What a great apartment this was for a week's stay in Paris. The location in the 10ieme arrondissement is very handy to 2 metro lines and within a 20 minute walking distance of the Gare de Nord, the Parc Buttes Chaumont and Place de La Republique, and less than 30 minutes’ walk to the Place de la Bastille. The apartment is a little tricky to find at first as it’s on a small side street, but it’s in a wonderful neighbourhood that is lively with various cafes, restaurants and shops. One side of the apartment looks out over a square with 3 cafes that are very active in the evenings. Although these can get quite noisy, the windows are effective at blocking out the sound when closed. The other side of the apartment overlooks a quiet inner courtyard.
Accessing the apartment was up 1 flight of stairs. The location felt very safe, even at night. The kitchen had everything I needed for preparing breakfast and the occasional dinner. Wifi worked great, and there was a large dining table on which I could spread out my papers to work. A small dish washer, and a washing machine for clothes also came in very handy. The bed was comfy, and the large sofa was perfect for reading in the afternoon.
I did not have a chance to meet Brice, but his friend, Fabienne, met me to let me in and show the apartment. Communication with both was easy, and Brice was quick to reply to all messages.
What I really enjoyed about this apartment is that it is a home, and not just a short-term rental apartment for tourists. Staying here felt like visiting a good friend’s home. It was clean, but lived-in. Full, but spacious. And mostly, very welcoming. I hope to have the opportunity to stay here again on my next visit to Paris and highly recommend it for the solo traveller or a couple visiting this part of the city.