Apartments Helzear Montparnasse Rive Gauche ★★★★

When I came across this hotel residence in my search for somewhere to stay on a regular basis in Paris, it seemed too good to be true. The picturesque building was once a printer’s workshop and has kept all the charm of its former raison d’être. It sits in a quiet little street, not far from busy Montparnasse with its train station, shops, restaurants and more. The rue Daguerre, just around the corner, is full of traditional French butchers, bakers, delicatessens and fruit and veg vendors. There is a handful of metro stations to choose from not far from the hotel and the shuttle for the airport is within walking distance. In terms of location, this can’t be beat!

I phoned to book straight away, not really sure which of the 14 apartments would fit our needs the best. The charming person on the other end of the line patiently went through all the options and advised us to stay in a 2-bedroom apartment. One room for us, one for the kids and a comfy fold-out sofa for our eldest until she settles into her own place. The apartment also has a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. Some of the apartments do have baths but, now that the kids are bigger, we all prefer showers.

We arrive early-evening. Someone is on hand to help us settle in and show us the ropes. They kindly let us know they are just a phone call away if we need them before leaving us to discover our temporary abode. I’m feeling rather pleased with myself at my find! Everyone seems to be under its charm since we stepped into the cobbled central courtyard and laid eyes on the beautiful white building with its tall windows framed by deep green shutters. The apartment is well laid out, spotless and very functional and the cheerful decoration and fat, comfy sofas really make the place like home.

We pop out to the rue Daguerre where we get some saucisson, warm baguettes and wine to tide us over until dinner. It’s a warm evening so we have our aperitif in the leafy courtyard and plan the weeks to come. I’m already checking which one of the nearby metro lines will get us directly to the main department stores on the right bank while my husband is listing all the nearby art galleries and museums. The Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art is practically on our doorstep. The kids want to visit all the major tourist attractions and eat at all the cool restaurants.

Our eldest just wants to hang with her friends – she’s inside chatting away to them via her computer. If it wasn’t for the free Wi-Fi and the international TV, she’d be gone already! That’s okay. It’s the way it’s supposed to be. She’ll soon have her space and we’ll still be close by, living in total autonomous comfort in the heart of one of the most enchanting cities in the world.