Stephanie's loft house is a lovely oasis. My parents and I were greeted by her very kind friend Benoit and everything was impeccable when we came in. I was worried it might be stuffy with the big skylight and no AC, but it was cool inside and very nice with the fan and big windows you can open. The area is a close walk to Sacre Coeur and its surrounding non-touristic neighborhoods full of stone hills and stairways--like a village in the big city. I would make a note that the two blocks around Stephanie's building can seem a bit rough (think less cafes and more people hanging out in the streets on the weekends and at night). However, I never was bothered and people in the area were very helpful when we were lost the first day getting there. I also felt safer staying in a diverse neighborhood than a touristic area at a time of heightened security threats. The house has very good security with a code and special key to get into the outer courtyard and another substantial door to the house itself.

Paris is full of cramped hotels, and it was a real delight to have a place that my parents and I could spread out in and spend time together at night watching the news and enjoying the delicious bottle of rose that Stephanie left in a lovely atmosphere.