I will divide my review into two parts. The apartment itself and the check-in/hospitality part.
The apartment itself is great! It went above our expectations. It feels larger than it is because it was really well designed for maximum exploitation of the space. The ceilings are high which also adds to the feeling of spaciousness. The kitchen is small but has everything you need and we were able to cook there. The entire apartment was newly painted/renovated and furnished with new ikea furniture. It is on the ground floor, which was great for us since we were pushing around two strollers. Despite it being on the first floor, it's relatively quiet because it's situated on a very quiet side street. The shower is the only thing that can use improvement. It's tiny and crowded, there is nothing to hold soap or shampoo and the shower rug is very slippery and can be dangerous. There is little that can be done about the size but I recommend the owners replace the anti-sli carpeting and add something to hold soaps inside the shower.
The area is in the heart of the 18th district and we found it charming. Everything you need is within two blocks: great bakeries, supermarkets, restaurants, and even chocolate makers and cheese stores. It is a short walking distance to the heart of Mont Martres. We loved the feeling of the neighborhood. Not touristy at all. This is how the local Parisians live.
So overall, we were delighted with the apartment -
However.
The check-in process was very problematic. A few days before arriving we got a message demanding an exact time of arrival to the property because we were supposed to meet someone to open the door for us. As international travelers, it is hard to know when exactly you'll arrive. Things like flight delays are very common - and you never know how long it will take you to get from the airport to the actual place.
When we arrived in Paris I was communicating with the person they told me to (the apartment is run by a company, not an individual owner.) It was around 22:00 at night, pouring rain, I was in a cab from the airport with my wife, toddler, and little baby when I receive a message on a messaging app saying the guy can't find the key and we'll have to find a hotel for the night! I couldn't believe it. My stress level went through the roof. The taxi driver told me there were two conferences in town and there is no hotel space in the city. I told the guy on a messaging app that this isn't acceptable at all - if he can't find the key call a locksmith or kick the door in as far as I'm concerned. I'm 10 minutes from arriving in the soaking rain with two kids.
Anyway - things got resolved as he magically found another key right before we got there.
After all this happened, the owner had the nerve to charge me an extra $22 for late check-in.
I didn't want to waste my vacation time in Paris so I paid it.