We visited Paris as a family of four, with two boys ages 11 and 14 – and Caroline and Jean's place could not have been more perfect.
The apartment
Everything was beautiful, clean and thoughtful - down to the metro tickets Jean left for us, along with a welcoming cake (seriously? yes - seriously). The physical layout of the apartment (Master bedroom upstairs; second bedroom with two twin beds below) meant our boys had a quiet area to read and relax – as did we. The kitchen/living room area was perfect - comfy chairs to plot our next forays; a teapot handy for a quick cup to recharge. Jean met us at check in and took the time to thoroughly explain everything – including the washer/dryer, the front door lock, the windows, phone and TV. After he left, we looked at each other in gleeful shock like “can you BELIEVE this place?” had a cup of tea then walked around the corner for dinner and stumbled into a service at Notre Dame. Which brings me to…
The location
simply cannot be beat. Let me say it again: the location cannot be beat. For context, I lived here for a year, in the 1st, 2nd, 10th, and 13th arrondisements, and this is the place I dreamed of having. You can walk around the corner to Notre Dame, walk to St. Germain de Pres for a Croque Monsieur at Café Bonaparte (or fine, Les Deux Magots, Brasserie Lipp or Café Flore) pick up a book for the kids (or yourself) at Shakespeare & Co, or get Berthillon ice cream (which you should do, as often as possible) on the Ile-St-Louis. You can walk to the Marais, to the Louvre, to Odeon, to the Bastille. In the morning, I’d make a cup of tea, open the door, cross the street to the Quai to watch the sun come up over the Seine. Did I mention how great the location is? But as if that wasn’t good enough,
The hosts
Caroline and Jean are extraordinary. Not only do they have great taste, speak exquisite English and make themselves available around the clock, Jean even gave us our first set of metro tickets to help us get around. Caroline saved my bacon when I left my mobile phone in a cab and after I tracked down the driver, she helped get it back for me, waiting up until midnight for him to deliver it to her directly. Honestly, if you want to have the best time possible in Paris, this is the place you want to stay, and the hosts you want to stay with.