Romantic 1 Bedrm Apartment on Cobbled Mews

• Paris For Real

  Paris For Real

  • Guest Michael (Tampa, Florida)
  • Date of stay 07/20/13
  • Review Submitted 12/07/13
  First, I feel obligated to say that I was hesitant to write this review, since, if it were up to me, I would stay in this apartment forever. As it is, I stayed for a month this past summer with another family member and plan to stay again. I think the photographs and April's description of the apartment are quite accurate; it is small but nicely appointed. But aside from the physical appearance and convenience of the apartment, I found it charming, a word that doesn't often enter my vocabulary. The apartment is a level up in a small, walled-in complex. A friend of one of the neighbors commented that the atmosphere reminded him of pictures of 1850's Montmartre. I exchanged greetings and chitchatted daily with people coming and going in the long courtyard, and my French is terrible. The apartment's French windows look out onto a moderately busy, tree-lined street; I myself drank wine and coffee and stared out at the passersby below much more often than a grown man should have. To me, the neighborhood, at the edge of the Butte Aux Cailles, is perfect. It is not fancy and it is not touristy. There are at least six or seven boulangeries within a few blocks. At the end of the block, there is a small brasserie where I sat in the window and read next to a group of older men who came to drink and talk nearly every afternoon. Across the street is a mall, which I found convenient and not at all intrusive. There are plenty of small, casual restaurants nearby and one, in particular, that I daydream about. Best of all, two blocks away there is a wonderful, open air market about three blocks long that sets up three days a week. Beautiful vegetables, cheese, eggs, poultry, meat, and fish. I cry now when I go into the supermarket in the United States. The neighborhood is diverse in a very comfortable way. While there are few tourist attractions nearby, three different metro lines meet at Place d'Italie two blocks away and buses run up and down the street. I have stayed before in the 5th and the 7th, but this time I felt that I had found my neighborhood in Paris. I will be back as soon as I can.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, families with teenagers, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Beautiful Paris Charmer

  Beautiful Paris Charmer

  • Guest jcw (Denver, CO)
  • Date of stay 05/19/13
  • Review Submitted 07/11/13
  My daughter and I stayed in this apartment for a week together. April is a wonderful host and gave us lots of good information about the place and the neighborhood as soon as we arrived. She was very accommodating. The apartment was lovely- lots of light, very comfortable and with the most charming courtyard entryway. Equipped with every convenience we needed for our stay, we really looked forward to coming back to the apartment after a long day of touring around Paris. The neighborhood is a true gem with many wondrous surprises around any corner. There are many terrific restaurants right around the apartment.There is a great boulangerie right up the street with delicious pastries, sandwiches and, of course, baguettes. It was wonderful to be in a neighborhood that wasn't full of tourists. We were able to immerse ourselves completely. It was also very easy to get where ever we wanted to go as Place D'Italie station is a short walk away. If by some wonderful fortune, I have the opportunity to get to Paris again, there is no doubt that this will be my very first choice of accommodations. It's absolutely perfect in every way.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Wonderful apartment, area and landlady!

  Wonderful apartment, area and landlady!

  • Guest Holly (Durham, NC)
  • Date of stay 09/02/12
  • Review Submitted 02/11/13
  First, I need to add a group to April's (the owner) list of people who are suitable renters: I'm 67 and was traveling alone, so it's not just young people who will love this apartment. I happily lived in the apartment for 2 months in Fall 2012, enjoying the location (non-touristy), facilities (open LR/K/dining area, split bathroom area, window views (courtyard and street), neighborhood stores and market, etc. It was perfect for me (and hopefully, you). Where to start describing all the good points? The market - I'm a foodie so the Tues/Fri/Sun street market located just 2 short blocks away was a big draw - lovely fruits and veggies, cheeses, meats, cooked food, etc (and huge freshly cooked potato galettes on Sunday mornings at the Polish food booth). The 3 boulangeries/patisseries within 1-10 minutes' walk (where I discovered choquettes, little airy puffs of sweet dough - miam!). A large shopping center (unusual in Paris) nearby, with an ATM and a large grocery store for basics (but I bought most of my fresh food at the street market). The ease of Metro/RER connections in many directions - about a 20 minute Metro ride to all the central tourist sites. The history of the area (the commune, the Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon landing site, the tapestry factory, etc.) The "real" Paris experience, without all the tourists. And of course, April. She handled some unexpected dilemmas (I had to leave unexpectedly early for a family emergency) and was super friendly whenever we met. I could go on and on about her, the apartment, the area, and Paris in general, but I hope you've gotten the idea that I LOVED staying in the Paris Mews apartment and will definitely try to return in the future.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• A dream come true!

