Reviews

John Herber
Colmar, PA
It was a great experience to stay in Paris at Elzevir to get the feel of what it is like to live as a Parisian.

We had criteria to help us make our decision to stay at Elzevir. These were: Internet access with a computer and printer, towel warmer, king size bed, walking distance to a Metro stop.

Elzevir was a lovely, newly upgraded apartment. Even the large closets had wooden hangers. Extra touches included a bottle of wine and fresh bouquet of roses awaiting us from our long flight.

Kitchen was fully stocked with equipment, pans, utensils etc. The toaster was able to warm up croissants, which was fantastic. Even though we brought our own supply of some items there was not a need. There was plenty of dishwasher and dish soap, laundry soap, etc.

We were most impressed with the instructions on how to use all the equipment and explanation of how the keys work in Paris. Every question you might ask was covered in the instruction book. They also included how to get to and from the Airport and French words to hand the taxi driver if you did not speak French. This is the most thorough information we have had at renting through VRBO in the last seven years. Bill was very helpful and friendly when e-mailing him before, during or after the trip.

We also took advantage of the walking-tour book they put together. It helped us the first day or two to get familiar with the local area. It was so convenient to many cafes. After a day touring Paris, you just wanted to stop somewhere close to the apartment to have dinner. We went to Camilles several times.

We would absolutely stay at Elzevir when visiting Paris again.

Matt Collins
Melbourne, Australia
Just a short note to thank you for allowing me to rent your beautiful apartment over the past week or so. I have greatly enjoyed the apartment and its location, and particularly the many little amenities you provided, including the guidebooks, CDs, wireless internet, printer, etc etc. You really have done a wonderful job with the apartment, and have thought of just about everything.

Dave Wollard
Denver, CO
Back from Paris, and a wonderful time! The apartment is lovely, and your furnishings, appliances, etc. couldn't be any better. We hope that some of our friends will use the apartment when they visit Paris. We are certainly encouraging them to do so. Our thanks for all you did to make the apartment so perfect! The apartment adds so much to the Paris Experience that it’s a shame that everyone going to Paris can’t stay there!

Janice Linhares
Modesto, CA
Extremely quiet, especially at night. Very good for resting/sleeping. Loved the "Elzevir gray/blue" tiles in bathroom. Very restful colors throughout. Beautiful light through long, lovely windows. A soothing space in a splendid city.

Jan Peardon
Australia
I would like to thank you and Ineke for the opportunity to stay in your lovely Paris apartment. My daughter Bridie and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Paris. I hope you don't mind if I recommend the apartment to other friends in Australia as it was recommended to us.

Bryan Crement
Wilton Manors, FL
What a great place! So centrally located and within walking distance of everything - our trip could not have been better!!

Judy Lubershane
Lexington, MA
We are back home after a glorious week in Paris. Your apartment is wonderful; we often felt we were players on a movie set in Paris, with the windows open to the courtyard and street, warm breezes, sounds of children playing in the park around the corner.

Mary McIntosh and Dan Abele
Washington DC
Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful apartment. We very much appreciate your style and attention to detail. It is very special. We had a fabulous week and enjoyed Paris immensely. Coming home to 16 Rue Elzevir capped off each day. Your books, computer were >very helpful (loved the screen-saver photos). Thank you so much. We look forward to our next visit. All the best.

Cash Snively and Liz Smith
Washington DC
Liz and I thoroughly enjoyed Paris this year - in large part due to your wonderful apartment. It is thoughtfully appointed, very comfortable, and lends a very homey feel to our time on the road. In short, it was easy to feel at home instantly as we explored the city around us.

For an old building (17th Century), it sure does feel like the best of both worlds - the new interior, appliances, and designer touches all add a very special feel to being in Paris. It is obvious that you have gone to great lengths to ensure visitors to the apartment are cared for in every way. The thoughtful book selection on Paris, along with the "Paris Theme Movies" really made our stay fun. It was nice to come home, have a glass of wine and watch an old movie as we relaxed in preparation for thee coming day and exploring a new part of the city.

We walked everywhere... and being at the Louvre in 20 minutes, or sipping a cold beverage only steps from the apartment each was a pleasure. It is indeed hidden away and I doubt you will be able to keep the secret for very long - we will highly recommend a stay at your place for anyone planning a visit to the City of Light...

Irv Belzer
Kansas City, Missouri
Bill, we are back from a wonderful stay at the apartment and in Normandy. We just wanted to say thanks for the use of your outstanding Elzevir flat. It is hard to imagine things being better organized or more comfortable, and we thoroughly explored the neighborhood and beyond. We hope to be able to stay at the apartment again some time in the future. Thanks again. Irv and Sue

John Lucas
New York, New York
Our stay in Paris was beyond compare. The apartment is a gem. Thank you for thinking of everything including the wine and flowers. We'd like to stay for two weeks next year ...

