Vacation Rentals by Owner

Iris & Scott

Guest: Iris & Scott (Toronto)
Date of Stay: 04/18/12 Review Submitted: 04/25/12

We rented this lovely studio apartment for five nights in April, 2012. Everything in the apartment was exactly as described in the advertisement. The apartment is in a great location, close to the metro but on a quiet side street. There are great restaurants within a five minute walk. Try Chez Janou for coffee or a drink; dinner reservations are a must as the restaurant is always full. The apartment was spotless and everything worked. The apartment is also very secure, with two locking doors requiring an entry code and a good solid door to the apartment itself. Although the apartment was on the ground floor, we never felt anythiing less than perfectly safe. In fact, the ground floor location made access easy; we were glad not to have to climb several flights of stairs after a long day of sight-seeing in Paris. We've been to Paris many times over the years and always meant to attend a concert at Ste Chapelle. We were able to secure tickets the same day of the performance; the concert was unforgettable. We also like to see a city from the water so found that the river cruise (about 75 minutes long) was perfect, even if the weather was less than ideal. Highly recommended.

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

We'll be back!

Guest: Susan and Bob (Cambria, California)
Date of Stay: 04/12/12 Review Submitted: 05/15/12

My husband and I spent a week in Paris at the St. Gilles apartment and loved every minute. The location is perfect. Place des Vosges, Musee Carnavalet, great shops and restaurants right in our neighborhood. The apartment is adorable. Comfy bed and furniture, great kitchen, good-sized bathroom, wonderful linens and plenty of towels. We cooked a few meals with fresh ingredients from the little market across the street and felt like Parisians. It was a trip to remember. We will definitely return.

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

Wonderful Apartment in the Marais!!

Guest: Jeannie (West Hartford, CT USA)
Date of Stay: 02/15/12 Review Submitted: 03/02/12

My 8 year old daughter, dear friend and I just had the privilege of spending a week at 9 Rue St. Gilles. The apartment was perfect for us. It was clean and well maintained, light and airy, and had every accommodation we might need. The bed and pull out sofa were incredibly comfortable. With a supermarket across the street and a metro station 2 blocks away it was an ideal location. I would recommend this location to everyone who really wants to experience living in Paris!!! The neighborhood abounds with great restaurants, shops and art galleries. The owner is super friendly, accessible and answered all my questions. There is a book in the apartment that gives you great tips on everything from chocolate to wine to restaurants. After a long day of walking and seeing sights I looked forward to returning to the apartment to relax with a glass of wine, bread and cheese. A huge thank you to the owner for making it an amazing experience! I hope to come back many more times!!

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

Marais appt

Guest: bc (Oakland, ca)
Date of Stay: 12/26/11 Review Submitted: 01/18/12

This was a WONDERFUL place to stay. We had so much fun. Great location, totally clean and delightful appt. Very well stocked. REALLY comfy beds. Just the best all around.

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

Fun in Paris

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/10/11 Review Submitted: 06/08/11

My husband and I stayed at this apartment for a wonderful week. We wandered the city during the day, returning each night to the apartment for a break before eating at a neighborhood restaurant. We had a wonderful time staying here acting like we were true Parisians. Our mission was to work our way through the list of neighborhood restaurants Joelle provided. The apartment is very cute and comfortable, just as represented. It's clean, everything worked that we used and we knew Moon was close by if something did not. The bed was the best we had in France.(We had traveled around Normandy the week before coming to Paris.) Any questions I had emailed to Joelle before the trip were promptly answered and the security deposit was promptly returned. We would love to return.

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

Thanks Joelle and Moon, everything just like home....only better.

Guest: mw (san francisco)
Date of Stay: 04/19/11 Review Submitted: 05/26/11

We loved our stay in this clean, charming, well thought out apartment. It had everything we needed. It was simple, uncluttered, relaxing. Everything worked. The neighborhood is a dense collection of cafés, restaurants, bars, historic buildings, and interesting shops. After stashing away our bags in the walk-in storage closet, (a real plus), we walked over to the red and white striped tents of the twice weekly farmer’s market up the street and shopped for a piece of fresh fish, some oysters, a selection of olives or maybe an eggplant because we love fashioning our own meals and relaxing after a park and museum filled day. There was simply nothing like purchasing a baguette from the boulangerie down the block while it was still hot from the oven. We could invite a friend in for dinner, a glass of wine and a visit. Or we could just sit, enjoying the long lovely evenings with open windows and gentle sounds from our neighbors going about their evening chores. Parisiens take great pride in their city, calling it a humane place where sane people live. It has been my greatest pleasure to join them for my three weeks of bliss. Thank you Joelle and Moon.

