The loft offers a very unique experience in Paris. It's hard to describe the peace and security of the place. It's inside a courtyard area of a really interesting group of buildings. There are all locals living there, children playing during the day... if I myself lived in Paris, I would feel very fortunate to have Valerie's situation.

If you want to experience Paris more like a Parisian would, this would be a great area to do so. Right next to the Canal St. Martin, and adjacent to a large Indian area, you can walk or take the train conveniently to many tucked away parts of Paris that I'm sure most visitors don't see unless they are staying with friends or have a second home there.

The loft itself is very reminiscent of an artist's loft that you would find in Brooklyn. Art books, literature, and just a nice, bohemian but comfortable setup. If you have an concerns climbing a high ladder to get up to the bed then this wouldn't be the place for you, but we enjoyed it very much and I think it adds a lot to the unique feel of the space.

The apartment feels very spacious because of the layout and the very high ceilings, as well as the large windows that look out onto the greenery of the courtyard and her front porch. The bathroom is quite spacious, which I liked, and the deep, free-standing tub is a treat.

There is an organic market just down the street, and there are good bistros all around. Le Bulle, less than a five minute walk, is excellent, and there are also many excellent Asian and Middle-Eastern restaurants to choose from. Valerie offers a little list of suggestions with the airbnb booking which is also very helpful.

Valerie was an attentive and warm host, and we always felt taken care off. There is a land line in the apartment, too, which is always convenient to have.

If I was to offer anything critical, I think it would just be to know what kind of experience you are signing up for. This is the 10th arrondisement, not downtown Paris, but that's exactly what we were looking for, so we didn't have any complaints.