Vacation Rentals by Owner

Good value for such a fascinating area

Guest: M & C (London UK)
Date of Stay: 03/26/12 Review Submitted: 04/08/12

A light,airy, well-appointed apartment in a great location with lovely views over the Paris rooftops. One or two idiosyncracies but a very reasonable rent. Thanks again Laurent, we had a great time!

Owner response:Thank you Chris for your lovely review, I hope to have u here again very soon. Best regards Laurent

Recommended for:

a gem in Paris

Guest: murat (Cambridge, Mass)
Date of Stay: 11/10/11 Review Submitted: 11/16/11

This is a truly special place: very cozy, the owner is very helpful, perfect location, few minutes to walk to Metro and very good price, you can't beat that... This is a must for us on our trips to France.

Owner response:Thanx a lot Murat for this nice review, it was great to got to meet u in person and talk a bit Im really glad u enjoyed your stay at my place Best regards LAurent

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

Good Apt & Location for the Cost

Guest: Travelers2 (Tallahassee, Florida USA)
Date of Stay: 08/12/11 Review Submitted: 08/26/11

We stayed in the apt 12 nights, & are in our 60s. The listing description is accurate & the photos reasonably reflect apt. The apt was clean, well-maintained, and odorless. The owner was friendly and answered our questions. The phone with its free calls to the U.S. and the high speed internet to connect our laptop & iPhones were very useful. We would recommend the apt to 2 people without a car looking for a good rate in a part of Paris where there is a diverse mixture of cafes and ethnic restaurants. My wife & I enjoyed exploring the immediate neighborhood & 10th Arr nearly every night. Yes, the apt is small and the room containing the toilet tiny; these features are not unusual for conventional apts.

Owner response:Hello Fred, Thx a lot for your review who respect perfectly the soul of the flat .It was a pleasure to meet you both and spend some times speaking together.Im glad you enjoyed your stay in Paris and look forward to have you home again Regards Laurent

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

Great little apartment

Guest: elizajane (Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 06/30/11 Review Submitted: 07/08/11

I had a very comfortable stay in this well located apt in the 10e. Metro nearby, great covered market (St. Martin) very close by, and the canal just a couple of blocks away. Laurent, the owner, was very welcoming and attentive and the apartment has everything one would need, including wi fi. The view was especially lovely!

Owner response:Hello Eliza, I was a real pleasure to have u home and it was as well so easy to deal with you . Im glad you had a great stay here and hope that you made nice memories too in Berlin and venezia Best regards Laurent

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

An Apt away from the tourist areas

Guest: CT (Atlanta, Georgia USA)
Date of Stay: 06/02/11 Review Submitted: 06/26/11

We surely enjoyed having more space than a cramped hotel room to lounge and rest after a full day of touring the city and being able to make ourselves a nice breakfast each morning. We stayed in the apt for 9 days. The pictures and description of the apartment are accurate. Access to the Jacques Bonsergent metro station (city subway) is right outside the complex. 2 quick stops away via Metro to Gare du Nord where one can pick up RER and Eurostar taking them anywhere they want to go. The owner was very pleasant and eager to answer general questions to help you. Several bakeries and 2 groceries close by. The price was fair for an apt located away from the heavy tourist area of the Seinne River. Cons: The bathroom is very tiny; your knees will rest against the door. But doable and private. The apt has an strong unpleasant odor. A/C is not common in Paris; just in case someone doesn't know. Street noise is very loud; lasting until early morning hours and city traffic starts up around 5 am. A comment depicting this area as "safe and quiet" is not accurate. I would not recommend this area for single females, but perhaps an alert couple.

Owner response:Dear Catherine, Thank you for your review, your comments have been taken on board to ensure I can provide the best possible stay for my guests in the future. I would also like to offer you and all potential visitors the following suggestions to consider, should you wish to visit Paris or a similar European city again. The bathroom, and the size of the apartment in general, is typical of a one-bedroom Parisian apartment. This is much larger and better value than what you will get at a hotel for the same price. The apartment is intended to sleep two, however I permitted you to host an extra guest, which may be why you felt the space too cramped for your liking. You are correct, air conditioning is not common in Paris, and visitors should be aware of this should they feel this to be a necessary comfort. The apartment is professionally cleaned after every guest, and I have never had any complaints regarding cleanliness or unpleasant odour from previous visitors. I would suggest that during an extended stay, like your stay of nine days, that you ensure to ventilate and keep the apartment clean after yourselves, including emptying the garbage frequently to avoid generating bad odours. The 10th arrondissement is inner urban Paris, which is a vibrant cultural hub of the city. Whilst certainly not the quiet countryside, any minimal noise emanating from the street has not posed a problem for myself living here, or any other guests who are aware of the type of area they are staying in. Some traffic ( wich start around 8 and not 5 am )and noise is typical of a European city and for many is part of the experience of staying in an historic, exciting and lively area. The area is in fact very safe as most of our city, and the building very secure with restricted access. I have many friends, male and female, who live permanently nearby, and have never had any security concerns. 50 % of the building is hosting old poeple as well. In future I suggest that you research thoroughly the city that you intend to visit, to ensure you find an area that meets your expectations. With regards, Laurent