Bruce Marks
London, England
Every time I stay at the apartment I am amazed how perfectly wonderful it is. The care and pride you put into your apartment makes any stay worthwhile with being in Paris, the cherry on top!! Anybody who would contemplate staying at a hotel after staying at rue Elzevir
is not of this world. What could be better than to be in Paris, staying in your own home away from home. C'est magnifique!!! Merci Beaucoup!!

Nicky, Scot and Taylor Maga
Redondo Beach, California, USA
Dear Bill & Ineke - I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed staying at The Elzévir Apartment. It was absolutely wonderful and we loved coming home to this beautiful apartment every night. I am so glad that we were able to experience a little of thelife in the Marais district. I will not hesitiate to recommend your apartment to my clients. Thank you again for making our stay in Paris so "Merveilleux". A bientot!

Mary Lansing
Mill Valley, California, USA
Dear Bill & Ineke - We had a blast in Paris, and many thanks for sharing your truly wonderful apartment with us. Everything was great and exceeded every expectation! While it was very hot in Paris, the apartment was relatively cool with the fans and a great refuge to restore oneself! I hope to stay there again before too long.

Don Bachner and Linda Henry
Denver, Colorado, USA
Just wanted to let you know that my wife and I had a wonderful time staying at your apartment in Paris. You guys have really thought of everything and the apartment was beautiful and immaculate.

I must say that having the DSL connection and the printer really helped facilitate the trip-It was great to be able to print a detailed map when going somewhere that was unfamiliar (like Boulogne Billancourt to see Cirque du Soleil). Also, I brought along my Vonage voip phone adaptor which allowed my 90 year old in-laws the ability to call us occasionally and it worked perfect and the quality of the phone calls was perfect. I also brought along my Airport Express and was able to stream music (not loud or late at night ) from my laptop to your stereo, which again was just another nice touch be able to listen to "our" music.

Finally, it was great being able to cook dinner a couple of nights from the food we bought at the Batignolles Marche Biologique. It really was like living in Paris.

Jo and Ian Baudinet
Remeura, Auckland, New Zealand
We congratulate and thank you for all the small details which contributed to making our stay so memorable – the fresh flowers, great instructions, lovely bottle of wine (yes, we did have a number of discussions with Alex about wine and he was also a mine of information about many things, such as the reason rue Elzevir was the subject of a big police presence one day!), excellent CD selection, best shower we’ve ever had in Paris etc etc. We only wish we had more time to read all the books you had there about Paris and to visit some of the lesser known, but fascinating places. All the more reason for a return visit!

Thank you again for allowing us to rent your apartment and the opportunity to live the Parisian good-life.

Susan Riegel
Granite Bay, California, USA
After spending about a week in Italy in hotels my husband, son ,daughter and I traveled by overnight train to Paris. We took a taxi from the train station to "The Elzevir Apartment". The first taxi said there was no such street as Elzevir but we just got another taxi and he knew right where it was. After arriving on the quiet street we were warmly welcomed to the apartment with baby roses and a miniature Christmas tree made out of lights. We stayed over the Christmas holiday and left on New Year’s Day. We instantly felt comfortable.We also felt very safe the way the apartment has a street entrance and then a private upstairs entrance.

The apartment served us very well. We loved being close to many of the landmarks and museums of Paris as well as great little cafes and markets. We especially loved the rue de Rosiers where we consumed their delicious falafels as much as we could. We enjoyed walking to the large Bastille market one day. We came home and fixed a great meal with the fresh fish and vegetables that we bought there. The kitchen was very user friendly and well equipped. The metro stop was so very close which made it easy to get home if we were too tired to walk.

The comfort of the apartment always felt good, esp. a warm bath in the wintertime. Bill and Ineke have exquisite taste with their furniture, art, and for that matter each tiny detail. We loved the warm wood floors, the spacious clean and new feeling, as well as the book library, great music selection and very comfortable beds. Each time we returned home to the apartment it seemed to have a calming effect on us, very peaceful place with great light. We were pleasantly surprised to find an internet connection. It was a great place for us to be together as a family after a day in the city. We enjoyed relaxing breakfasts at the comfortable kitchen table. All in all I would highly recommend this apt. to anyone. There isn’t anything that we didn’t enjoy about it and I would certainly choose to stay there again in a heartbeat!

Nolan Snook
Petaluma, California, USA
We truly loved your apartment and my wife who appreciates design and taste had something to mention every day. You have all the details covered and have captured the essence of Paris.

