The apartment itself was in good condition. It was reasonably clean and was stocked with all necessities and conveniences. In addition, the wifi worked well, and the neighbours in the building were quiet. While I never met my host in person, the people she left in her stead were both very kind. Be aware that the location of the apartment is not at all central, so be prepared to take the metro everyday if you want to spend most of your time in central Paris.

I did not find the neighbourhood itself very quiet. Frequent siren wailing could be heard, especially at night. There were also a couple of groups of young men who loitered at the corner of the building, and in front of one of the adjacent buildings who were quite loud and could often be heard late into the night. I made it home safely every day, but as a female traveling alone, I felt uncomfortable rounding that corner every night.

Having said that, there are conveniences in the neighbourhood in very close proximity to the apartment: bakeries, grocery stores, ATM, and restaurants.

There were a couple of situations I encountered with my host for which I felt the need to consult Airbnb on. The nature of our communication was such that I did not always feel heard or at ease. I’m thankful that Airbnb always responded promptly and I felt supported by them.

If I could, I would recommend maintaining communication with any host you may have through the Airbnb messaging service, as opposed to private email or telephone. I believe it keeps everyone involved more accountable for their words and actions and maintains a clear record of communication.