Vacation Rentals by Owner

A Fine Home Away from Home

Guest: M & A (santa barbara)
Date of Stay: 05/09/11 Review Submitted: 05/08/12

For our 40th anniversary my husband and I stayed here for 10 nights, and we would have quite happily settled in for much longer. What a dreamy location in the 5th, about half way between the Luxembourg Gardens and the Jardin des Plantes, and just around the corner from the Mouf. We found it easy to walk, take the Metro or hop a bus to all our favorite haunts. The 6th floor location on a side street assured peace, quiet and privacy, with delightful views from the terraces on both east and west-facing balconies. I'm sure everyone who stays here comes back with dozens of photos of the spectacular Pantheon view! As we were blessed with exceptional May weather, we took nearly all our meals on the terrace, watching the sky change color and then lingering for the sparkle of city lights. If the weather had been foul, the apartment would have provided a cosy retreat, still light and bright, comfortably furnished, and kitted out with a particularly enticing library, music and TV. This is the sort of creative space where one could imagine the smell of linseed oil, the strains of a violin solo, or the tap of an old Smith-Corona. In our case, it provided a base for entertaining friends from the US, UK and France, all of whom were uniformly impressed. A final word of thanks to our delightful and entertaining landlord, whose distinctive personality indeed added a special dimension to this fine home away from home in the heart of Paris. Sante...and sorry it took so long to post our review!

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

Great location and beautiful apartment!

Guest: Abby (Minneapolis)
Date of Stay: 04/11/11 Review Submitted: 05/29/11

My partner and I, along with another couple, stayed at this apartment for 5 days in April. We had a wonderful time and would recommend it wholeheartedly! I lived in Paris when I was young and know the city well - this location is perfect. The apartment is within walking distance of some of the best sites in Paris, but feels like a quit Parisian neighborhood. The pull-out couch was comfortable and the apartment was big enough for all of us- particularly with the wonderful balcony. The pictures don't do it justice!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

A Real Home in the 5th Arrondisement

Guest: Cindy (New York City)
Date of Stay: 03/25/11 Review Submitted: 04/02/11

My husband and I have just returned from a week’s stay in Paris. Having resided in apartments for vacations in other cities, we chose to do the same here. I cannot imagine making a better choice. The location was perfect: very much in the heart of the city and close to shops, food markets, restaurants, cafes, historical sites and transportation and yet on a quiet block with the soul of a village. The apartment is attractive, comfortable and bright. The kitchen is small yet perfectly adequate, the living/dining room is filled with light, and the bed is very comfortable. Each day, after exploring yet another part of Paris, we felt as if we were stepping back into our own home. We especially enjoyed our evening ritual on the terrace, of a glass of wine and a bit of bread and cheese, before heading out to dinner. The charming owner of the apartment was right next door, to see if we ever needed anything or to join us for a lively discussion over coffee in the morning at our favorite café.

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

comfort with fresh air and tranquility

Guest: Lori (Berkeley CA)
Date of Stay: 06/30/10 Review Submitted: 08/04/10

This top floor apartment behind the Pantheon and near shopping and markets is one of the most agreeable we have stayed in, in Paris, and my daughter and I come to Paris often. The owner, a very congenial person, lives next door and is available for any assistance. The living room is spacious and the deck is pretty. The dining table is by the deck. There are books and cds, especially for music. The kitchen is small but adequate. The bedroom is also spacious, by Parisian standards. There is a tub/shower. We used both the living room sofa bed and the bedroom and found the sofa bed comfortable. Big fireplace! And the elevator works. The nightingale was delightful. And the apartment is quiet!

