I stayed for a week in Andrés place and it was good for a budget, although it had a few quarks.
Cons:
- The shower made the bathroom flood easily since the water didn’t go down the drain fast enough
- The lock on the front door was difficult to open and needed a lot of pressure to unlock (but I’m not used to European locks myself)
- The outlet on the right side of bed doesn’t work
- The building does not have an elevator (but that’s common in Paris)
Pros:
- It is a PERFECT location. It is right next to Oberkampf station and pretty close to Republique station as well
- The neighbors are quite and friendly
- André is super friendly and attentive. When I locked myself out he had an extra key I picked up at his apartment and he had brought my extra towels as well. Also when I first arrived he took an extra 15 minuets after check in to tidy up so he paid for a coffee for me to have close by (where I met a really friendly Peruvian lady)
- The area is not touristic so you feel “tres Parisian” when you stay there (its next to Oberkampf which is a bunch of bars and also Le Marais which is many good shops and the gay district
- It’s clean and has basically all what you need when it comes to basics
It was a good stay for a week myself but if you are a first timer coming to Paris and want the whole “luxury touristic experience” when you stay just get a hotel in the 6th/7th arrondissement or by the Effile Tower. If you want something cheap and simple then book with André. :)