The apartment was on the second French floor (with a lift) on the Rue St Louis en Ile in the heart of the Ile St Louis. The location is in the heart of Paris with easy walking distance to nearby sights and the Metropolitan. Despite the central location, the area is calm and quiet compared to most of touristy Paris, and even at its busiest (in afternoons and early evenings) is easy to navigate. It is quiet at night and very safe. Nearby Amenities There were a number of nearby restaurants and shops, and at least two grocers within a two minute walking distance. Some wonderful pastry shops, including the exceptional Calixte, were seconds away. The House/Apartment The building is a well renovated 17th century structure (as are most buildings on the island) that was well maintained and had a total of four apartments. The apartment was very quiet, with excellent double pane windows that blocked what little street noise there was. The apartment flow was pleasant, with entry at the center facing a small but adequate kitchen, and with a comfortable living/dining room to one side and the bedroom and bath to the other. The apartment was in excellent condition, clean and obviously well taken care of, with some very nice decorative touches to make it feel rather special. You can view the property directly: Saffron. Garden There was not an outside sitting area. Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living Areas Furnishings were first rate and comfortable, and there was more than adequate seating. Linens and towels were replaced at mid week without request. Bedrooms/Bathrooms The bed was in excellent condition, supportive but comfortable. The bedroom was a good size and nicely decorated. The bathroom was spotless and more than adequate, with lots and lots of towels, soaps, TP, etc. Kitchen The kitchen is small, but works quite well. There is a two burner convection stove top, a microwave, a good sized refrigerator, plenty of pots and dishes, etc. and a washer/dryer that works well. We cooked some rather enjoyable full meals with ease. Problems or Bonuses The bouquet of flowers, the bag of goodies, and the detailed guide to the apartment and its features, the building, the area, and Paris in general was superb. Agency and Representatives (and price) If we designed the agency ourselves, it could not have been better. From Internet contact to personal contact, it all went so very well. Philippe and Christof were kind and friendly individuals, ready to assist us at a moments notice. They spoke English quite well (much better than our French), and talking with them was rather enjoyable. The flat was exactly as promised but made better by the ease that was built into the process. While rentals in Paris can be pricey, this one proved a very good value. Do you recommend this vacation rental to others? We would love to stay here again, and would recommend the apartment and the agency without reservation. It really could not have been better. Things to do in this area Our favorite sweet shop was Calixte Gourmand. This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.
Review Published in the popular traveler website SLOW TRAVEL WEBSITE: Saffron http://www.slowtrav.com/france/vr/review.asp?n=3682 www.guestapartment.com Recommended. Review by joe&dawn from CA 1bed/1bath apartment on Ile St Louis, Paris.