This was our 4th trip to Paris, but the first in over 25 years. We had only rented an apartment once before, in Seville, and it wasn't a particularly pleasant experience. So, I was not really considering this option until I read about www.airbnb.com in a travel magazine. I warmed to the idea of when I saw how airbnb lets you personalize the list of items you are most interested in (in our case it was one bedroom, no more than 2 flights up, modern, with a nice kitchen and bathroom, plus a washer, since this would be the 8th day of our trip, and will have lots of laundry). Next the mapping feature will show the areas you are interested in, and allow you to match items like metro stations, and walking distance to restaurants, grocery stores, and other various shops. I had read an article about the famous Rue du Montorgueil, and how it was like the Paris of old, ie, a pedestrian-friendly street filled with restaurants and a large variety of cheese shops, bakeries, markets, cafes, and impressive restaurants.
After looking at dozens of very nice apartments in the Marais, the area around the Sorbonne in the 6th, and in the old Les Halles area, I came upon the ideal place, with a very reasonable price, that had lovely photos and great reviews. And, it was located on the very street I was interested in. How good is that?
And, now that my wife and I are home, and have had time to reflect on the stay, we agree that the apartment and the owner/host, Jean-Francois Grimaldi were perfect.
You always wonder how the photos for these apartments truly reflect the place you are renting. And, I can say that Jean-Francois' photos are exactly what you find upon arrival. The apartment is spotless, beautifully decorated, with a lovely a functional kitchen and ultra modern bathroom. The washer worked perfectly, which was a great relief to my wife. And, THE STREET, Rue Montorgueil is magnificent! Ever day I went to Stohrer's Bakery, the oldest bakery in Paris (some say in all of France), bought wine in several shops, along with cheese, pate, etc. And,, we dined in several of the restaurants along the street, including Les Petites Carreaux, L'Escargot, and others. There are 2 Metro stops, one on each end of the street, making sightseeing a breeze. Yes, you so have to walk up 2 flights of stairs, but that was not difficult, and gives the building lots of character.
Lastly, a word about our host. Jean-Francois gave us detailed directions to the apartment from Gare d'Est, and met us just as promised. He explained all the apartment features, and provided a detailed notebook with lots of additional information. Jean-Francois is professional, and obviously takes pride in his properties. I would return to this apartment without hesitation. Indeed, as advertised, it is Montorgueil Beautiful Apartment!!!