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Fifi's place was exactly what we pictured a Parisian apartment would look like. It's lovely, in a lovely building, in a very cool neighborhood, walking distance to Notre Dame & Left Bank, yet very quiet even though it's steps away from some very happening nightlife. We'd never been to Paris before and we loved having our own place where we could bring in food from the neighborhood shops, do laundry, etc. - can't imagine staying in a hotel ever again. There is only one possible drawback I can think of, and that is its size - it's perfect for two, but we had four including our two daughters, so it was a little tight. We knew about the size going in, however, and decided to sacrifice space for its charm, tranquility and location, and if we had it to over again we would make the same choice. Drawbridge to Europe was perfect to deal with, friendly, efficient and knowledgeable, this property rental was effortless and we highly recommend them. Thanks! My recommendations for the area:
There are some great little shops steps away on Rue St. Antoine, but they can be pricey. After a couple of days and many Euros later we figured out there was a grocery store in the basement of the Monoprix (same street) that has plenty to choose from and is much less expensive. There's a bus stop for the big open-top yellow bus that hauls you all over Paris for the sights, called L'Opentour, at Place de la Bastille. You can pay the driver, don't need a ticket. Be sure to go to Place des Vosges (sp?) just up the street -very beautiful. Paris Walks has two Marais walking tours a week that are a great way to see and learn about the area where you're staying - for contact info, pick up a Pariscope from a newstand, English info is at the very back. It's only something like 6 or 8 Euros.
Ann Fraser
Los Angeles, CA
First, and most important to us, Karin from Drawbridge was incredibly helpful, patient, informative, friendly, and organized. Judging purely by past customer comments on the website, my husband and I decided to book a reservation through Drawbridge. This Paris vacation was our first oversees trip as a family, with 2 daughters (12 & 9), and we were nervous not knowing the language and surroundings. After many phone conversations with Karin, we felt more secured about the whole vacation. Drawbridge gave us an excellent map of Paris with metro stops & routes, better than any I've seen.As for Fifi's place...well, we'd return to the same apartment. Yes, it could've been a little larger, but we were satisfied with its charm, convenient & safe location, quietness in an active town, and the keyholder thoughtfully left the keys for us because we were late on arrival. The elevator was hilarious, because it was unexpectedly tiny! Even though only 2 persons could fit, we waited shortly for the next ride. The courtyard is not a garden view, but more of a view into neighbors' apartments. The bedroom view has more depth into the city, but it's above rooftops. Although we had an air-condition unit, we had great weather to open the windows, & being on the 5th floor, we felt very safe. The key holder left clear English instructions on the use of the appliances & daily living tips. On checkout day, we were concerned about the gas & electricity readings, thinking there may be a conflict in deposit monies. We apparently left the correct amount (about 15 euros for 7 days), and we got our full deposit from Drawbridge, without any problems. So with research, a few French phrases, trust, and Karin, we had a wonderful vacation we'll never forget. My recommendations for the area:
Fifi's place is located near the Bastille metro station - several stops away from the major city sites, but a large station with customer contacts & small vendors. A large grocery store, Monoprix, is in walking distance. Be alert that EVERYTHING written, including ingredients & measurements, is in French. Place des Vosges is right down the street. Lots of shopping, patisseries, and cafes are nearby. We used the Rick Steve's tourist guide book for many recommendations in the neighborhood, and we were happy with his list of places to see, restaurants, etc..
J. Chuman
Lake Oswego, OR
We loved the apartment. It was great. It was cozy and it worked out really well for two people. We did cook one night, but mostly we ate bread and cheese. The kitchen was stocked with everything we needed. I loved the Vitessa kettle for tea. It was really close to a lot of things. We found the Monoprix quickly and stocked up on food there and shopped for vegetables and bread and cheese at the stands. The apartment was quiet and I enjoyed reading some of the books that were in the cupboard in the bedroom. The neighborhood people were very friendly and I always felt safe and secure. My favorite cafe was Cafe Hugo at the Place des Voges. Good food, good drinks and the staff was friendly. We spoke some French, they spoke some English, and it was fun to communicate. Cafe Moderne at the corner of St. Antoine was also an excellent place to eat or have glass of wine. The shopping on Rue de Rivoli was fantastic and I loved that we could walk to the Louvre and the d'Orsay. We even walked to Notre Dame and the Sorbonne on the Left Bank too. I would definitely like to stay there again my next trip to Paris. I loved the Marais, there was always something going on.
A. Burgess
Houston, TX
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