A difficult experience sadly.
We had been really happy to find Gabriel’s apartment after our original Airbnb booking in the same area was cancelled late on, and in spite of its small size Gabriel kindly agreed to accommodate us as a family of five and provide bedding on the floor for my daughter. However upon our arrival we found beds for only four of us set up and nothing to make a fifth bed even to camp on. There were additionally only three towels, one of which left orange fluff all over the user after a shower. I mentioned the lack of an extra bed to Gabriel who confessed he’d forgotten, and advised that I buy something locally and that he would refund us. I said we would manage with only three towels and duly spent a couple of hours finding a shop near enough that sold small roll out mattresses and duvets and carting them back by hand instead of enjoying our first afternoon in Paris as a family. I spent as little as I could and shopped the sales, kept the receipts and packaging for Gabriel and sent him photographs for approval. He was happy and promised to refund us (while never saying a word of apology for the trouble or his own forgetfulness). However despite frequent requests and reminders and many assurances he would repay us in the days and now weeks following he has failed to do so. I am really disappointed and also sad to leave a negative review, but I feel it only fair to let others know that Gabriel while having a lovely apartment to offer, sadly gives only cursory attention to his guests and on this occasion has been downright disingenuous. We will now have to go through Airbnb to recover the extra money spent.
Also to note: the apartment had been cleaned by Gabriel’s housekeeper before our arrival, but felt very much like being in someone’s home while they were away; the fridge was full and there was a smell of stale smoke which perhaps came up through the floorboards from below, as the windows were open when we arrived.
In spite of this we loved the location of the apartment - on the beautiful and peaceful Ile St Louis set back from a quiet street on the Seine it is perfection in Paris.