We had a fabulous trip and having the apartment located where it is was such an advantage. You have certainly created an wonderful, tasteful environment, with attention to every detail. The Marais has certainly developed since our trip many years ago and it was great to compare, but your recommendations made it very enjoyable.

Daisy & Gavin Youngquist
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
We can hardly add to the many compliments that have been bestowed on this lovely location and apartment. Both my husband and I were thrilled with the entire experience and since we know just enough French to get by, it made for a terrific opportunity to truly live a bit in the Paris world and not have to rely on hotel staff.

The many supporting guides to museums and other visitors comments were better than any concierge and we relied on them tremendously.

We were also lucky to be able to have my cousins stop by for a drink before going to an adorable local bistro and they were astounded at the beautiful apartment. They will surely give your name out...

And... after walking for miles each day the bath salts in the extra long tub was all I could think of each night before bed.

We only wish we had more time to travel and feel that the popularity of this apartment is well deserved.

We feel lucky to have been able to find a week available when we were traveling.

Barbara and Bob Rogers
Tiburon, California, USA
My wife Barbara and I took our first trip to Europe as we were nearing retirement. We had rented the Elzevir Apartment and were looking forward to it's being a pleasant place to crash after busy days of museum hopping and restaurant sampling. The apartment would end up being much more for us.

On our first night in Paris--after arriving at the apartment, relaxing, and congratulating ourselves on having made the trip, we headed out to find a good first dinner on that first night in Paris.

We walked through the balmy evening looking at this and that place until we decided we would have our first dinner. We found a nice restaurant and then, without having had any wine, but probably tired from the flight from California, my wife in trying to move to make way for a waiter, fell down a flight of stairs and broke her shoulder.

After the emergency room and all that that entailed, I told her our trip insurance would allow us to return on the earliest flight back to San Francisco. She said that she thought the apartment seemed so nice that she'd rather stay.

We stayed and are so glad we did. While we were a bit slower in getting out and about, it was so comforting to have that nice space to wake up in and slowly begin each day. Since she was in a cast, I would give her baths in that comfortable bathroom and then prepare a breakfast.

We would walk through the Marais and then venture to all of the other great places of Paris, but it was so nice to return in the late afternoon to that nice apartment where she could nap while the curtins lofted the gentle breezes into the apartment. I could read or walk out into the neighborhood while she slept.

We would have our own "happy hour" in the apartment talking about what we had seen and done and then when we felt ready, we'd leave the quiet courtyard and venture out into the surrounding neighborhood that this veteran police detective found to be very safe at any hour.

We ultimately felt that we didn't want to go any further than the Marais--even after having visited all of the neighborhoods of Paris. A wine merchant in the building became a friend. I learned in the local laundromat, that despite anything the U.S.A has done in this world, the French still have an affection for the U.S.A. because--as a university student told me, "America saved us in World War II. We will never forget that, no matter what."

We made friends with the locals in the restaurants and believe we could not have had a better experience in Paris. I've since read Paris to the Moon and Paris Tales. What is engaging about those books has to do with finding more than what's listed in all of the travel brochures. We found that through staying at the Elzevir. I hope you do as well.

The hosts and their property managers provide a wonderful base for being in Paris. I wish everyone as nice a stay as we had.

Inspector Bob Rogers, San Francisco Police

Adina and Naomi
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
We are (reluctantly) returning the keys to the wonderful Elzévir apartment. We had a wonderful week in Paris, followed by a week in Provence/Nice. We very much appreciated the "Elzévir notebooks" explaining the appliances, walking tours, and articles about Paris. You have truly thought of everything to make your guests feel at home and comfortable. The location was so convenient for us and we walked everywhere.

When we got home your newsletter was in our in-box, bringing back even more wonderful memories. Thanks for all of your thoughtful touches. We will be recommending the Elzévir apartment to anyone we know going to Paris.

Hil and John Kennedy
Wodonga, Australia
Our stay at Elzévir was an experience we will remember as exciting, relaxing and aesthetically very pleasing. The information before our arrival was excellent and the apartment and neighborhood guides invaluable. We really felt we were living for a time as "Parisiens". We would love to visit again sometime in the near future. Hil and John.

Shirley and Don Dempster
Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Finally coming back down to earth following our wonderful holiday in France and Italy.  Some of the questions we have been asked by friends and family are:

What was the highlight of your trip?
Is there a place you would return to if you could?
Is there a place you would recommend?

In each case we answered – Paris and the Elzevir Apartment. Thank you for sharing your little piece of heaven with us. One can only imagine how much you must miss the city, the neighborhood and the very special space you have created there.   Of course we loved the apartment for all the obvious reasons – the overall feeling of spaciousness, the wonderful efficiency of the furnishings; the glorious light from those beautiful windows; the luxury of the bed and the walk-in shower; all the special little touches and of course the most important of all – location, location, location.