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Wonderul Neighborhood

Guest: Lisa (Vashon)
Date of Stay: 05/22/11 Review Submitted: 06/19/11

The apartment is wonderfully situated in a real Paris neighborhood near Canal St. Martin. There are two excellent bakeries, a number of fine small restaurants, interesting shops with up and coming designers, as well as local merchants. In the small cafes, you will find families with babies, artists, writers, and good friends visiting. The apartment itself is accessed through a private courtyard, is exceedingly quiet and has a view of the rooftops with Sacre Coeur in the distance. Overall, I would highly recommend this apartment for those who want to see what it is like to live in Paris, rather than those mostly interested in being tourists. That said, you can easily walk to the Marais, and the Metro is one block away with access to all the major museums and tourist sites. The kitchen is nicely appointed, clean, and easy to use. Some of the other comments mention the need for a larger WC or electric tea kettle etc. I would just say, having stayed in several apartments in Paris, that no apartment is perfect and this one has its idiosyncrasies; however, it has several worthy aspects that outweigh any of those issues (in my book). If you stay there, take a walk up to Belleville to visit art galleries and to see a more diverse aspect of the city (Vietnamese, North African, Chinese). Around the corner and up into the 18th is an African neighborhood with interesting shops and opportunities to see the varied communities of Paris. I have stayed in the 18th on four previous trips and really enjoyed the absence of tourist mobs during the day; The 10th is quiet and beautiful. Thanks Laurent for sharing your place with me.

Owner response:Hello Lisa Thank you for this nice review, it's highly appreciate . I'm really happy you enjoyed Paris that much and i hope you will return to our beautiful city I will be really happy to welcome you again among us Have a wonderfull summer Lisa Best regards Laurent

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Title suits - I might change it to include Paris Ambiance

Guest: Sam (Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/22/11 Review Submitted: 05/06/11

If you want true Paris ambiance, mansard roofs,Sacre Coeur views (lite up at nite), best Pastisierre, Roman Arches, Bike Rental pick up, Metro 1 block, very comfortable queen bed, English TV, complete kitchen. plus very helpful. friendly host this is the place for you. We enjoyed 4 days there, exploring the neighbourhood plus going to our usual favourites.

Owner response:Hell oSam, thx a lot for this review, i really appreciate it .it was a pleasure to welcome u in Paris Hope you will have a nice end of holidays Best regards Laurent

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

A perfect spot for my mother and I, on my first trip to Paris

Guest: Sallye (San Francisco, CA, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/08/11 Review Submitted: 05/05/11

This was my first trip to Paris, celebrating my mother's 70th birthday. What an amazing visit. We loved Laurent's apartment, and the location was perfect. First, the view from the windows is of Sacre Coeur and the top of the Eiffel. The location is 2 minutes from the Metro station, and is very safe. I arrived in Paris by myself, and never felt unsafe. This is a real Paris neighborhood, with local bistros and cafe's. There are very few tourists, which I really liked. We would go to the tourist areas during the day, but retreat to the peacefulness of our apartment in the evening. The kitchen is perfect, and while compact, very functional. We prepared several meals from the delicious finds at markets all over Paris. We also enjoyed relaxing in the evening with a nice breeze from the windows. The apartment looks exactly as the pictures. Laurent was a terrific owner/host. He met me at the door when I arrived, described the apartment's amenities and the neighborhood. He pointed me to the local grocery, best bakery on the block, and a sweet cafe that had the best croissant I have ever tasted. He was very attentive and answered all my questions. My favorite cafe was on the left of Magenta, walking toward Metro, before arriving at the Metro stop and I had the best meal at Pramil. Pramil is about a 10 minute walk from the apartment and was just wonderful. The bed was very comfortable, and we slept well, though if you are sensitive to city noise, I recommend ear plugs as this is a big city. I have already recommended this location to several friends, and would love to return in the future. Thank you Laurent, for a wonderful stay.

Owner response:Thx a thousand time for this magnificent review Sallye:-) It was also a pleasure to be your guide for you and your mum and be able to share a bit of my favorites places in Paris .The weather was also here to give you the best highlights of our fabulous city. Thanx also for recommanding my place to your friends i really do appreciate. I hope to se you soon again home. best regards Laurent

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect Little Paris

Guest: aussietraveller (Melbourne, Australia)
Date of Stay: 03/29/11 Review Submitted: 04/12/11

This cute apartment is a perfect place to stay for two people in Paris, and is a very good value option to stay instead of a hotel. The apartment was spotless and very neat, and in a nice quiet location. After making the long trip from Australia, the warm and welcoming greeting from our gracious host Laurent was much appreciated. My wife and I have stayed in many small apartments in the area on previous trips which were too small and dark, and had no character. This apartment is enchanting and beautifully decorated, with a stunning view over the rooftops to the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur. The location is perfect to be step out and enjoy the delights of Paris on foot, or very close to the metro. The bed was very comfortable and the kitchen well-equipped. The wifi and free phone calls were very handy too. Thankyou very much Laurent, see you next time.

