As others have said, Yves was absolutely wonderful with his warmth and generous hospitality. He took great care to make sure he knew when our flight landed and when we'd arrive at his place so he could be there to greet us. We arrived in the morning, tired from our overseas flight, and Yves could not have been more welcoming and friendly. His directions were detailed and helpful, he greeted us enthusiastically at the door, helped us get acclimated, showed us what we needed to know, and encouraged us to get rest so we could enjoy his city. Every amenity was thought of--soap and shampoo for the shower (the shower is great!), a hair dryer, fresh towels, a made bed, cupboards and drawers fully stocked with dishes, glasses, and flatware, even sundry items such as OJ, milk, bottled water, coffee, and tea were provided, which we were grateful for. The apartment was very clean and comfortable, and everything worked the way it needed to. We ate out a lot, but we enjoyed being able to make breakfast and dinner the couple of times we wanted to relax and stay in.
The building is very secure, and Yves gave great instructions for how to use the keys and fob to get in and out. He lives across the hall, so we knew where to go if we needed anything, but because he'd thought of every detail, we were fine for our stay. He checked in by email once to ask how things were and to let us know to contact him if we needed anything. Whenever I wrote to him throughout the entire process, he responded immediately to my questions. He also provided a lot of brochures and a cork board full of recommendations for various places to eat and go.
The location is perfect--close to two Metro stations and walking distance to the heart of Le Marais. Great restaurants and shops abound, and we enjoyed walking every day to explore "our" neighborhood during our stay, as well as riding the Metro to all the sites we wanted to see.
Even though the apartment is in the middle of a busy location, it is very quiet. We slept well and heard no street noise whatsoever.
For those who are used to living in large spaces, be aware that the apartment is typical of those in Paris. It is very small. But it is also very well designed to make wonderful use of the space. We never felt cramped or uncomfortable. There's a small living room/kitchen area with a loveseat, coffee table, end table, drop leaf table and chairs to pull out for eating (we just ate while sitting on the loveseat and used the coffee table when we ate in), as well as small kitchen area with fridge, sink, microwave, regular oven, two-burner countertop stove, cupboards, and drawers. The bathroom is spacious compared to other Paris apartments I've stayed in, and it is lovely. We loved having a washer and dryer right there to use, too (Yves provides laundry detergent and a notebook full of instructions for every appliance).
The bedroom is small, but it's a separate room and fits a double bed, two end tables, and a wardrobe to put clothes in. The window is covered by a dark curtain for privacy, and if you're sensitive to sunlight when it comes to circadian rhythms, make sure you leave it open before sleeping, because you won't be able to tell what time it is when you wake! Otherwise, you'll love how dark it stays in there.
Yves was a fantastic host. We cannot say enough about how wonderful he helped make our stay while we there.