We felt at home from the moment we stepped through the old door into the courtyard and started up the staircase for our first glimpse of the apartment. This comfortable feeling extended to the whole Marais neighborhood and to Paris itself. All the research paid off in spades and we hit the street running (thanks to "No Jet Lag") with each day a new adventure. The odd time that we did get "turned around" led to some of our best discoveries – bustling market areas, cafes, bakeries, internet cafes, the gorgeous little jewel-like specialty shops and those wonderful parks where we could sit for a while and dream.

Having the apartment as a base allowed us to mix a little with the "hometown folk" – to see them at work, play and just plain "hanging out". With a little help from Don’s rusty French and both of us working very hard to keep in mind that we were in their territory we never once encountered anything approaching "attitude". We used the Batobus most days to get us into the areas we wanted to experience and walked and walked everywhere. We loved our early morning walks down to the river – each day taking a different route – the streets being washed down, the bakeries opening – oh those incredible pain aux raisin! The whole experience was uplifting, energizing and quite inspiring so again we thank you.

Trace Cooper
Paris, France
I spent 10 days at the Elzévir Apartment and was delighted with the apartment.   Several of the highlights of the apartment are as follows:  (1) the location - in the heart of the Marais, an easy walk to the Metro and steps to some of the best shopping in Paris (2) the kitchen - just what you need for your Parisian pied-a-terre, there are explicit operating manuals (in English with pictures) for each appliance and there's even a clothes washer/dryer (3) bathroom - beautiful bathroom with stunning shower and a tub by the window (4) bedroom - comfy bed and excellent linens along with plenty of closet space (5) library - a good collection of books on Paris as well as the owners own recommendation of their favorite restaurants and sites in Paris (6) condition - the apartment was spotless when I arrived.  While there might be cheaper apartments for rent in Paris, I guarentee you will not find a better "value" when you consider what you get for the money at the Elzévir Apartment - to get similar accomodations at a cool hotel would cost twice as much per night.  The only problem is that you'll probably have to book way in advance.

Ann and Mike Perry
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
The pictures of the apartment in the brochure are wonderful, but of course, do not do it justice - it is just beautiful. The well-equipped kitchen, ample closet space, appliances (microwave, washer/dryer, iron!) are reasons we personally give the apartment a 5-star rating. We especially appreciated your apartment guide, the metal-bindered Paris guide, the selection of dictionaries,maps, telephone books, stationery supplies. Our fourteen year old son said it all, when he asked to trade in his two weeks at the beach for two weeks in Paris (every year, he says). If you're interested in having us again next summer, and the next, and the next . . . we'll be more than happy to sign up. Thank you!! Ann and Mike Perry

P.S. May we recommend your apartment to our friends ? - it's hard to keep a gem like this a secret.

Photographs from our trips to Paris via Ofoto.com

Paris Photographs from our June/July 2008 trip
Paris Photographs from our January 2008 trip
Paris Photographs from our June 2007 trip
Paris Photographs from our December 2006 trip
Paris Photographs from our July 2006 trip
Paris Photographs from our Jan 2006 trip
Paris Photographs from our Jun 2005 trip
Paris Photographs from our Dec 2004 trip
Paris Photographs from our May 2004 trip
See Fritz's (our Westie) trip to Paris and Normandy, France
Paris Photographs from our Dec 2003 trip (including L'Oise region)
Paris Photographs from our June 2003 trip
Paris Photographs from our April 2003 trip
Paris Photographs from our May 2002 trip (including Normandie)

Photographs from other trips in France and in Europe

London photographs from June 2007
Amsterdam Photographs from December 2006
Venice Photographs from May 2004
Scotland Photographs from May 2004
Murviel-les-Beziers and environs Photographs from May 2004
Corbieres region of France Photographs from May 2004 (Part 1)
Corbieres region of France Photographs from May 2004 (Part 2)
London Photographs from May 2004

Westie photos, etc.

Exploring the Westie trail photographs from May 2004
Exploring the Westie trail article (pdf)
Fritz and his success against cancer (pdf)
San Francisco Bay Area Westie Club Spring Fling 2005 Photos
San Francisco Bay Area Westie Club Spring Fling 2006 Photos
San Francisco Bay Area Westie Club Tartan Games 2006 Photos
Westies Unleashed June 2007 Photos
San Francisco Bay Area Westie Club Tartan Games 2007 Photos
San Francisco Bay Area Westie Club Spring Fling 2008 Photos