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

Pretending you live in Paris

Guest: Toshua (Santa Monica California)
Date of Stay: 04/03/10 Review Submitted: 04/20/10

This apartment makes you feel like you actually live in Paris. With a small but excellent kitchen, and a wonderful farmer's market just a few blocks away, one can easily slip into the routine of buying cheese, fresh vegetables and poultry, bottles of wine, and fresh bread - and then prepare a meal and sit on the terrace soaking it all in. The place is cheerful, and so is the owner - who can tell you not only where to shop, but how to prepare the meals - a great cook in his own right. It is also remarkably quiet, and very secure. It is nice to have an elevator when you come loaded down with goodies. The location is fantastic, for walking either to Luxembourg gardens, St. Germain, or the Seine - close to metro stations, and in a wonderful neighborhood. Also stocked with a great collection of travel/tourist guides, and a wonderful book collection for when you just want to stay in and relax. The owner can give you lots of tips about current goings on, and the best places to eat. He is very helpful. It was also great to have wifi and a tv with BBC. Finally - great light, the place is cheerful and cozy.

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

A beautiful space

Guest: Garricks (Los Angeles)
Date of Stay: 03/27/10 Review Submitted: 04/20/10

My husband Tom, my 11 year old daughter, Sofia and I stayed in this lovely apartment end of March/early April. The airy space was inviting and cheerful. There was plenty of room for the three of us and the apartment would have been fine for four, if the two children shared the fold out bed in the living room. The location was just perfect and we quickly found the nearest metro's and bus stops. Even taxi's weren't a problem here, though they are pricey. We feared rain at this time but the Paris weather proved otherwise. It was sunny, cloudy and rained only a few times which didn't bother us as we have our 'fill' of sunshine, living in Los Angeles. I highly recommend the space and its charming owner who graciously shared recommendations for dining, sightseeing and general enjoyment of Paris.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

Guest: Virginia 4 (Franklin, TX)
Date of Stay: 01/16/10 Review Submitted: 01/16/10

We spent a week in Paris last fall. The weather was glorious, so having the terrace overlooking the Pantheon was wonderful. We sat outside every morning with our coffee and local croissants and every evening at sunset we enjoyed a glass of wine while trying to decide which of the nearby restaurants we would go to for dinner. "Cherry Blossoms and Roses" was like having our own apartment in Paris. I highly recommend this charming place in the 5th Arrondissement.

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Guest: Mindy5 (Washington DC/Tirana, Albania)
Date of Stay: 11/10/08 Review Submitted: 11/10/08

A perfect and lovely apartment in Paris. It provided a great base for a couple days in Paris, and would have been just as nice for a longer stay. The neighborhood was lovely, and we were able to walk nearly everywhere. And, with several different metro stops and the RER in easy walking distance, the whole city was easily accessible. The apartment was comfortable and spacious and the working fireplace was an especially nice addition, as the days were chilly and drizzly outside. The roominess of the apartment was also a plus, as we were traveling with a three year old. There was plenty of room in the bedroom for his blow-up mattress, with room left over for for luggage and for moving around! And though it was a little cold and wet for us to really use the terraces, we did stand outside for a while just to enjoy the views. At a warmer time, dinner or drinks outside would have been lovely. Overall, a great place to call home while visiting Paris!

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Guest: J.H.1 (Cape Cod, MA)
Date of Stay: 05/02/08 Review Submitted: 05/02/08

You won't be sorry -- unless you want taxi fumes and hordes of people under foot. This apartment is cozy, well-kept, and spacious, especially with the two terraces (one of which is off the bedroom). There is one main living area that could teach many of us how to live more simply and easily, with all the comfort anyone needs. I sat on the west facing terrace one evening (in the rain) and drank a glass of wine, while gazing over a few rooftops at the lit dome of the Parthenon. Birds sang their last chirps of the day, an ambulance siren trilled in the distance, and the outlook and ambiance were unparalleled. You don't need Metro or RER, although both are easy to get to (if not find). I walked to every place and all arrondisments (well, 1- 12 at least). The apartment is full of light (western exposure); the cd collection is terrific (for jazz, classical and world music lovers), the books are phenomenal, and the comfort of the space likely can't be beat. It is, though, a *residential* neighborhood. You won't find lost tourists at your doorstep. Shopkeepers are very nice to those of us who mangle the language and it was delightful to walk the neighborhood streets in the early am before the sun rose. Thank you for making you abode available.

