Question:

Your rates are quite reasonable, so there must be some hidden charges. Right?

Answer:

Wrong. Our view is simply that most people would like to know what to expect up front. So, we have lots of pictures on the website, and no hidden charges - no charge for electricity, and no charge for the phone.

Question:

How does the telephone work then?

Answer:

It is set to "local." What this means is that you are free to use the phone, at no cost to you, to make local phone calls - say to make dinner reservations, check on a museum's hours, etc... However, to make a long distance, or international call, you will need a calling card.

Question:

What Floor Is The Apartment On - Elevator?

Answer:

The apartment is on the second (European) floor, and there is no elevator. But, to be perfectly clear, you go up one flight of stairs to a landing, and then a second flight of stairs to a second landing. The door to the apartment is on the immediate right.

One point worth noting is that the stairs are really quite wide and well lighted, and therefore easier to navigate than some tightly wound spiral staircases in other Paris apartments where we have stayed. But, depending upon your health, only you can evaluate whether or not an elevator is a necessity for you, or someone in your party.

Question:

How well equipped is the kitchen?

Answer:

All the appliances are modern, and include a microwave/oven/grill combination, small refrigerator/freezer, a toaster, coffee maker, electric stove top (four elements), and a clothes washer/dryer. Naturally there is an assortment of pots and pans, as well as kitchen utensils.

Question:

Are linens provided?

Answer:

Yes, for both the twin beds in the bedroom, and the convertible sofa bed, as well as towels and washcloths in the bathroom.

Question:

Is the metro nearby?

Answer:

Yes. It is about a five minute walk to the Sully-Morland station - out the gated door, turn left, cross the Seine toward the right bank (bear left), and walk past the children's park on Blvd. Henri IV.

Question:

Is shopping nearby?

Answer:

In a word, yes. On Rue St. Louis En L'Ile there are several specialty food shops, and a few small groceries. In addition, there is a cheese store, two bakeries, a wine store, butcher, a cheese store, a bookstore, and what I would consider to be an inside newsstand (papers, magazines, postcards, etc...). There is also a fruit and vegetable store on Rue des Deux Ponts, and a tabac toward the right bank.

Somewhat further afield, on the left bank side of Pont Sully there is a frozen food store, and a somewhat larger grocery store just a few blocks toward La Bastille, on the right bank, just off Blvd. Henri IV. Or for the truly ambitious, there is a very nice food store in the basement of La Samaritaine (you would have to carry your purchases home via the Metro, though).

For dessert, at least during the summer, you might simply want to visit Berthillon, the most famous ice cream shop in Paris, which is only about a three minute walk from the apartment (out the gated door, turn right - it is on the left hand side of Rue St. Louis En L'Ile).

Some combination of the above should keep you well fed, but if not - read on.

Question:

Are there restaurants a short walk away?

Answer:

For those of you that know Paris, the answer to the above question would be yes, almost no matter where you are. For instance, there are several bistro/brasseries on Rue Saint Louis En L'Ile - all toward Notre Dame, so they are at the Western end of the island. Most famous, perhaps, is the Brasserie de l'Ile St-Louis, which is listed in The Paris Cafe Cookbook, which has recipies from, presumably, the top 50 Bistro or Brasseries in Paris.

There is also a very popular, among the locals, restaurant/ brasserie on Blvd. Henri IV that is on the way to the Sully-Morland Metro stop.

While we haven't eaten there ourselves (yet), Le Reminet, 3 Rue des Grands-Degres, 5th, is a left bank restaurant that was written up quite favorably in a newsletter we subscribe to called Paris Notes. My guess is that it is a ten-fifteen minute walk from the apartment.

The cafeteria style restaurant near the top of La Samaritaine is also quite popular, and inexpensive. For those of you that prefer a more elaborate lunch, they also have a more traditional restaurant, with higher prices.

Question:

Is there a connection to the internet?

Answer:

No. Personally, I have used my laptop to connect to my Internet Service Provider in the United States simply by making an international phone call. The connection is quite good, and if one simply wants to check email and a few news items, it is relatively cheap to do so.

In addition to the "standard" equipment, all one needs is a telephone adapter from the French connection to one that will fit a United States (or whatever your country of origin) phone line modem. In the United States, and perhaps Canada, Radio Shack sells one for about $15.00.

However, I would check with the manufacturer of any of your devices for compatibility of their adapters to the French electrical system. On my first visit I burned out an A/C adapter for my Cannon printer. So, check before your departure, and verify that you have appropriate equipment.

If your questions haven't been answered above, please use the email link below and I will get back to you shortly, and then add the more general questions to this list. So, you will help yourself and others. Thanks.