Unbelievably friendly and warm staff who gladly gave expert travel advice and recommendations that only a Roman would normally be privy to. - Loic Diels
I LOVE this website and will gladly recommend it to anyone headed this way. Nothing disappointed us! - Mary-Iris Taylor
I have been using Cross-Pollinate for about 10 years now. The service is consistently great and I can always find just the kind of apartment we like, at the right price. - Hirani Himona
A really great idea - with a network of hand picked little rooms/guesthouses. If only we could have this in more city destinations! - Zoe Buck
I love Cross-Pollinate and every time we go to a new city I look to see whether they have some accommodations over there. - Arantza Aldea
The two places I have stayed at from Cross-Pollinate have been among the best across Europe. Highly recommended. - Nicholas Burn
Thanks a lot to Cross-Pollinate for the opportunity to experience a city as an insider! We really enjoyed our stay in Rome and Venice and look forward to more. - Tatiana Marchenko
Cross-Pollinate was very helpful when the owner of the B&B wanted to charge us for the baby under 2 y o. It would have been difficult without them since the owners did not speak any english. - Yulia Pichugina
This was our only stay with a C-P apartment and we were very pleased with the entire process. Will look to use them again on our next Europe trip! - Anthony Giglio
Great web site and quick response from the team a CP made the whole experience easy and hassle free. I have already recommended CP to quite of few of my airline industry colleagues and I'm sure they will make use of their excellent service. - Shane Pickles
Cross-Pollinate was extremely helpful! They found us a place to stay in our price range when many other places of business couldn't help us. - Sarah Seminutin
Cross-Pollinate was very easy to use, and it is so much better to stay in places like these than big corporate hotels; you get a much better feel for the place. - Kaspar Deane
Very straight forward. Well done. Definitely would use it again. Love these type of alternatives to hotels! - John White
Cross-Pollinate was fantastic and easy to use. We used Cross-Pollinate to book a room in Florence (the second leg of our trip), which was everything I thought it would be. We have recommended Cross-Pollinate to our friends. - Barbara Carlin
Cross-Pollinate are great - the descriptions are accurate and they are very responsive to questions. - Dominique Bayne
Cross Pollinate was just the best. I had tried a couple of places before coming upon them. As soon as I sent the first email I stopped looking for any more websites. I just wish they expanded to every city in Europe. Their knowledge, helpfulness, etc. was second to none. - Caroline Collis
Appartement Baron
A one bedroom apartment in the center of Paris for 105 euro per night for two people - what's the catch, you wonder? First, let me say that for the same price in a hotel you would be crammed into a space about half the size of the bedroom. So to have a bedroom (with French double bed - 140cm), living room with fireplace, small kitchen with full fridge/freezer and bathroom with shower, in an up and coming location like Oberkampf where there are many hip bars and restaurants cropping up, is a pretty special event. And to make it even better, the owner leaves some breakfast items in advance so you don't even have to haul your tired self to the store to buy jam and coffee. Elizabeth Baron, who lives there most of the time when the flat isn't rented, has made her place quite cozy. If you're on a budget and want to experience Paris in an apartment, this is the place.

About the area:

The 11th Arrondissement is one of the most densely populated quarters of Paris. Located on the right bank (North side) of the Siene, it borders the 3rd and 4th Arrondissement to the West and the 20th to the North East. Comprised of various sub-neighborhoods that are often described as up and coming, trendy, and "bobo" a mix of bourgeois and bohème. Although common for guides to comment on the variety of bars and restaurants in any particular Arrondissement, this is especially true for the 11th. The various neighborhoods create a mix of calm, residential streets and large, lively boulevards, as well as parks and a strong feeling of "local" community. It does not feel populated mostly by tourists as the areas closer to the Louvre and the Marais can, nor does it feel away from the action or that you're sacrificing being in the "center" of the city. There are also many notable sites in the 11th, such as the Place de la République, and the Opera Bastille. There's also an Edith Piaf museum and the long outdoor market at Blvd. Richard-Lenoir. The area around Oberkampf is trendier, more on the bohemian side, and a good bet for small cafés and restaurants. Just outside the 11th you have the Marais to the West and the Père-Lachaise cemetery to the East. There are many major Metro station and buses so the rest of Paris is very accessible.

