I'm so glad I didn't bother with the 1st couple of places I found and went with Alexandre's beautiful, clean, fresh apartment. It is typically parisien with original features including herringbone floors, French doors to the two balconies and Juliet balcony in the bedroom. There are great views of similar Paris apartments out front, and overlooking rooftops at the rear - you can spot Centre Pompidou in the distance. It was so nice waking up to the sun rise over the Paris rooftops! Alexandre also has a great eye for furniture and funky design and if you like mid-century modern you'll really appreciate the interior. One day I didn't really make it out of apartment as I enjoyed my surroundings too much - breakfast on the balcony, reading inside with the sun streaming in, sitting at the breakfast bar with a glass of wine, was perfect.
The location of the apartment was great with Gare du Nord and 3 main metro stations all 5-10 mins walk. Sacre Coeur is also 5 mins walk away - take a bottle of wine or beer and sit on the steps to watch the sun set on the city from high above. You can also walk to Louvre in 30 mins or so, or there are plenty of buses to get you around, and night buses to get you home. I didn't need a cab once. I travelled alone and felt perfectly safe in the neighbourhood, and it was lovely and quiet too.
Alexandre truly was the perfect host, and had genuinely thought of everything to make my stay its best, including a supply of the basics in the fridge, plenty of Nespresso to get your coffee fix, and he has compiled a handy guide of everything you might need whilst you're there including a map, recommended shops, supermarkets, bakeries, cafes and restaurants, emergency services and public transport. There were plenty of towels and a spare blanket and pillow. One day I had a sewing emergency and he even had a spare sewing kit amongst the bathroom supplies - miracle!
I really could not fault anything and would highly recommend Alexandre as a host and his apartment as a great place to stay in Paris.
Merci beaucoup Alexandre! x