The apartment is very stylish in a gorgeous old building in Paris. Valerie has spent a lot of time decorating and making it beautiful. She is a very kind and giving host, offering tea and coffee and whatever help you might need navigating the city. The bakery across the street is fabulous! Lots of cute cafes nearby to try out. It take about 20 minutes by metro to get to downtown Paris. I felt fairly safe walking home after dark.