Owner response:WOW thank you James , what a review :-) I'm really happy you and your wife liked the apartment that much .it was a pleasure to have you here and as u are coming often in France i 'm looking forward to welcome you again at my place . Have fun with your wife in the Seychelles island Best regards Laurent

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

Wonderful stay in a perfect Paris apartment

Guest: Nancy (Outer Banks, NC)
Date of Stay: 03/21/11 Review Submitted: 03/25/11

We stayed here for 3 nights and thoroughly enjoyed staying in an apartment as opposed to a hotel. The pictures and description of the apartment are accurate, with the only exception being the access to a computer. Free long-distance phone calls to the US was a plus! Easy access to metro station, Eurostar station, and hop on/hop off bus. This apartment met all our expectations - clean, well-maintained, safe location, easy transportation, adequately stocked. The owner was extremely easy to deal with in all areas - questions, money transaction, etc. Fantastic alternative to a hotel room at a great price - we would stay here again when visiting Paris, and would recommend this apartment to our friends.

Owner response:Thanx a lot for this review Nancy, Thanx to remind me about the compute wich i get rid off 3 weeks before you arrived and forget to take it off the add, which is done now . It was a pleasure to have you taking care of my place for few days and enjoyed dealing with your sweet person. You're more than welcome to stay here anytime

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Decent for a short stay

Guest: JC (The Hague, Netherlands)
Date of Stay: 03/03/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

This place is quiet and cozy as promised, and Laurent is very nice and easy to deal with. Good location with plenty of shops and cafes nearby. The apartment is a little bit dark and could use better lighting in the bedroom. The bathroom is tiny and you may have problems closing the door while sitting on the toilet if you are over about 5'4". The towels were washed, but old and did not smell fresh. The kitchen supplies are pretty basic...a tea kettle would be a nice touch as we had to boil water in a pot. The wifi and free phone calls to the US are a plus although the telephone battery didn't seem to charge properly.

Owner response:Thx for your comment Jennyfer, Im surprised that you found the apartment a little bit dark as there is a full natural light and the clear view with no building is one of the highlight of this apartment. As you said the towels were clean( soap + softner), sorry if it was not smelling the way you wanted to, but im gonna buy new, assorted ones. I will buy a tea kettle ( but u could have use also the microvawe as everybody does , and so am i ) Those comments will help me to get a better place, thanx a lot You are welcome to come back anytime

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great Paris Location with Exceptional Views

Guest: Grace (Sarasota, FL - USA)
Date of Stay: 09/03/10 Review Submitted: 09/13/10

Laurent, thank you for greeting us so warmly with chocolate bread and wine - and for accommodating our late check out on Monday! My husband and I spent 3 comfortable nights in this flat located in a very handy section of town. We loved all the metro access that was close by, but actually walked to the Hotel de Ville one morning with ease passing through exquisite markets and making use of friendly pedestrian malls along the way. Paris is an enchanting city and it was terrific getting to experience it like a native. Whenever we return, we hope to be regular guests here and look forward to reconnecting with our new Parisian friend, Laurent.

Owner response:Thx for this review Grace , it is really sweet of you It was a real pleasure to have you here and pleased to know that you had an amazing time in Paris You are welcome as u know to stay anytime Best regards Laurent

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Quite cozy and comfortable 1 bedroom

Guest: Kathlyn (Lake Orion, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 05/28/10 Review Submitted: 06/02/10

We had a wonderful weekend get a way in Paris. The apartment was charming and very well kept. We were in walking and metro distance to all of the city. The rooftop view of the Eiffel Tower and Sacred Couer was spectacular. You have a private coded entrance and an elevator to the 6th floor which was very accesable. Laurent was most helpful with area activities and was a gracious host. We would return again. Merci, Laurent.

Owner response:Hello John and Kathlyn, Thx for the nice review you posted on VRBO, i'm really happy you enjoyed your stay in Paris and in my appartment. You also were perfect costumers. i wish i could have the same all the time. You'll be welcome anytime Best regards Laurent

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

Guest: Megumi O. (Bolinas/California)
Date of Stay: 03/02/10 Review Submitted: 03/02/10

It's a well priced apartment with character and in a very interesting part of the city. We enjoyed our stay there. The owner is kind and very helpful. Thanks a lot Laurent.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/09/09 Review Submitted: 12/09/09

I stayed at this charming apartment with my husband and 6-month-old son. The owner was very pleasant to deal with and accommodating. We really liked the place. It has a beautiful view, and is small but very comfortable and efficient. The place is decorated with taste and made us feel at home. One of the best features is the bed, which is extremely comfortable and large too, even nicer than our bed at home! It made us want to sleep in every day, even if we were in beautiful Paris. It's also well located near services and transportation. Definitely a great deal for your stay in Paris. I would go back and recommend to anyone looking for an alternative to a hotel in Paris.

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