Claudine’s apartment is absolutely fantastic. If you want a taste of Paris living, this is the perfect stay, from the roomy, perfectly stocked, perfectly decorated apartment to the diverse, family-friendly neighborhood.
Claudine is the IDEAL hostess…she should be hired to give lessons to other VRBO homeowners. We did not get a chance to meet her due to flight difficulties (American Airlines!) but she made sure to arrange for a place for us to pick up the key at the boulangerie right next door - and included delicious croissants and bread. This cute little boulangerie became our daily (sometimes twice daily) stop for bread and pastries.
Inside the apartment, Claudine had left us a bottle of French wine and champaign to help us celebrate our 20th anniversary. The apartment was spotless and comfortable and very quiet.
The neighborhood itself is bustling with people from all walks of life but was such a respite from our visits to some of the famous, tourist-packed sites in Paris. We had more fun just exploring the 13th arrondissement than we did on our tour-type days. There are numerous, very good, bistros, bars and restaurants within walking distance and Claudine made sure to leave us her recommendations (Chez Trassoudaine was our favorite!). For those places we didn’t want to walk to, the Nationale metro station is very close and easy to navigate - the whole transportation system in Paris seems great.
This was our second visit to Paris, 20 years apart, and it was, by far, our favorite stay. Hopefully when we return Claudine will still be a VRBO homeowner. It was such a lovely experience!