A Gem in the Marais
This is a long review because I was so impressed with this jewel of an apartment!
It has everything that an independent solo traveler or a couple visiting Paris could ask for: incredibly quiet, secure, comfortable living in a central location. Shops with eye-catching window displays, and fruit and veg vendors with colorful stacks of produce. Little dogs looking peppy and larger dogs moving with an easygoing pace. Even though the empty shops and spaces are casualties of the pandemic, and the corner café tables have bottles of hand sanitizer on them, evidence of the age of Covid, there is still so much to see and enjoy in this neighborhood.
LOCATION: There’s a Metro stop a block and a half away. I’m usually a frequent Metro rider but during this trip I walked everywhere, either because the destination was so close or I wanted the exercise. I also went running a couple of times along the Seine. It is easy enough to reach from the apartment, although you do have to watch out for people, awkwardly parked delivery trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, and cars while traversing the short distance to the river.
There are several ATMs and organic grocery stores a couple of blocks away; a Monop’ (an abbreviated Monoprix, usually limited to groceries and some prepared foods) is very close by. Slimane provided recommendations for nearby patisseries and boulangeries, all of which I found quite delicious. I was also able to see the Christmas windows of BHV, a large department store, and the holiday display and carousel at the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) while walking to and from the apartment.
And most important, there are numerous pharmacies in the area where you can walk in and get an antigen (quick) Covid test if you need one for travel (or other reasons). Check the hours that the pharmacy administers the tests in order to have sufficient time to get tested and receive the results within your destination's testing window.
HOST: Slimane is a host par excellence. Communication was great from the beginning of the booking to closing the door when I left to head to the airport. Although Slimane was not in town during my stay, his brother met me at the apartment for check in. After showing me where to find everything in the apartment, he also pointed me in the direction of one of the two nearby organic grocery stores so I could get fruit, veggies, yogurt, and juice. I found Slimane and his brother to be prompt and responsive to questions that surfaced during my stay. I really appreciated their professional and attentive manner.
THE SPACE: The apartment is on the 2nd floor (3rd floor in the U.S.), with very tall ceilings, so there is a lot of light inside the apartment. Only the bedroom has a heavier set of drapes that close for privacy and to block the light. All of the windows have floor to ceiling sheer curtains, with the exception of the kitchen (no window coverings). This didn't bother me but it might for those who prefer more opaque window coverings.
I found everything in the apartment spotlessly clean, from the dishes and glassware to the linens, towels, and bathroom, which has a full size bathtub/shower combo. The water pressure is good, and the very hot water is fast to reach the faucets. The shower head had a steady spray and I didn’t notice any fluctuations in the water pressure. The toilet and a small sink (a powder room in the U.S.) is separate from the shower/tub combo. There is a good supply of thick bath towels and large containers of toiletries in the bathroom. The apartment is well maintained and supplied with plenty of paper towels and bath tissue.
I found the bed very comfortable; firm but not hard – the mattress seemed new – without any bedside sag. There is a dedicated guest closet with ample hangers and interior shelves. Lots of natural light in the room, and electrical lighting is provided by a good wattage torchier with adjustable light levels and a small bedside lamp.
The kitchen is well equipped: good sized; lots of natural light from the window and well lit at night from under cabinet and overhead lighting; nice quality dishes, glassware, and cutlery, along with sharp kitchen knives and two cutting boards. Plenty of towels for drying dishes and hands. I didn’t cook on the induction stove, using mostly the microwave and the hot water kettle. The kitchen has a full size dishwasher but I used so few dishes that I did them by hand, letting them dry in the dish rack provided. If needed, there is a washing machine (also in the kitchen) and a pull out drying rack attached to the bathroom wall. This came in handy when I had to hang my raincoat to drip dry one day.
The common space of the apartment is quite spacious and also nicely appointed. The lighting from the three floor lamps and one table lamp was soft and comforting, especially during the rainy December afternoons and nights. Because the ceilings are so high, there is also a loft built into one corner. I didn’t spend any time there; I was quite content with the other areas. The quality of the furnishings and decorative objects gives the apartment a very substantial feel.
ENVIRONMENT and WIFI: There are a number of heaters throughout the apartment. Since I was there in early December, the heaters had been turned on in advance; the temperature was very comfortable upon arrival. There aren’t separate heaters for the bathroom or the powder room but I didn’t find it uncomfortable, as the ambient heat reached those areas. The WiFi was easy to connect to and maintained a consistent signal. I didn’t stream or download anything, so I can’t comment on the bandwidth or download speed.
The apartment is situated between two courtyards and away from traffic. It is exceptionally quiet inside