As an Airbnb host Sophie is a paragon, and her very large apartment is an ideal “home away from home” for a group stay in Paris. From her initial acknowledgement of the booking to the final details regarding departure, Sophie was cordial, responsive, and provided a wealth of information to make our time in the City of Light as comfortable as possible. She checked in with us after our arrival and was prompt to answer any questions during our stay.
Although the building, interior architecture, and decorations are Art Nouveau, everything has been modernized to make staying here a pleasure. It’s located on a quieter street, next to some very solid looking apartment buildings (definitely not Art Nouveau), with a church at one end of the street. We heard the bells clearly when they rang but other street noise seemed pretty minimal when we were inside the apartment.
The six bedrooms and three bathrooms are on two floors. Everything is accessed by a beautiful, wide, oval spiral staircase that starts on the ground floor. One flight of stairs from the ground floor leads to two bedrooms, one shared bathroom, a spacious open kitchen with a very long dining table, and a smaller common area. Four bedrooms and two additional shared baths are one more flight up. My friends and I didn’t have any difficulty navigating the stairs, but those with mobility or balance concerns may want to consider this aspect of staying here.
The place was spotlessly clean when we arrived. There were plenty of towels, bed pillows, blankets, and even very comfy waffle-weave bathrobes for everyone. Daily housekeeping (except for Sunday) is included. The hot water was hot and the pressure strong, even to the top floor bathrooms. There was ample lighting throughout and enough power strips for us to charge all of our various devices. It was a tad on the chilly side when we arrived but between the pre-set radiators and portable space heaters, things warmed up nicely. While everyone had their own personal space with individual bedrooms, we tended to gather around the long table in the kitchen for breakfast and take away dinners. For our group, the ample space of the apartment provided a nice balance between private time and together time.
The location of this Airbnb is a great for exploring the 11th Ar. The nearest Metro stop is two blocks away. Tasty and interesting food options are nearby, and the visitors guide that Sophie provides is comprehensive and helpful. There is a pharmacy two blocks away where you can convert your U.S. (or another country’s) vaccine information into a French vaccination pass, which is necessary for entry for most indoor activities (restaurants, bars, museums, theaters, etc.). The pharmacy can also perform a rapid antigen test for return flights to the U.S. or points elsewhere (check with staff for the pharmacy’s testing times).
I envision returning to Sophie’s place when traveling to Paris with a larger group of friends, as well as recommending it to others who have the same need. International travel during a pandemic requires more effort, and Sophie made staying in Paris easy during these difficult and uncertain times. Merci beaucoup, Sophie, for your excellent hosting and hospitality!