You'll find hereafter some comments sent by former guests to potential new tenants who have kindly forwarded them to us. We guarantee their authenticity.

Comment from: the owner

• Some guests have complained with just cause about the temperamental elevator. It has been upgraded end of December 2007 and since then has not yet given cause for criticism.

Comment from: L*** C*** and Family, USA

• We all loved our stay in the apartment of M. Colinas so much so that we would like to return today!!!! The area felt very safe. My husband and I traveled with our 16 year old daughter, our 8 year old and 2 year old sons, and my Mother in Law who is in her 60s.
• Driving in the shuttle to get to the apartment we went through the outskirts and then other arrondissements, some of which I might not have felt safe living in as an outsider. However, when you are in the 11th arrondissement (where the apartment is), you encounter so many parents and children that you feel like you are at home; indeed walking with the children was like walking with little good will embassadors, even when they were feeling crabby. The area is full of families and far from feeling unsafe, we felt welcome, at ease and comfortable. For city living we were delighted. We looked forward to getting back to our arrondissement and our beautiful, roomy apartment at the end of each day.
• And yes, having a second bathroom is a bonus. The washing machine was helpful as well, and the very nice cafe/bar downstairs was a favorite haunt of my Mother in Law at the end of a full day of family togetherness. In fact she and our 16 year old would "descend" to the cafe sometimes with books in hand and not reappear for a good hour. Another helpful aspect was that it was very close to the St Maur Metro station, and yet not on top of it.
• Please don't hesistate to contact us if you have any further questions. We had a fantastic time in Paris and only wished we could have stayed on in M. Colinas' apartment another week or more.
• Sincerely,

Comment from: J*** J***-G***, UK

• We stayed in M. Colinas' apartment last May. We were a party of two mum's and five children ranging in age from 16 yrs to 9 yrs.
• We arrived at Gare Du Nord (from the UK) and it was a very simple trip on the metro to get to the apartment and a short walk from the nearest metro stop.
• M. Colinas and his daughter where there to meet us and extremely charming and helpful. They had provided juice for the children and milk. Indeed, the kitchen is smallish, but extremely well equipped with all the little touches that make an apartment stay more pleasant.
• I travel a great deal and stay in many holiday homes and having herbs and spices, washing up liquid, cling film, trash bags etc around is surprisingly handy. You need these things but do not necessarily want to buy them on holiday or for a short stay. As there is a dining room and large sitting room the size of the kitchen is not so important but it does have a table for four.
• The apartment is very spacious for a large group, and something of a rarity in Paris as apts are not always so huge. There's a beautiful stained glass window in the dining room, with a desk in front of it, and numerous period features. There was also a computer, connected to the internet, in the corner of the dining room which was very handy for checking info and the teens enjoyed being able to send messages home.
• There are three dbl bedrooms - two with dbl beds and one with twin beds and an en-suite bathroom. There is another shower room and separate toilet. All the bedrooms where comfortable with enough space for luggage and cupboard space.
• The building itself was secure and quiet. While it faces onto a fairly busy road there wasn't any undue noise. There are supermarkets, patisserie (great croissants/bread etc!) and restaurants all in walking distance.
• Paris is as great walking city and we walked to the Marais from the apt and to various other places as I am quite familiar with Paris. But, as stated, the metro is right there on the doorstep for trips further afield or if you are less sure of directions. Paris has a very efficient public transit system and getting around is not a problem. M. Colinas leaves maps and tourist info in the apt.
• My abiding memory of walking into the apartment for the first time was a chorus of 'Wow's' from the children. I personally would not hesitate to recommend the apartment or stay there again myself. I can't really think of any 'cons'.
• I hope this helps you with your decision. If you feel I could help you any further please email me.
• Best Regards,

Comment from: J*** and E*** C***, Australia

• Very happy to provide feedback on the Paris apartment.
• Security - we weren't out late at night, as our children are young, but we didn't encounter any problems at all. The Metro is a stone's throw from the apartment, and the street is well lit.
• The apartment is very quiet - we were pleasantly surprised, actually. All windows are double glazed, and the bedrooms are not facing the street. The street is reasonably busy, but no more so than the rest of Paris. The positive side of this is that there are lots of restaurants and shops within an easy walk - it isn't touristy, and made us feel very Parisien!
• Apartment is spacious, well appointed, and very well kept. We've been travelling in France for almost 3 months now, and it is still probably the best we've stayed in. We didn't have any problems - our only criticism would be that there was a video player but no DVD player (with small children, this can be an issue!)
• Deposit return was the simplest process we've encountered - Adolph simply ripped up our cheque, so no bank fees involved.
• Not sure what other tips we can give. Don't know how old your girls are, but if you are looking for a child oriented activity to break up the usual Paris itinerary, we very much enjoyed the Jardin d'Acclimatation.
• We doubt you'll be disappointed if you take the apartment. Whatever your decision, have a lovely stay in Paris!
• regards,

