I'm almost a little reluctant to leave a review for Benoit's superb space on the cusp of Pigalle and Montmartre in case we find it booked up in the future.
He's an architect fluent in English whose taste is very cool, as you will see from the imaginative use of space and little touches that made this a real bolt-hole after walking the streets of Paris.
It's a one minute walk from the Amelie cafe and Moulin Rouge but four or five from some of Montmartre's incredible patisseries where we sat sur trottoir and watched the world go by.
Benoit also gave us a map with the best bars, restaurants and things to see in the area... we did them all despite only having a few days here.
The flat itself is perfect for a couple or even a couple with one child, with a modern bathroom and all the stylish kitchen touches you'd expect… including Nespresso.
It's a two minute walk to Blanche Metro station, which is about 10 mins from the Arc de Triomphe but take a wander south towards the Seine and you'll stumble across some beautiful flower shops, cafes and eateries, not to mention the roadside grocery stores that we seem to have forgotten about in England.
If I had to find one negative about the place it was that we couldn't find a hairdryer which sparked a slight panic until my wife discovered it in the bathroom's under basin cabinet.... apparently "only a man would put a hairdryer in the bathroom" - seems perfectly logical to me ;-)
Otherwise the place was perfect, and Benoit - because he had no other guest arriving - allowed us to be flexible on when we left the apartment, allowing us another quick trip to the Latin Quarter for coffee and pistachio and chocolate criossants.
Thank you Benoit - I hope you can find space for us in the future.