  A dream come true!

  • Guest Alwina (Boston, Massachusetts)
  • Date of stay 06/09/12
  • Review Submitted 06/25/12
  What a wonderful find this little apartment in the area of the Butte Aux Cailles turned out to be! The pictures and description of the apartment were accurate. The owner, April, was most accommodating and helpful. She has prepared a booklet about local sites, history, and other useful information. The property is well maintained and the location was perfect. The neighborhood is full of little shops, cafés, and a large grocery store (that sells anything you might imagine you'd need)! But don't buy too much at the Carrefours grocery store; there is an amazing street marché on Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays--my advice: eat before you go or you'll end up with more food that you can eat! It was easy to get to anywhere in Paris and beyond--3 metro lines stop at the Place d'Italie which is 2 blocks from the apartment. I walked to the Luxembourg Gardens and the Jardin des Plantes (30 minutes +). I ate lunch at the Mosque Tea Room (near the Jardin des Plantes)--try the lamb tangine if you go there, it is amazing. Mostly I tried to "live" in the apartment for 2 weeks. I took long walks and explored the Butte area as well as several other Paris neighborhoods. I even got to know a couple of neighborhood people (the woman at the bakery, a waiter in a café). I hope to rent this apartment in the future--maybe for longer! Thank you so much to April for sharing this lovely spot.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Good choice for visitors

  Good choice for visitors

  • Guest J Tan (Lexington MA)
  • Date of stay 08/11/11
  • Review Submitted 09/29/11
  First of all, the Owner April Tash is very nice and accomodating. She took time to explain the apartment facilities and also provided good recommendations on places to eat and to see in our short 5 night stay. The apartment is in a contigous 3 story block of apartments, on the mid level near the end side of the block. The apartment is quite safe, with double locks and up high from the street level. IF you are sensitive to noise, bring some ear plugs as morning foot traffic and people talking is to be expected If you leave the windows open.Situated about 5 minutes walk from Place D'italie metro station, passing by morning markets( usually Fri-sun only) in front of a hotel, and a couple of restaurants and a breakfast stand (squeeze between two restaurants, right in front of the inbound metro stairs, with a full Carrefour supermarket in the basement level of the adjacent Department stores building - makes it a convenient location to access food stuff and more. Chinatown/Little saigon is close by but suggest not to beeline to the first restaurant seen as there are quite a few choices further down. The apartment was comfortable with enough room for a family of four. Beds were comfortable. internet access was easy. There is a apartment written manual to help out. The washer dryer is the common european ventless type so it takes a while to get clothes dried. Lots of kitchenware to use but have to use a small towel as a drying area. The stairs going up is a bit worn and uneven but it is well lite with convenient switches at both the mid level and the ground level. If you have small children or older folks, just be careful with your footing. For first timers in Paris, this is a good area to be in , being near local folks as to observe local going ons, close enough via metro to most Parisian sights, able to walk out at night with good comfort level of security but obviously be safe and travel in pairs late at night.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/7

• Very comfortable ... too comfortable at times ...

  Very comfortable ... too comfortable at times ...

  • Guest keith (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
  • Date of stay 08/20/11
  • Review Submitted 08/28/11
  It was really a great base for a visit to Paris - public transport is convenient with the métro station just literally around the corner. The market, three times a week, also gave us a fell of what Paris really is like. Also Chinatown was within easy walking distance for really great non-French food. The apartment was perfect for the four of us and at times was too comfortable to leave to go out and do some sightseeing. The owner did a fantastic job of anticipating what many travellers would need in preparing her little folder with all the information needed during their stay ..... now , if only I go to meet with her .....