Comment from: G*** Y***, USA

• The apartment was absolutely splendid. The Colinas family is exceptionally hospitable and has paid close attention to all anticipated needs. The apartment is wonderfully equipped from the linen, bath towels to the very nice kitchen. We were seven persons and were very comfortable. The three bedrooms along with the dining room and the living room gave us all privacy as well as more than enough space for entire group gatherings. We took breakfast and dinner in the apartment and were very appreciative of the complete kitchen facilities and equipment. We enjoyed shopping, mostly twice daily, along Rue Oberkampf where we met many nice, friendly, and cooperative merchants.
• On the down slide (only a slight decline) was that the elevator worked only about half of the time we were there and honestly, after a full day out in Paris, the stairs were sometimes a challenge. This is of course no fault of the Colinas or the other owners; the elevator simply is old and temperamental. I will say that the concierge was very prompt about getting repair personnel to the site. In addition, my father in law missed having an English-language news channel available for the tv. I so indicated to Adolphe and he assured me that the problem is with his cable provider and he fully understands the request. I have no way of knowing if in fact anything has been done about that. Finally, we had difficulty with the washer/dryer combo. Whether we were the problem as operators or whether the machine itself was faulty, I really don't know. I do suspect that the machine did not operate as designed. We washed our clothes and hung them up to dry.
• I would hope that the three items I have just mentioned do not deter you from anticipating a wonderful apartment at Rue de la Republique. The building is a very elegant building built in 1900 and very-well maintained. We were absolutely thrilled with the apartment. It was wonderful and remains very vivid in our treasured memories of Paris. We took many pictures of the outstanding features of the apartment and show them with great pride, along side pictures of all of the known monuments.
• In terms of safety, the metro stop is simply one-half block from the apartment. Once you learn that you get on the last car of the metro train going to your last stop, you simply get off of the car, up one flight of stairs, into the metro ticket lobby and up a short flight of stairs to the street level. At that point you would be simply at a street corner and les than 50 metres to the apartment. The apartment itself is very secure in that there is a coded entry at the street, a coded entry in the passage way and then of course a key entry into the apartment. Safety was never a concern of ours.
• The Colinas are a superb family from whom you can rent. Mathilde, Adolphe’s daughter, greeted us and gave us more than sufficient orientation about he facilities. She was also in touch with us and even came back to ensure proper functioning of all equipment. Our deposit was treated as such and of course returned appropriately. I think you would find that the Colinas family is one of sincerity, efficiency, honesty and integrity.
• The apartment itself was just like the family, absolutely wonderful.
• I recommend the apartment with vigor and enthusiasm. You will not be disappointed.

Comment from: Richard Jeffreys - Raleigh, NC USA

• We have stayed in Paris many times, but our stay in the rue Republique apartment was by far the best yet. We were met by the owner's daughter who went over everything and explained how everything worked. The apartment was spotless and was well furnished with condiments and extras that you don't usually find in an apartment. Six of us were there for two weeks and I can think of no negatives about our stay. The apartment is plenty spacious and at an ideal location just a minute from the metro entrance and all of the streets are well lit, even the side ones. We felt very safe even in the late hours returning on the metro. This area is not known for the rowdiness that is found in the Pigalle area for example. I roamed quite a bit in the area and never came across any discos and clubs which generally increase the noise level at night. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, bakeries, crepe stands, groceries, and other shops in the area. ATM's in both directions. The front living and dining rooms have balconies that overlook rue Republique and the 3 bedrooms are towards the rear so you don't get any street noise at night. Even if someone slept in the front rooms, you are high enough up that you hear very little.
• The owner called a couple of times to inquire if we needed anything. He never cashed my deposit check and said he would mail it back to me, but I felt so comfortable with him that I asked him to destroy it and he did. I think because he has just this one property in Paris is why he is so attentive to so many details. The pictures are very accurate and my first impression on arrival was that it was better than what I had expected.
• We liked it so well that we are planning another stay there in the fall of 2008 if we can get a booking. The only mishap was our own making. On our day of departure, we loaded all of the luggage for six people on the lift to send it down and one of the bags fell against the door (from the inside) causing a jam and the lift to shut down. We spent 30 panicked minutes wondering how we would retrieve our luggage, and then the building manager came to our rescure with a key.
• If I can answer any more specific questions, please let me know.

