If you're coming from the United States and would like to have a better understanding of how Parisians live, this is a great place to stay. It is in the heart of the city and in a particularly attractive district (le Marais). The benefit of walking up five flights of stairs is that you find yourself inside of a mansard apartment, full of light in every room, with great views of rooftops all the way to Centre Pompidou, in fact. Each window facing the street has a mini-terrace-garden. After a day of walking around the city, it is a relaxing retreat.