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Guest: Jean-Pierre & Pat Bonnefaux
Date of Stay: 03/27/08 Review Submitted: 03/26/08

What a wonderful and special time we had in your exceptional apartment!!! Thank youj for letting us rent this little treasure. The light and terraces gave us so much pleasure! Jean-Pierre & Pat

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Guest: Geoff Allen (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 02/29/08 Review Submitted: 02/29/08

My wife and I spent our last vacation prior to the birth of our daughter in the apartment. It was a perfect location for enjoying all of Paris, whether via foot or Metro . The top floor location offered nice views & the elevator made things easier on my pregnant wife. The owner is quite gracious & helpful with suggestions on sites & restaurants. We spent every evening on the balcony, overlooking the Pantheon. The neighborhood was quiet & we slept with the doors open every night. The little kitchen allowed us to bring food home from the farmer's market & enjoy an even richer Parisian experience.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/24/07 Review Submitted: 10/24/07

We stayed in this apartment the first two weeks of October 2007. By Parisian standards the space in this apartment is great particularly the two balconies. The weather cooperated and we enjoyed cocktails on the terrace at sunset many evenings. The location is great. Very quiet yet close to markets, cafes, and bistros. Rue Moufftard is about four minutes walk away. In addition to being a market there are great take out restaurants. We recommend Mouffe Tarte especially and the Gelaterie d'Alberto. The apartment is a seven to ten minute walk to Metro and RER stations. We recommend the Place Monge Metro stop as there is no hill to climb coming or going and there is an escalator out of the station. Using this station we were able to connect to other lines to go everywhere we wanted to go. By the end of two weeks we felt like we had lived there much longer and knew our way around this very interesting neighbourhood. I will definately stay in the fifth arrondisement again on future trips to Paris. The apartment is comfortable and feels like home perhaps because for much of the year it is home for the landlord who stays in the other apartment on this floor when his unit is rented out. Unlike other apartments listed on VRBO this one is someone's home, not an investment property which is rented out for most of the year. Staying here is like being a guest of your landlord. The advantage being easy access to an English speaking person who is familiar with local attractions and can offer advice and suggestions to novice travellers to Paris.

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Guest: Margot Adler (New York, New York)
Date of Stay: 04/17/07 Review Submitted: 04/17/07

This apartment was perfect for us. Casual and informal, it made us feel we were really living in the heart of Paris. The fireplace was wonderful and warmed us on some very cold days. The porch was exquisite with tulips in bloom, and a great view of the Pantheon. Grocery stores, bakeries and fabulous local cafes can be found just a couple of blocks away in every direction. The locale cannot be beat; you are right near the Luxembourg Gardens, the rue Sufflot, the Rue Mouffetard, and the heartbeat of Paris student life. Right around the corner on a building nearby is a plaque denoting the house where Diderot wrote his Encyclopdia. We would definitely rent this place again! Margot Adler and John Gliedman, New York City.

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Guest: Susan Bonthron (Guilford, Vermont)
Date of Stay: 03/02/07 Review Submitted: 03/02/07

My husband and I loved the location of this apartment -- it couldn't have been better for walking around and seeing what we wanted to see. One of the best specialty food shopping streets in Paris is one block away. And having two balconies was wonderful. We especially loved dining outside on the larger terrace with a view of the Pantheon. The building and the neighborhood were very quiet -- another important plus. The apartment was light and sunny, and because it was on the top of the building (with a working elevator!) we had spectacular views all the way to the Eiffel Tower. We couldn't recommend this more highly.

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Guest: Russ Stetler (Berkeley, California)
Date of Stay: 03/01/07 Review Submitted: 03/01/07

Having visited Paris for some forty years, I have a particular appreciation of this unusual bargain in the perfect Left Bank location. It is a place to live, rather than simply a place to stay. It is romantic just to have a dinner for two on the west balcony. But you earn the envy of Parisian friends when you entertain there: it is quiet, yet in the heart of things, commanding spectacular views of the cityscape, yet protected and secluded. I am delighted to think of this apartment as my second home -- in Paris!

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