wonderfully "untouristy"

Guest: Wendy (Perth, western Australia)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 08/13/11

My husband and I, and our eight year old daughter stayed in this apartment for one week at the end of June 2011. It was comfortable, clean, good value, and adequate for our visit to Paris. The owners are lovely and very helpful. We would stay there again. We loved the fact that it is far enough away from the main tourist spots for us to have a true Paris experience and yet very accessible to all the must see places. Even with our serious lack of French language we managed around the neighbourhood well enough, and mostly found the local people friendly and helpful. We did have an incident at a small Italian restaurant on Gambetta ave, called "ill Pinocchio", where they presented us with an incorrect bill for our meal which was 50% higher than it should have been, but they quickly corrected it after we questioned it.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car.

A Real Parisian Find!

Guest: Dianne and Jim (Saint Helena, CA, USA )
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 02/07/11

My husband and I have been to Paris numerous times, always staying in a hotel, so this was our first French VRBO experience. It was wonderful! The apartment is exactly as depicted in the pictures. It was spotlessly clean and there was a welcoming bottle of wine when we arrived. The bed was comfortable and the room was big enough that we left the bed out most of the time. Rhona and Philippe were so helpful, responding immediately to our every inquiry. There were tons of guidebooks and even a couple of novels on the bookshelves --- I highly recommend "Left Bank" about a couple of lived on the Rue de Bac----visiting there one day was like stepping into the novel! Tons of restaurants and boulangeries at your fingertips, a dry cleaner across the street which was vital as my husband was traveling on business. Heat was more than adequate for a very cold Paris week!! We would definitely return.

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

What an Enjoyable Find!

Guest: tanislm (Edmonton, AB, Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/20/10 Review Submitted: 08/13/10

To find such a well kept, wonderfully quaint, quiet and comfortable place to stay in any city is a treat. And for my first visit to the spectacular city of Paris, this studio apartment was all of the above. Although off the beaten track, it was so favourable to be in a safe area (as a single traveler - very important) that had everything one needed, including some lively and considerably 'reasonable' cafes, tasty bakeries and bread stores, a multitude of market times and close access to the metro! The apartment itself felt 'French' with it's open window options and hard wood floors and simple touches that made it a warm and sweet place to retire each evening. The hosts supply great information about local restaurants/amenities and there is a multitude of maps, guide books and household items needed to make for a comfortable stay. I enjoyed my time at the apartment greatly, as it felt like part of the experience to stay there. I recommend highly a walk (about 1.5 km) to the Parc des Buttes Chaumont which is a little heaven in the midst of the business of the city. Go for a run, take a pastry or enjoy one of the cafes there...all were lovely options. That aside, if you are open to walking, life with the locals and using the metro, this apartment is a great find! What a great value and I would stay there again in a heartbeat!

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

A home away from home

Guest: travelfreak53 (Connecticut and Italy)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 07/19/10

I have been to Paris many times and have always stayed in hotels. This time, I wanted something different ( and more affordable for my 23 year old niece, with whom I was traveling), so I decided on this studio apartment. What a felicitous decision! There is something special about living in a neighborhood instead of living among tourists. There was a movie theater and a live theater within walking distance. I went to the theater to see an Offenbach light opera, and sat next to the director. We had a great chat about the company and the performance...something that wouldn't happen in a more "downtown" theater. I went to the bakery one evening with only a 50 euro note, and they couldn't make change. "Pas de probleme, Madame. Vous pouvez payer demain." Take the bread and pay tomorrow....wouldn't happen downtown! I overpaid at the traiteur one evening....my mistake was immediately corrected by madame at the cash register. In other words, becoming part of the fabric of the neighborhood is an enriching part of traveling, and this studio made it possible. The apartment itself was charming (although the bathroom was teeny!), and very comfortable. It was quiet at night, and sleeping with the windows open was no problem. No mosquitoes or bugs were around to bother us. While it was warm during our stay, the fan that was provided was ample to cool us off in the evening. This may not be the perfect solution for the timid, or for those unwilling to deal with a little extra time on the metro. But if budget is an issue, this is certainly more affordable than even the most miserable little hotel. And if becoming involved in the daily life of a neighborhood is what you value, this is an ideal spot!

