Hélène Et Mehdi’s place is in a great location. There is a public square (Place de la Républic) one block away with plenty of restaurants, shops, grocery stores, metro stop, and places to sit and people watch. It is about a 13 minute walk from Gare de L'est. The apartment was clean and very cozy. The beds were comfortable. The steep and narrow stair case leads you to the bathroom and bedroom. For a family of 5 with three young kids, it is doable, but a bit cramped. The neighbors were quiet although some street noise can be heard as the apartment faces the street. It felt safe. There was quick communication when I had questions and during check-in.