Please note that the owner will not accept check-ins after 7pm.
Amenities
  • 2nd floor
  • no elevator
  • electric heating
  • American coffee machine
  • cable/satellite TV
  • internet hookup
  • iron
  • linen and towels provided
  • stereo
  • toaster oven
  • VCR
  • WiFi
  • small kitchenette
  • breakfast items provided
  • washing machine
  • hair dryer
Reviews
Alan Bailey on Oct 2018:


The location and the very clean apartment.
The listing said there was a washing machine. Unfortunately it was broken so we had to use the laundromat down the road instead.
Good.
Geoffrey on Sep 2018:


Location was excellent. Farmers market one block away on 2 days of the week. Close to Metro. Lots of businesses nearby - banks, restaurants, etc.. Quiet at night. Very welcoming owner of the apartment.
Disappointed that washing machine was not working, but relatively minor considering everything else that did work.
Emails from Cross-Pollinate were clear and helpful.
Coral Turner on Aug 2017:

Everything about this property was wonderful. The proprietor was terrific, the location was great. I walked almost everywhere from this great apartment.
It was easy and trouble free. I would use again and have checked other European cities for their properties
Barbara Crawford on Oct 2017:


Charming apartment, well-appointed in a lively neighborhood but apartment is quiet. This is our second time staying here, 10 days this time! We love it. Elisabeth is very helpful, as is Cross Polinate staff; she is understanding and flexible.
Lighting could be better, could use a true spatula.
We have used Cross Polinate at other times and are always satisfied. Thank you.
John Laidlaw on Feb 2017:


Our stay at Appartement Baron was very pleasant. The place was in good - excellent, in fact - condition, at least given the age of the building. Everything worked, we felt secure at night. It is - at least for our purposes - a pleasantly central location. Both Métro and busses are but a few minutes' walk either way on the nearest boulevards. There is an excellent grocery store - almost North American in size and style, on Rue Amelot, and determined walkers can easily get to the river, or other major sites on the centre of the city.
The one "surprise" was that we looked out the window at the back and side of the Bataclan. We slept no less soundly for this, but we hadn't quite realised just where that unfortunate incident took place.
Given our success, both here and on Florence and Rome, we would definitely use both Cross Pollinate and Bee Hive again, and recommend them to friends.
Dinda on Nov 2016:


Location, private apartement, host (elisabeth) very nice, facilities all complete.
No elevator
The host can not speak english. But she helped me with the trouble on stove on sunday morning. I texted her and she replied in fluent english. Maybe she asked somebody wrote her. But it doesnt matter.. she's so adorably nice
Phillip on May 2016:


We enjoyed our stay! The apartment was spacious and comfy. It's well-situated near a metro stop (from that stop, one transfer can get you just about anywhere you want to go), but it's down a quiet alley so it's not too noisy. There's a grocery store right around the corner, so you can get cheap eats and whatever else you need. The bed was comfortable. And Elisabeth was sooo warm, welcoming, and sweet! If we ever return to Paris, we'd definitely consider staying here again!
I think the only very minor inconvenience we had was that the hot water seems to take a while to "refill", so the first morning my wife ran out of warm water during a shower. Once we knew that, it wasn't an issue.
The initial apartment we wanted wasn't available, so we got personal recommendations for other locations. Very helpful!!
Charles Sikes on Oct 2015:


Elizabeth was absolutely wonderful. We arrived much earlier than expected and were caught in the middle of a rain storm. She had a friend come and let us in the apartment. I cannot say more than she was wonderful.
Need a little bit better instructions on how to use the stove, especially on how to turn it off. We forgot about the washing machine, but didn't need it.
Always exactly as expected. Very good job. Could use help in Barcelona next year and possibly Lisbon.
VeronicaH on Dec 2014:


A lovely apartment in a lively and interesting location with lots of nearby shops, cafés and restaurants. It is very convenient for travel by Eurostar, only 4 stops on line 5 and with the clear, easy to follow instructions, we arrived at our Paris 'home from home' in no time at all. Our charming host Elisabeth was there waiting to greet us. Elisabeth is very warm and welcoming and immediately made us feel at home. She also gave us helpful tips on restaurants and where to shop. The apartment itself was clean and comfortable with everything we needed and looked even nicer in real life than in the photos. We look forward to staying there again.
We were happy with the apartment as it was.
Very good experience. Efficient, timely. Everything went really smoothly. Thank you.
Robert and Andja on Jul 2014:

Great location in the city and we were a 5 minute walk away from the metro. The apartment had everything we needed and we took advantage of it. Much better than a hotel and priced very well for what you get. We arrived to a clean apartment and we were treated like a friend.
A professional company that did a great job to help us set up our stays abroad. I will definitely use it again and again in the future.
Lizett on May 2014:


Very cute Parisian place, good location near metro stop/ grocery stores/ pharmacies, extremely helpful host (Elizabeth provided croissants, tea, jelly, and other goodies to start with), reliable/ free wifi, lots of city maps/ guide books provided, all necessities provided (even an American adapter for outlet), comfortable stay. Elizabeth is a very sweet person who even gifted us with cheese from her home region of Toulouse. This is her home and should be treated with respect and care just as she treats her guests. I would definitely stay here again.
There was a very strange and strong smell towards the end of the stay. We could not figure out what it was so that we could clean it. Maybe it was something with the building and not Elizabeth's apartment. Other than that everything was fantastic!
Cross-Pollinate is a great site and facilitator. This is my first time and I will definitely use the site again!
Admin on 07. Dec 2014:
Thanks for your positive comments. We've been informed that some of the works were to fix the flow of waste water, which is what you smelled. It's all sorted now and was only temporary.
Derek & Vicki Plummer on May 2014:


