Swell Group

Getting there

From UK

Eurostar travels between London St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord in about 2hrs 15 mins.

Alternatively, British Airways, Air France, Easyjet and Flybe fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle from a range of locations around the UK. Ryanair flies from a number of locations in the UK to Beauvais which is about an hour north of Paris. They arrange for coaches to take passengers into Porte Maillot in Central Paris.

From Ireland

Aer Lingus flies from Dublin and Cork to Charles de Gaulle. Ryanair flies from Dublin and Shannon to Beauvais.

Is it right for me?

Our Paris apartment is a gorgeous little nest described rather well as ‘frothissimo’ by Alastair Sawday. The apartment has plenty of Parisian style and is aimed, as all our properties are, for the relaxed, urbane traveller. It is suitable for couples and one baby under 2. The apartment is small (39sqm/400sq ft) but well-proportioned, certainly bigger than most hotel rooms and has its original layout. There are three flights of stairs, in a building with seven floors—it is quite normal in Paris to take stairs and people of all ages take the famous Montmartre steps (seen on many a postcard) all around the arrondisement. It is really NOT suitable for people who cannot manage stairs or have any mobility issues.

Renting our apartment is like living like a Parisian and you will be able to buy your fresh bread and provisions from the local shops as your neighbours will be doing. The bedroom faces onto the courtyard meaning there is no traffic noise but you may have other residents crossing the courtyard on their way out. It is, as the locals would say, very ‘calme’. The courtyard and main staircase have not had the ‘Swell’ treatment as they are under the control of the property managers known in Paris as the building’s ‘Syndique’ and are fine, although we‘d love to get our hands on them.

There is purposefully no TV or WiFi. This is so people can have a proper break as it is all too easy to bring all your emails and work stuff on holiday these days. You will be amazed how much of a break you get. There is, however, an internet café nearby. There are too many brasseries to eat at, too many Seine side boulevards to stroll down and too much good wine to quaff to bother with babbling CNN or Yahoo in Paris. One guest (from Ireland) had to leave early as she said “TV was like water” to her and she couldn't cope without it. If that sounds like you, and a TV could make or break your stay in Paris, our apartment is not for you. If you like to pad around, listen to music, have some conversation, a glass of wine, read and get into real Paris life, you will really enjoy your stay.

Rest assured, you will not be uncomfortable in the apartment – the bed is like a cloud, the living room is a romantic cocoon of rich caramel and berry tones and all-in-all we think this accommodation represents great value for money and is best described by one Swedish couple who commented “as hard as we tried we couldn't find a more perfect Paris than the one inside the apartment.” Even since we launched five years ago we have seen the erosion of many traditional brasseries and shops to be replaced by a euro-contemporary version of the same. It is our view that this little gem sits perfectly with the Paris most people still come to see – the stylish, distinctive and impossibly romantic one.