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

Lovely Home Base in Paris

Guest: SF Leslie (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/01/11 Review Submitted: 04/16/11

Mom and I loved our stay in this flat on Rue St. Gilles. The flat is quite roomy and very quiet. When you enter the building, the noise of the sometimes-busy street disappears. The neighborhood is charming, the grocery store directly across the street is very convenient, and the Metro stops are very close by. After staying in this wonderfully comfortable flat, I would never dream of staying in a hotel in Paris. In case you have any worries about the comfort of the convertible couch-bed in the living room, I can dispel them. It is perfectly comfortable (in fact, better than my bed at home!). Daily routine: Run out to pick up baguette or croissants, brew up some coffee, have a leisurely breakfast. Head to Metro, visit one or two museums, maybe take an afternoon nap, then choose from one of the many restaurants in the neighborhood for dinner. Later, use the apartment's wi-fi to post photos to Facebook from the day's activities. Drift off to sleep in comfy bed.... Repeat. Note: Best nearby bakery is the one with Rose in the name (I don't remember the full name) at the corner of Rue des Tournelles and Rue du Foin. Best. Croissants. Ever.

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

Unforgettable Paris, forgettable apartment

Guest: Barbara (Napa, Ca.)
Date of Stay: 03/19/11 Review Submitted: 04/19/11

I would love to give this apartment an outstanding review, but in all fairness to anyone who reads the description would expect to have an outstanding experience and that was not the case for my friend and I for the eleven days that we were in residence. We met the caretaker upon arrival, a lovely woman named Moon. That evening to maintain email correspondence I plugged my mac ibook into the converter so that I could charge my computer. It didn't work. No plug in the entire place, with the appropriate converter worked. Then we noticed that lights came on and went off randomly, sometimes working, sometimes not. The next morning I tried to use my hairdryer after a shower, and again, with the appropriate converter, no plug in the entire apartment worked. I called Moon, and she said it was my converter. I brought three. She came by with additional converters and nothing worked. Fortunately there was on old hair dryer at the property(French) which worked. Five days later, with not a single email, I became desperate. We had Moon over several more times to figure out the electrical problem, and finally, I made an appointment at the Genius Bar at Apple at the Louvre and had to buy a French plug in to charge the battery for my computer. It cost 69euros, and ate up 4 hours of my day. So no American appliance that we brought worked in this apartment, not the charger for my phone, not the hair dryer, not the computer, not the chi iron, not the electric razor - nothing. Next we tried to wash a load of clothes. Nine hours later, the clothes were still washing. There were no instructions for the washer and dryer combo in the "book" left for guests, in fact, guests were told to go to a laundramat down the street. We finally figured out the WD after much frustration. It's European, and works differently than ours, simple instructions would have been great. Lights are still going off and on at random. Do not expect the cable television to offer any English speaking channels other than CNN. We were told that we could watch movies in English and other cable English television shows, but that is not the case. And lastly, when it gets warm, do not expect any breezes from the windows. The apartment has windows only leading into a closed courtyard surrounding by tall buildings. So, if you are wanting a pure old world experience devoid of modern conveniences, this is your apartment. I would not recommend this property to anyone.

Owner response: We are so sorry this renter had such difficulties, particularly with understanding living in a Parisian apartment with French voltage and appliances. Given the serious issues she raised we had the apartment's electrical outlets checked fully as soon as we received this review; all were in perfect working order, and neither prior nor subsequent renters reported similar problems. We also wish she had contacted us earlier in her trip with these problems. Many American appliances need not just converters, but transformers to step down the voltage. That is why we supply, for example, a French-made hair dryer. We can't explain the problems she had with her computer, as most do just need a converter....but, again, no one else has ever had a problem with this, either before or after this renter. Most newer computers have an internal switch that steps down the voltage automatically; clearly hers did not. We try very hard to make sure our renters' experiences are wonderful ---and all of our testimonials other than this one prove that we consistently meet our goals. For reasons unknown to us, this particular renter had complaints that seemed to be more about Paris apartment living than just our specific apartment. Our apartment has 4 large windows; the courtyard it overlooks is a typical Parisian one. The European washer/dryer - for which there ARE instructions in our apartment binder - works differently and slower than American ones. Unless you're in a fancy hotel, the normal English-speaking TV channel is CNN - and there is nothing in our literature that promises more than that. We have tried hard to make our apartment comfortable for American visitors while retaining its Parisian character. We think we've succeeded in finding the right blend, and are disappointed that this one renter did not agree.

