the startup process.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Just spent 4 nights in this App with my wife and two kids

Guest: Peter (Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland)
Date of Stay: 03/30/11 Review Submitted: 04/09/11

This apartment was perfect for our 4 day trip tp Paris. I was there to celebrate my 50th and it could not have worked out better. The 3 minute walk to the Metro, it's location in the heart of Montemartre, the ambiance of the apartment -everything you could possibly want is available in this little gem. We'll be back and I am recommending this to all my family and friends.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway.

A French dinner in Paris!

Guest: Michael & Lynn (VRBO 125445 in MN)
Date of Stay: 11/07/10 Review Submitted: 11/12/10

My wife and I have friends in Paris and were able to enjoy this flat after a week long stay in Amboise. What a delightful conculson to our trip to France. To be in a flat where we were surrounded by the best of Paris and were able to proepare a true French dinner (lots of baugette, lots of cheese, lots of wine) for our friends from Paris. The flat was remarkably well kept and clean, the location fantastic and the furnishings just perfect for an ideal Paris get away. We will look forward to returning.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway.

Excellent location

Guest: SandyAU (Adelaide)
Date of Stay: 04/05/10 Review Submitted: 04/28/10

My daughter and I stayed in this apartment during April and we just loved it. The location couldnt have been better - just across the road from a metro station and nestled between some traditional french restaturants. It is only a couple of blocks from Montmarte and you can walk to Sacre Couer. The apartment was clean and had everything we needed. We walked to the local bakery and delicatassen for fresh breakfast supplies each morning and then went back to the apartment to enjoy a sit down breakfast with freshly brewed coffee. I would recommend this apartment to any visitor to Paris. Oh, and the elevator was very useful, we certainly would not want to have carried out suitcases up the stairs.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway, families with young children, romantic getaway.

I cancelled my hotel for this apartment

Guest: Sparkle in Paris (Adelaide)
Date of Stay: 03/02/10 Review Submitted: 03/24/10

Had a wonderful ten day stay in this gorgeous apartment.Thank you for making our trip warm and friendly with your easy instructions and directions. It was great to make our own breakfast, brew coffee and wash clothes while away from home.Oh, and eat cheese! Thanks..

Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, girls getaway.