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• California Family

  California Family

  • Guest Laura (California, USA)
  • Date of stay 07/02/11
  • Review Submitted 08/09/11
  My two college-age daughters and I spent the month of July 2011 in April's authentically charming yet modernly equipped apartment, with my husband joining us for 10 days. The short story is that we loved everything about the apartment and the neighborhood, not to mention April! The factually detailed story is that the listing description and photos accurately reflect the rental's location, appearance and amenities; the property was clean and well-maintaned and April was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. Specifically, the apartment gets lots of light and is bright, cheerful and tastefully yet comfortably furnished. In fact, the queen-sized bed was so comfortable that we're looking to replace our own mattress at home with the same mattress. One of my daughters coined the shower "the best shower in Paris", and I appreciated the compact yet complete kitchen. The neighborhood has a small village-like feeling, yet is a 2-minute walk to a large Metro stop which serves 3 convenient lines. Also, felt very safe walking home from the Metro even late at night. Last but certainly not least, it was a pleasure to make April's acquaintance, she seems to genuinely care about the well-being of her renters. We highly recommend this property for either short or long term rentals.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, tourists without a car, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/8

• A great apartment for a long stay !

  A great apartment for a long stay !

  • Guest Julio (Buenos Aires)
  • Date of stay 03/12/11
  • Review Submitted 05/18/11
  I rented this apartment for a month (from mid March to mid April). The owner was extremely helpful and very friendly. The apartment is located in a very convinient area of the 13th arrondissement. it is sorrounded by several restaurants. Within 200 meters, you have Italian, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Indian, and French resturants. The metro station (place d'Italie) is also very close from the apartment. With respect to the apartment itself, it is in perfect conditions. The pictures are very accurate. it's a very silent appartment, I never had any problem to sleep. In short, I was extremely pleased with it and I would rent it again if I have to come back to Paris for work.

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

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/7

• Fully satisfied with our stay

  Fully satisfied with our stay

  • Guest Sir Walkalot (Prague)
  • Date of stay 04/26/11
  • Review Submitted 05/06/11
  This apartment is quite well-located - it is very close to the Place d'Italie metro station and a large shopping mall. Numerous restaurants are a short stroll away and Chinatown is within a 15 minute walk. The apartment is well-maintained and is a good size for couples or small families with young children. It is possible to hear some morning sounds outside the bedroom window but we didn't find it excessive at all but in the end, the apartment is in the middle of the city and some noise is inevitable. As a minor quibble, if travelling with small children it is worth noting that the staircase leading from the ground up to the apartment is narrow and can be difficult to navigate with larger strollers. The owner is a pleasure to deal with and did everything she could to ensure that we had a comfortable stay. Would not hesitate to stay here again the next time in Paris.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, tourists without a car, families with young children.

  Owner response: I am happy to host families traveling with young children. There are also may be some ways that I can adapt the apartment to make young travelers comfortable (so please ask). Just to specify: the apartment is most suitable to singles, couples, and can be adapted to couples with young children, three adults, or a couple and two other adults. Please note that to enter this apartment there are a lot of large uneven cobblestones to cross -- hard for anyone with a knee injury or having trouble walking on uneven surfaces. Pets are not allowed, nor is smoking, in order that the apartment be suitable for those with allergies.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• Delightful!

  Delightful!

  • Guest Jill (Silver Spring, Md.)
  • Date of stay 04/16/11
  • Review Submitted 04/26/11
  Our two sons, my husband and I stayed eight days and nights in April's apartment. My husband and I stayed in the comfortable bedroom and our sons stayed in the living area, on the two twins. It was a great arrangement. They came in late without needing to disturb us, as the toilet is in the main area. The bathroom off the bedroom has a spacious shower with plenty of lush towels. April has gone to the trouble of including local information and recommendations to guide her guests. The location is ideal. The open market was a great place to buy produce, fresh meats and fish and treats. The apartment is great location and is a relaxing respite from busy Paris.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, tourists without a car, families with teenagers, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

Additional information about rental rates

Fees:

• Refundable Damage Deposit €200
• Taxes Included

Notes:

Rates include utilities, charges and taxes.

Min 5 night stay. Usually the turnover day is usually Saturday; I will try to make exceptions.

A calendar month is the basis for a monthly rate.

Refund for cancellation if apartment re-rents.

Usual entry time: 3 p.m. Usual departure time: 10 a.m.

50 percent of total is due to make reservation firm. Then the full amount on entry.

I can accept personal checks drawn on a French bank (euros) or US bank (US dollars), bank transfers, cash (euros only).

For those who wish to pay in US $: On the day of your first contact, I use XE.com (online currency converter) to figure the US $ equivalent.

Rates are subject to change without notice.