Recommended for:Pet owners

Wonderful stay in February 2011

Guest: Mark from Massachusetts (Brookline, MA)
Date of Stay: 02/11/11 Review Submitted: 05/16/11

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our one-week stay in February 2011. The apartment was exactly as described, and Joelle's guidance was superb in every respect. The location could not have been better, from the grocery across the street to the Metro stop down the block. How nice to have free phone calls to the U.S., and the wireless Internet connection worked perfectly with our Dell laptop. And the Marais is the Marais -- old Paris with cobbled streets, falafel on Rue des Rosiers, the wonderful Place des Vosges all within easy walking distance. We walked and walked -- to the Seine, to Notre Dame, to the Hotel de Ville, to shopping, to the free Carmavalet and Maison Victor Hugo museums nearby. And then, after all that walking, what a pleasure to settle in to what must be one of the most comfortable beds anywhere. This was our first trip to Paris since 1969. Let's hope the next interval is not so long -- and that Beaumarchais is still available. Merci, Joelle.

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

Our Extraordinary X-Mas in Paris

Guest: RB (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 12/24/10 Review Submitted: 02/03/11

My partner and I just made our first visit to Paris over the '10 - '11 holidays. Making our home in this gorgeous apartment had a profound effect on our 10 day stay. The location and neighbor were excellent, centrally located, and charming. The apartment itself made us feel right at home. Very comfortable and inviting. We cooked many meals at home. The grocery store is right outside the door. We're already talking about planning our next trip there!

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

Autumn stay

Guest: sweffling (UK)
Date of Stay: 10/29/10 Review Submitted: 02/02/11

I cannot speak too highly of this apartment and of all my interactions with the owner and her contact in Paris. The flat is very comfortable, warm and so conveniently situated, opposite a small supermarket and close to bus, metro and beautiful historical sites. Notre Dame and the Louvre are only about 20 minutes walk away and the locality itself is steeped in history and beautiful buildings. All contact with the owner was friendly, accurate, efficient and replies were fast. Similarly, the local Parisian contact is immediately on hand to help with any queries about the flat. I stayed for seven weeks and would love to stay longer! The local area is friendly, safe and full of interesting venues. I would highly recommend this apartment for your visit to Paris.

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

Great Place for Paris in the Fall!

Guest: Rick (Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/01/10 Review Submitted: 10/17/10

We had a fabulous time in your apartment!! It was beautifully clean, fully equipped, within walking distance of major areas/metro and the area was fabulous - grocery store across the street, great restaurants close by and we felt really safe. When we return to Paris - we will certainly stay with you again. Thank you for making our vacation so enjoyable!!

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

Wonderful place to stay in Paris

Guest: Jenny (31 Finlayson St, Netherby, 5062, South Australia)
Date of Stay: 09/13/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/10

Two of us enjoyed our stay in the apartment, which was a delightful roomy space, well equipped, nicely decorated and with the softest pillows we have ever experienced. The sofa bed was comfortable too. Moon was very welcoming and helpful, as was the folder of information. We adored Paris and the apartment was in a perfect position to explore from.

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

we recommend it

Guest: Don and Regina (Utah)
Date of Stay: 08/15/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

We enjoyed our 5 nights in Joelle's apartment and would recommend it to anyone who wants a location that is both central and quiet. Everything was as advertised. Apartment was clean and tidy. We didn't need any help-everything worked the first time. Bed exceptionally comfortable. We had no idea how peaceful and beautiful is the Place des Vosges-it's 2 blocks away-but it became a kind of anchoring point for our stay, not least because it was a place where our boy could safely run around. We ate in the neighborhood every night, never more that a 5-min walk, and felt we had excellent food every time, partly thanks to recommendations provided by Joelle. Access to Metro is easy. We used the St. Paul stop most often because our favorite bakery was there. Note-We thought the rental experience was particularly easy, and we are frequent vacation renters. Joelle responds promptly. Our transaction was via check in USD which I found more straightforward than a card. Because Joelle is in the US, there was no issue with any complicated wire transfer. Our security deposit was waiting in our mail when we arrived home. Altogether a satisfying experience.

