A solid A+ (five stars or better) for Christina and her wonderful Paris flat. Here are the basics.
First, the neighborhood. This is, in our experience, the most beautiful, charming, peaceful and rewarding area in the city. Minutes from the Luxembourg Gardens, with ample shopping and restaurant opportunities in the streets in between, excellent Metro and bus access (the #58 stops at her door!) to the rest of the city, no visitor could be better placed. It is also a wonderful headquarters for urban walks.
The flat itself is (as the Airbnb posting indicates) artistic and well-equipped. Wonderful art (much Christina’s own work) in all the rooms, sophisticated remodeling of kitchen and bath, comfortable bed with lots of shelf and hanging space adjacent, beautiful linens, and an amazingly quiet building at night even with some reconstruction going on doors away.
Christina (who had to be away during our visit) took many steps to make our arrival easy and our stay enjoyable—including arranging reservations at a favorite local restaurant which gave us free drinks with our dinner as a token of their fondness for her. When we had questions about transport to the airport at the end of our stay, she offered to arrange car service as well (but we found G7, the Parisian Uber, which we recommend to others). She was, in brief, pleasant, helpful, and fully responsive to all inquiries; a wonderful hostess! There is probably more that we’re forgetting on ‘the morning after,’ but the point should be clear.
Is there anything more that Christina might do to make a superb home-away-from home even better? Perhaps—but not much. We would have appreciated a short instruction manual for the flat, explaining, for instance, how to use the appliances (including a quirky stovetop that we finally mastered with a bit of electronic hand-holding by Christina; and the television, which we never managed to operate—although its kitchen location might have limited use in any case), rules on trash disposal, and the like. Since we are readers, we would have appreciated better seating/lighting in the living room (including more ‘supportive’ chairs), and perhaps one or two bedside lights. We also would urge her to explain on her listing that the beautifully designed bath tub/shower has a very high edge that might prove difficult for older travelers to navigate. But these are (individually and in sum) minor details.
Bottom line is clearly and strongly positive. Yes: we would stay in Christina’s flat again, and recommend it to others.
Richard & Carole Stein
Los Angeles