Apartment rue Monge -

Us: We are a couple (American and Irish) who happen to own an apartment in Paris. We stay there when we can, keep it in a fashion that we enjoy, and share it with our friends and select others from time to time.

You: We think this is an ideal apartment for a family, for two couples traveling together, or for anyone on an extended stay in Paris who prefers some extra space, who enjoys cooking from time to time, or who would like to entertain. It's for you if you imagine padding around in your bathrobe in the morning with a cup of coffee and a pain au chocolat, or if you're interested in whipping up a cordon bleu dinner of your own. It's probably not for you if you want room service, maid service, and laundry service provided for you 24x7, if you want a view of the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame, or if you just need a place to crash after a night at the clubs.

Location: The apartment is located in Paris' 5th arrondissement, in the Latin Quarter (map). The apartment is close to the Place Monge, and thus to the Metro station there. The apartment is a short (10-minute) walk to the left bank of the Seine, the Ile de la Cite, and Notre Dame. The apartment is on the premier etage (the first floor above the street -- second floor to Americans) and has an elevator. The double-glazed windows keep noise to a minimum, so it is quiet inside, though it faces a busy street.

Limitations: The apartment is non-smoking, and we do not allow pets of any kind. Because it is in a residential building, noise should be kept to a minimum after 10pm. While there is an elevator, it is not wide enough for a standard wheelchair.

Getting There: The apartment is in the center of Paris, so it's easy to get to. It's a 30-minute (€50 or US$70) taxi ride from CDG (Charles de Gaul) airport, and can be easily reached on the Metro.

Accommodations: The apartment has three bedrooms containing two queen-sized beds and a single full-sized bed. There is also a sofa-bed in the living room. The apartment can thus sleep two couples and a single in the bedrooms and another couple on the sofa-bed for a total of seven adults.

Amenities: The apartment has a fully-equipped kitchen including a microwave oven and dishwasher, as well as a washing machine. One of the two bathrooms has a full-sized bathtub and dual washbasins, while the other bath has a shower. The bedrooms include fans and an ironing board and iron. The apartment includes a 50-page manual in English that details the use of all the appliances and other systems. There is a Laundromat in the building next door. Note that, like most Parisian apartments (but unlike most Hotels), we do not have air conditioning. There are fans, but it can get hot in the summertime. A partial inventory of the apartment is available here.

Nearby: The apartment is close to the popular rue Mouffetard, a pedestrian street which contains restaurants, food shops, and open-air food stalls. Also close by are the Pantheon, the Roman Arenas (Arenes Lutece), the Luxembourg Gardens, and the Botantical Gardens (Jardin des Plantes). There is an underground Parking Garage nearby, but parking is not otherwise included with the apartment, and is difficult and expensive in all of Paris.

Nearby Shops: The apartment is very close to a supermarket, several patisseries, and specialty fish, meat, and cheese shops. There are also hardware stores and a lingerie store (!) nearby. The apartment is in a typical Parisian residential neighborhood.

Comparing Apartments: Parisian apartments are often described by the number of rooms (pieces) rather than the number of bedrooms. A two piece apartment is likely to have only one bedroom. Our apartment is five or six pieces, depending on whether the living/dining room is counted as one or two rooms. You will also see apartment size in square metres. By this measure, our apartment is 82 sq. m, or about 880 square feet. Note also that some apartment rentals will charge extra for utilities, for cleaning, or for other extras.