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

Very Special place, perfect!!

Guest: Shannon (Western Washington)
Date of Stay: 07/19/10 Review Submitted: 08/15/10

We stayed here for our 25th wedding anniversary and loved it. We were a very short walking distance from the metro and wonderful restaurants. An added bonus was the little Grocery market right across the street! The apartment was exactly as described and that was perfect. The bed was very comfortable and everything clean and neat. We couldn't ask for anything more and are glad to feel, we now have an apartment to stay in Paris when we wish to return.

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

Maison away from Home

Guest: Mike (San Diego, California)
Date of Stay: 07/09/10 Review Submitted: 07/17/10

We stayed here for 5 nights on our last leg of our European vacation. This was my first time to Paris. I searched through many of the listings, but this property was the most charming one. It is clean, comfortable and cozy, and we felt like Parisians. I really liked having a kitchen, especially in the mornings. because we like to take our time and a coffee maker is a big plus! Fresh pastries from the boulangerie every morning! The G20 market right across the street was handy. The most important thing was that it was so quiet and peaceful at night because it does not face the street, but a courtyard area. The free WiFi came in handy to plan out the days, and we loved the Chemin Vert metro station which was so close. The washer/dryer was a big plus since we'd been traveling for two weeks. The location is great! I would stay here again and would recommend this property to family and friends who want to experience Paris as a local. My other recommendation is to learn some familiar phrases and words in French. My favorite memory was when someone came up to us and asked, "Parlez-vous Anglais?" Joelle also has a binder of recommendations and information which was very helpful, and a Paris contact if an emergency should arise. I really miss having my un bagette traditionnel! Merci Joelle!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

A wonderful place to stay!

Guest: Amy (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 06/20/11

I have rented this apartment twice now and it is just perfect. It has everything you need in a vacation rental. It's in a fabulous location, close to the metro, shopping, restaurants and the spectacular Place des Vosges. I have rented many apartments in Paris, but this one is the best. I wouldn't stay anywhere else.

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

A romantic getaway in the Marais

Guest: Jennifer (Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/14/10 Review Submitted: 06/29/10

My husband and I had a wonderful experience at the charming Beaumarais. I had been searching for a place in the Marais district and I was delighted to have found this cute apartment, just steps from the Place des Vosges and all fabulous shops in the Marais. The accommodations were great; we had everything we needed, including an extremely comfortable bed (a must because I'm pregnant), a washing machine, free wi-fi (so nice for making reservations, researching places), and a wonderful list of recommendations from Joelle. We would stay again in a heartbeat. In fact, in just a week of staying there we grew to think of the area as our own little neighborhood. We'll definitely be back. It was just the Parisian experience we had hoped it would be! Merci Joelle!

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

Wonderful stay in Paris

Guest: A couple that loves Paris (Beverly Hills, California)
Date of Stay: 05/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/03/10

We had a wonderful stay for eight nights (May 5-12, 2010) at this lovely one bedroom apartment in the Marais. Joelle is the perfect host and everything was exactly as described on the site. The location is perfect, near the river, lots of restaurants, a grocery store across the street and easy public transportation. The apartment was confortable, quiet, sunny, WiFi & free phone calls, great kitchen with washer/dryer, microwave & dishwasher. The bed was fantastic-no backaches sleeping in Joelle's apartment. We recommend this apartment without hesitation for anyone wanting a great stay in Paris. Jim & Brenda Beverly Hills, California

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

Guest: Jerry and JoAnne (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Date of Stay: 04/06/10 Review Submitted: 04/06/10

This beautiful apartment has everything you need to feel at home in Paris. We enjoyed the well appointed kitchen, the comfortable bed and the great living room. Joelle has though of everything to make your stay easy and pleasant. Her recommendations for nearby restaurants and chocolate shops were excellent. The location allowed access to all of the wonderful sights of Paris and gave us a feeling of how it might be to live in Paris. We loved the charming shops and the close proximity to the Metro stops. We highly recommend this property and hope to return.