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

At home in Paris

Guest: G.D.A. (Moorhead, MN, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 07/16/10

The studio-apartment is a wonderful basis from which to explore Paris. The neighborhood is safe, diverse, and lively, with great food shops and markets with wonderful cheeses, meats, poultry, fruits and vegetables, bakeries, bistros, etc. Eat, drink, walk and be happy! I felt at home. The Gambetta Metro Station is a mere 4-5 minutes' walk away. From there, I reached most places within 30-35 minutes including a transfer. The apartment is as described. The bathroom is very small, but the shower is quite good. The bed, comforter, and bed lines are excellent. Street noise does not reach the apartment which remained cool even on a hot day. Communication with the owners via email was always prompt, pleasant, and helpful. They sent out excellent instructions on how to get to their place which was easier than expected. I would recommend this property to friends and relatives 30+ (singles or couples) who want to explore Paris and experience a great neighborhood. If you're from the USA, I recommend Rick Steves' guidebook on Paris. His Pere Lachaise cemetery walk is excellent. Frommer's guidebook Twenty-four Walks in Paris is also good.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car.

Wonderful!

Guest: Melissa and Joe (Spain)
Date of Stay: 03/24/10 Review Submitted: 04/03/10

My son and I stayed at this lovely place in March, 2010. The owners took great care of us. We felt so welcome. Our beds were made for our late evening arrival and the heat had already warmed the apartment. While during the day we enjoyed the touristy things like Disneyland and the Eifel Tower, it was good to come back in the evening to the real France. The shops and eateries and metro are all in walking distance from the apartment and are wonderfully Parisian. Be sure and get the complete breakfast from the Bar Metro down the street, and couscous from the Moroccan place, too. We wanted to eat at the nice bistro right next to the apartment, but did not have a chance during our short visit. I promise if you stay in this lovely apartment, you will not be disappointed. I plan to return next year with my husband.

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

Guest: Joan Bartos (Napa, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 11/02/09 Review Submitted: 11/02/09

I would like to write that you should not consider staying here.I am greedy and want to keep this lovely place available for my own future travel in Paris. But alas, since I think so highly of Rhona and Philippe-and two adorable kids whose names shall go unmentioned but who know who they are- I will only write that you should NOT rent this apartment if the following applies to you: 1)You don't want to see and experience how real Parisians live; 2) You have no interest in being a flaneur; 3) You don't care about fascinating food markets, multi-cultural neighborhoods, wonderful cafes or highly addictive boulangeries; and/or 4)You want room service or a concierge or a maid, cook or other services. In other words, if you want to hang out with other tourists and/or have "hotel" amenities available to you, don't stay here. If on the other hand, you want to feel Parisian and hear, smell,see and taste a part of Paris that is beautiful, sweet and yes, probably quite fleeting, this is your place. As far as I could tell, I was the only tourist in the neighborhood until my friend joined me after two weeks. Then there were two of us. Neither my friend nor I speak much French. We got by just fine and had a truly wonderful time. The apartment is small but more than adequate for 1-2 people. It overlooks an intermittently active but mostly pedestrian street on which school children play, the musician might sing and representatives of the entire world pass by. Rhona and Phillipe are right across the hallway should you have a problem or question. They were so lovely and helped make my month in Paris a wonderful experience. You will find everything you need to cook small meals in their kitchen. The grocery stores and marches (markets) are very close by and I ended up saving a lot of money (and losing 12 lbs.) by buying and eating fresh produce. Rue d'Pyrenees is an ideal street to walk and has everything-ATMs, restaurants,markets, bars, cafes,friendly merchants, grocery stores, bookstores, etc. Stroll in either direction for a great immersion experience. Explore Belleville, Menilmontant and Gambetta and of course, Pere-Lachaise. Note that the streets are very safe and you will be amazed how much you will be able to see by walking. The local parks are lovely and safe and a great way to relax. WiFi (pronounced "wee fee" in French) in the parks is iffie but keep in mind that you're in Paris. Relax. Log off and tune in to amazing beauty and relaxation of Paris

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