Over Christmas, 2014, we stayed in a lovely apartment (Bernadette) in the Le Marais district of Paris (France, of course.)  Bernadette is a two bedroom, two and a half bath luxury rental – perfect for two couples or a family of four.  The apartment is on a narrow, but well-traveled street near the old Jewish quarter, one flight up from street level (with a small, but serviceable elevator).  There were boutique shops, bistros, bakeries, bars, and restaurants throughout the nearby streets.  Our favorite restaurant was Camille – no more than 30 steps away on the opposite side of the street.  Charming staff and good food.

The apartment boasts a modern kitchen, a dining table with seating for six, and a lovely living room area in addition to the two bedrooms.  The bedrooms are fairly large, the closet space ample, and the attached bathrooms luxurious.  The beds are comfortable and the linens are top quality.  The bedrooms face the buildings internal courtyard and we slept soundly with no problems from street noise.  The floor to ceiling windows in the main living area overlook the street and a bustling, but completely tolerable, street scene.  We immensely enjoyed savoring our morning coffee and afternoon aperitif at the little breakfast nook in the kitchen overlooking the street.  Locals and tourists passed under our windows in a fascinating flow of fashion and often flamboyance.

Our stay was certainly made stress-free by the availability of a dishwasher, microwave, American-size refrigerator, and a clothes washer and dryer set.  The kitchen was well equipped with all the silverware, glassware, cooking utensils, and spices we could possibly need to enjoy many a meal at the apartment.  It was a nice and relaxing change from our regular visits to the many choices for eating Paris has to offer.  It was loads of fun going shopping in the nearby specialty stores (fromageries, patisseries, etc.) and markets and making our own meals – just like locals!

We were especially delighted that Paris Copia arranged for the apartment to be stocked prior to our arrival with a number of staples (coffee, tea, sugar, milk, etc.) as well as some surprising luxuries – a couple of bottles of wine, a baguette, some pastries, and some cheese.  Very thoughtful. Paris is a walking town and the location of Bernadette was perfect for exploring the 3rd and 4th districts and for extended walks to the Louvre, Notre Dame, Saint-Germain de Pres, the Musee d’Orsay, the Rue de Rivoli, etc.