Comment from: B*** J***, USA

• Hello,
• You are in for a wonderful experience if you decide on this apartment.
• The apartment is huge and well stocked with anything you may need. It is in excellent condition and Mr. Colinas is "on call" in case of questions, problems, etc. We had no problems and enjoyed our stay. I would return to the flat again.
• The immediate area is very safe: the area is well lighted, the metro is one half block away, and entrance to the building is locked at all times.
• Mr. Colinas is a wonderful individual who will do anything to make your stay absolutely perfect.
• My deposit was returned immediately. I simply told him to tear up the check I trust him completely.
• I know you will enjoy your stay. If you have more question feel free to ask. If you want to talk in person I will gladly give you my telephone number.
• Regards,

Comment from: M*** B***, USA

• We definitely enjoyed our stay at Mr. Colinas's apartment in Paris. It was by far the best place we've stayed on our trip to Europe. We don't have children, but we both felt completely safe in the neighborhood and the building. It's not a particularly fancy or rich neighborhood, and there are few tourists, but it was very quiet (at night) and had a safe feeling. During the day the street is busy with traffic and honking like any big city, but the double-glass windows kept it quiet inside. There are stores and restaurants all around, of all sorts. The street is well-lit, and the building has hand-operated lights in the entry hall and staircase landings (you have to push the button, and afterwards it turns off automatically). We walked to the Metro (less than a block) at all hours.
• The apartment is lovely, especially if you like classical Belle Epoque French furniture and style. Many of the pieces seem to be actual antiques. It is an old building, though, and the wooden floors creak quite a bit. The apartment is in very good condition, and everything works, but it's not like a luxury hotel where everything is shiny and new. The main bathroom is modern and has a great shower, bidet, and sink. The toilet is in a small separate room. There is a second bathroom off the third bedroom, also modern but a little older, also with toilet and sink and a bathtub (didn't try it), and there is a washing machine (no dryer, though). The washing machine was a little difficult to use and we decided to use the coin laundromat on the street (next door) after the first attempt with the washer. The kitchen was fine. Plenty of hot water. The beds are large and comfortable
• Mr. Colinas's daughter Mathilde met us at the apartment and showed us everything. It's very well stocked with supplies of all sorts. The Internet connection works fine, but it's wired (ethernet) only (there's also a PC there but we used our laptops instead); the wi-fi was not available (apparently that has to be set up with the cable company).
• We had no problems, and Mr. Colinas called on the apartment phone later in the first day to make sure everything was all right. There's a notebook of useful info in a red binder with emergency contacts, store and restaurant recommendations, etc. After we left me emailed me promptly to say he was returning the deposit check (and I said it would just be easier to tear it up, and we agreed) and there were no problems with that.
• Hope this is helpful - please feel free to follow up if you have any other questions.
• Best,

Comment from: T*** E***, USA

• We really enjoyed our stay in the Colinas apartment. It was in a nice area.
• The grocery was just a few blocks away, with many restaurants also in the nearby area. The metro was just down the street and was well lit.
• We have a 6 year old daughter and a 1 year old son and we felt it was very safe. You have to pass 2 keyed entrances to get into the building, and it is up 5 flights of stairs. (There is an elevator too if you need it.).
• The building is a little older, so it was a little cold and the floors do squeek a little, but it is nicely furnished with rugs and furniture.
• The living room and dining room windows look over the street, but we never heard much from the street. Our latest night was about 11:00 pm, and the streets were pretty empty. It felt safe.
• The only 'problem' we had with the apartment was figuring out the washing machine. In the states ours washing machines are very different, but it wasn't something we were too worried about.
• As for the deposit, Mr. Colinas just tore the check up once the stay was over.
• We are planning to stay there again when we return next summer. I hope you enjoy your stay.
• Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions.

Comment from: A*** M***, USA

• We felt very safe during our stay. The metro exit/entrance is 1/2 block from the front door. The area is part of a downtown of a very large city, so it will always feel a bit daunting for families that are not used to it. We have 3 children and felt very safe walking during the day and late at night.
• Mr. Colinas and his daughter were lovely people.
• The apartment was indeed very quiet and had a very well appointed kitchen. We felt right at home.
• Our deposit check was shredded by Mr. Colinas and I felt very comfortable about that.
• I'd be happy to answer any more questions if you have them. Cheers,

Comment from: G*** C***, Canada

• En ce qui concerne la location j'ai été satisfait sur tous les plans. Au niveau financier pas de problème pour récupérer le dépôt de garantie.
• L'appartement est très agréable car il y a peu de touristes! Mais beaucoup de restaurants et commerçants. Et il y a une bouche de métro a 20 mètres.
• L'appartement est superbe. En ce qui concerne le bruit les chambres sont en arrière et il n'y a aucun bruit. Sur la façade de l'avenue de la République il y a le trafic normal de voitures et peut être bruyant dans la journée. Il suffit de fermer les fenêtres.
• Nous avons eu accès à l'appartement dans un état impeccable.
• Le seul problème est l'ascenseur qui est désuet (comme souvent à Paris) mais il était question de le remplacer...
• Mr Colinas est une personne très organisée et amicale.
• Sincèrement votre,