A lovely location that is convenient to 2 Metro stations & buses. A very lovely, helpful hostess - thanks Elisabeth for making our stay so wonderful & being so helpful when things went slightly astray. We appreciated the space to relax, the opportunity to prepare our own meals (after eating out for three weeks), and to crash into a comfortable bed after exploring Paris on foot all day. A very compact appartement with all the necessary amenities & exactly as described. A grocery store just around the corner & on Thursdays and Sundays a market on the way to Place Bastille. It is nice to stay in a residential neighbourhood away from tourism yet be able to reach the sights so readily. Elisabeth provides all sorts of tourist brochures for your use making it easy to decide on a day's activities.
Nothing! Just a note: you are up 2 landings from the entrance on an easy staircase.
We will use Cross-Pollinate again when the occasion arises. Steve was very helpful throughout our protracted booking process & the property descriptions & pictures are accurate. We will recommend Cross-Pollinate to others looking for a unique and affordable accommodations experience in any of the cities they serve.
Robert Lewandoski on Apr 2014:


Cute apartment in the 11th district. Close to Metro. Apartment was clean and tidy. Elizabeth was gracious and showed us around the neighborhood.
Be aware it's 2flights up a winding staircase may not be suitable for the elderly. A detailed map of the immediate area would be helpful ie location of bakery market and metro. Elizabeth takes you on a walking tour but it becomes confusing
Very professional with lots of communications
Stephanie Moriarty on Oct 2013:


Very comfortable and relatively closes to everywhere and we felt safe. Really enjoyed have the separate bedroom
Would recommend getting better pillows as they were lumpy and new towels as they are worn
Easy to use and a nice recommendations. I would u again
Admin on 05. Jun 2014:
Just a note that new pillows have been purchased in response to this review.
Barbara Crawford on Sep 2013:


This is a very charming apartment in a good location. Ms. Baron is a very gracious and generous hostess. We loved coming back to this quaint and well-furnished place after a busy day sightseeing and being able to fix a meal and listen to classical music.
A soap dish in the shower stall and some salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen would have been nice. Modern sound-reducing windows would be a plus.
We are very happy we went through Cross-Pollinate in planning our stays this year. How nice it is to stay in a furnished apartment in a neighborhood as opposed to a big 5 star hotel away from the locals.
Admin on 05. Jun 2014:
The owner, in response to this review, has bought a salt and pepper shaker and now leaves soap for guests.
christine on Sep 2013:
Nice studio with atmosphere, i felt very well and Elisabeth is friendly. It was a great time in her appartment.
Patricia on May 2013:


This apartment was one of the highlights of our Paris vacation. Elisabeth the owner takes pride in her apartment and it shows. Very clean. Very comfortable living room and the kitchen was perfect. It was well stocked with a fridge, American coffee machine and every kitchen utensil you can imagine. One note about Elisabeth- she is wonderful. Greated us with enthusiasm and warmth. Although lacking English proficiency, she compensates with her effort to communicate her love for Paris. She also provides tons of maps and brochures which we utilized throughout our stay. There also aren't too many reviews on this website for this apartment but there is a guest book dating back to 2009 with raving handwritten reviews and thanks. We will be recommending this apartment to everyone we know going to Paris. Thanks for listing a great apartment!!
There were no directions on how to use the washing machine. The apartment could use more lamps, especially in the bedroom.
Helpful website. Will use again to book in other cities!
Sara on May 2013:


The apartment was very cute and authentically Parisian and Elizabeth was very helpful in providing tips upon our arrival.
Nothing
My experience was very positive. The booking process was smooth and all information that we received was accurate and helpful.
Ratings
average score
4.8 / 5.0
Price/Value
4.7
Comfort
4.7
Cleanliness
4.8
Accuracy of listing
4.8
Location
4.6
Helpfulness of owner / staff / host
4.8
Helpfulness of Cross-Pollinate
4.8
Booking details
Booking details: vacation rental apartment (1 bedroom / 1 bathroom), sleeps max. 2 people
Payment accepted: cash on arrival in euro
Minimum stay: minimum stay of 4 nights
Cancellations allowed up to: 5 days before arrival
Occupancy: double
Bed options: 1 double (140 cm)
Policies & Extra Charges: non-smoking, fee for check-in after 10 pm is €20
Spoken Language(s):
Rates and Availability
Location
 Appartement Baron
A
Gare du Nord
B
Gare Montparnasse
C
Gare de Lyon
D
Louvre
E
Notre-Dame
F
Centre Pompidou
G
Tour Eiffel
H
Basilique du Sacre Coeur
I
Place de la Bastille
J
Arc de Triomphe
K
Opéra
L
Panthéon
M
Champs-Elysées