Recommended for:

A Lovely Home Away from Home

Guest: parispro (San Francisco, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 02/27/10 Review Submitted: 04/22/10

I would recommend this apartment to anyone who wants to stay in Paris. I had concerns at first about renting from someone that I didn't know. Joelle immediately put me at ease. She is super knowledgeable and very helpful and easy to deal with. Before we left on our trip she sent us an email package with all sorts of information about Paris and the neighborhood, like her favorite new chocolate shop, and even more importantly, explaining all of the transportation options to get from the airport to the apartment The location, in the center of the Marais, is on a quiet block, close enough to the hustle and bustle of the quartier for convenience while offering a quiet retreat to come home to. The apartment faces a private courtyard further sheltering you from street noise. It's sunny and bright with windows in every room. The decoration is warm and welcoming. Coming back to the apartment after an exhausting day wandering the city was a joy. We ate most of our meals out but enjoyed making our tea in the morning and eating warm croissants from the neighborhood bakeries (plenty to choose from) in the cute little dining area. The apartment had all the conveniences that we needed, nice bathroom, washer/dryer, internet connection, and a very helpful guest book with all of the information one needs for a successful stay in Paris. For me, a not insignificant item, the bed was fantastic! I'm actually going to contact Joelle and find out what kind it is. I'd like to buy one for myself. Altogether, a very pleasant stay. Great place, great location and a very sweet and helpful owner.

Owner response:Thank you so much! It was a pleasure to have you as my guest.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/26/10

Convenient location. Warm and comfy during an exceptionally cold winter. Had enough amenities so we could cook at home without having to buy condiments, oil, etc. for such a short stay (5 days). Everything clean (linens, plates, etc.). Very friendly and welcoming bottle of wine for me and chocolate for my two kids which put a smile on all of our faces despite jet lag at 3AM. Helpful neighbor (found a way to let me know where the boulangerie was with my non-existent French). Convenient market across the street. However, the only one who could work the apt door key easily was my son! Thank you for making our stay in Paris so easy and pleasant.

Recommended for:

Guest: Kathy120 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 12/18/09 Review Submitted: 12/18/09

We had a wonderful stay at the apartment. Very comfortable for us. The apartment is convenient to all areas of Paris, easy access to metro, great neighborhood for dining and shopping!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/09/09 Review Submitted: 10/09/09

Having just returned from a week at the Beau Marais, arr. 4, Paris, I'd like you to know it was very clean, spacious and comfortable. Ideal location, close to public transportation and 2 boulangeries (essential for morning coffee & croissants or ...) close by. The market across the street was very handy. Loved the welcome bottle of tasty wine and the staples and books left by former guests and the landlord. Must mention the apartment contact "Moon" was very accommodating and helpful. Thanks for helping to make our stay so fun! I left you a CD or 2. ND

Recommended for:

Guest: Rikki2 (Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/18/09 Review Submitted: 09/18/09

My husband and I had a WONDERFUL stay in this apartment - it met all our needs, including being close to the shops, Metro, delicious restaurants, pastry shops, etc. It was well maintained, clean, and certainly created a "home-from-home" feeling. We also used many of the guidebooks that Joelle has left in the apartment. I would recommend this place to friends and family!

Recommended for:

Guest: Kim Davis-Wagner (Silverlake.Ca.)
Date of Stay: 09/03/09 Review Submitted: 09/03/09

My daughter and I stayed at the "Beaumarais" for almost a week.We really loved the neighborhood, we found it so central and charming.The apartment was clean and cute and had everything we needed. I would definitely stay there again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/07/07 Review Submitted: 02/07/07

This apartment is an amzing discovery; extreeemely comfortable, beautifully designed, quiet and the location could not be better. Place des Vosges is right around the corner, the Marais at our feet and the metro one block away, although there was so much to in the neighborhood, it was hard to go anywhere else. There is a grocery store directly across the street, a bakery one block in any direction and our favorite restaurant, le Petit Marché a block away. We've rented apartments in foreign cities but this was the best experience we've ever had. December is a great time to go to Paris and this is a great apartment. Thank you Joelle, we'll be back soon.Joe and Gigi

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