It's amazing how accommodations and location can shape your entire vacation experience. This was my first try with Airbnb and l feel like I won the lottery with Michaela's wonderful apartment perfectly situated in a very quiet part of the artsy Marais district of Paris. My daughter and I arrived jet lagged and a bit disoriented with little command of the French language and were warmly greeted by Michaela as she helped communicate with our taxi driver upon arrival and escorted us to her spacious apartment - fresh pasties on the kitchen counter, chilled white wine in the fridge, and gourmet French macaroons. The apartment was so quiet and absolutely perfect for my daughter and I to spread out and just chill in the evenings outside on the patio with a glass of wine after long days of sightseeing.

Michaela was the perfect host and available anytime we had questions. Her great sense of humor and command of the English language was an added bonus. Also, the amenities we tend to take for granted but hard to find in hotels made this the ultimate home away from home; excellent water pressure in the shower, great wifi reception, refrigerator, kitchen utensils, coffee pot, iron, washing machine, etc. We will always treasure this Parisian experience and will definitely return to Michaela's lovely abode next year and saunter down the street to visit the long awaited reopening of the Picasso Museum.