11th Popincourt/Bastille holiday apartment

Having lived and worked in Paris for several years some 20 years ago, I was anxious to show my husband and teenage sons this fantastic city - not only to visit the well-known sights but to experience day-to-day Parisian life amongst the locals.
We achieved that goal this holiday beyond my expectations. The apartment's location was perfect - just a few minutes stroll from two metro lines on a quiet street off a typically bustling street which had all the little shops, cafes and supermarkets we needed. The sixth floor location meant it was light and airy (but thank goodness for the lift!) and looking out over the courtyard meant we heard no traffic noise at all. The main room was more spacious than we expected, with a very comfy sofa and well equipped kitchen area. The bedrooms and bathroom were fine - what a great power shower.
The flat was clean and easy to keep clean, and all the equipment and decoration was well maintained.
(While the wooden parquet was obviously original, it was very creaky and a microwave would have been handy - but minor niggles only.)
Our 14 year old tackled the boulangerie every morning and both boys were happy to shop in an the intriguing little local supermarket which seemed to stock everything imaginable in its rabbit warren interior. The DVD player was a godsend in the evenings when we were too wacked to do much else. We loved the nearby park - great for reading in the sunshine.
We were keen to walk into the centre of the city on some days - which only took a short hour - and we got to know the length of rue Charonne in detail! We visited all the major sights and even some which I'd never got around to seeing eg. the Catacoombs (mind-boggling!), the Sewers (smelly!), and the crypt under Notre Dame (fascinating!).
With the euro so strong we found the city quite expensive so often preferred to pick up a delicious roast chicken on the way home or visit the local Marche for fresh produce. However my former restaurant haunt of Chartier on rue fbg Montmarte became a family favourite too and its character hasn't changed a bit in 20 years.
Paris is looking noticeably cleaner and more prosperous (but far more graffiti) than in previous years, and is definitely more tourist friendly. We all thoroughly the fortnight and found the flat a perfect base to re-discover and explore this fabulous city.

This place was spot on and we would stay again. Comfortable, well appointed and very good value. Good location - handy for at least two metro stations, bus and very walkable. Loads of food shops nearby. We stayed with two young children (8 & 5) - the playground at the end of the road is ok but there is a better one just off the Rue de Charonne. 13 euros in taxi from Gare du Nord but we got the metro back when going home - very straighforward.

A bright, comfortable and affordable apartment which was ideal for a family of four as a base for exploring Paris. The apartment had a well equipped kitchen/dining area and comfortable spacious living and bedrooms. The location is ideally situated within easy walking distance of several metro stations providing easy access to all areas of the City. The area definately provides a real taste of Parisienne life with a good selection of shops and supermarkets and several good restaurants nearby. An excellent pizza takeaway around the corner provided a welcome treat for the kids after an exhausting day walking around Paris. The owners were easily contacted via email and responded to all queries promptly. We definately hope to visit again.