The best thing about Nicole’s apartment from an American family’s perspective (my husband and me with our 20, 18 and 16 year-old) is the superb location with a view of the Eiffel Tower and a short walk to the Arc de Triomphe you just cannot beat for the money we paid. The next best thing is the smart design and use of space with the furnishings where five of us had beds. My husband and I slept in the double bed on the main floor, my son slept on the futon on the main floor, my older son slept upstairs in the loft on a double bed, and my daughter slept downstairs near the bathroom in a room with a double bed.
Everyone in Paris in mid July would agree it’s too hot, and not many places offer air conditioning, so we were grateful for the boxed fan in the master bedroom. I would suggest more fans for the other sleeping areas for those of us spoiled by air conditioning during the summer heat in our own hometowns. It was helpful to have an opportunity to do laundry, but again, I think most Americans would benefit to know that Nicole’s machine BOTH washes and dries, BUT it takes over SEVEN hours to wash and dry in the machine so plan accordingly (or ask Nicole for directions because her cleaner was kind enough to return to show us how to use it.). I would suggest washing only and hanging the clothes on the rack and hangers provided because our pants came out very wrinkled when we dried them in the machine.
As other travelers have mentioned, the steps downstairs to reach the only bathroom in the apartment are very steep and not recommended for those with accessibility issues. Maneuvering them in the middle of the night to use the bathroom is challenging but doable for this 51 year-old woman. Parking is available in the street, but you must pay. Use the local parking apps to find options. We befriended the owners in the Italian restaurant next door, and they connected us to a valet parking service that was a real blessing to have in Paris where parking is so tight and hard to find in the middle of the day. Highly recommend you try the appetizers, in particular, at the restaurant next door.
If we come back to Paris, we would definitely stay in Nicole‘s apartment again. We parked our cars the whole time except to go to Versailles, and we used electric bikes and scooters and enjoyed exploring Paris along the Seine, including to visit the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Thank you, Nicole!