The Airbnb with the Very Loud Mornings
The Short Version
A beautifully renovated little apartment in Paris's 5th arrondissement, with modern furnishings, a gorgeous bathroom, and an unbeatable location just two blocks from the Seine. The only downside? A 4 a.m. garbage collection outside the bedroom window.
Location: Paris, France
Sleeps: Up to 4 (but I don’t recommend it for more than 2)
Layout: Two bedrooms with an open kitchen and living area, and one bathroom.
Perfect for: Solo travelers, couples, or friends that don’t mind sharing a small space.
Highlights: Nespresso machine, sun-filled living areas, and an excellent location within walking distance of the Seine and Notre-Dame.
In March 2026, my cousin Makena texted me out of the blue and asked, “Any chance you want to go to Paris in like a week and a half lol.” I immediately responded that OF COURSE I did. She already had her plane ticket, so all I needed to do was book mine and we’d be on our way.
Unfortunately, flights from Charlotte to Paris on such short notice were around $2,500, which was an absolutely ridiculous amount of money to spend on a plane ticket. I started searching nearby airports and eventually found a much cheaper option flying out of Raleigh. The only catch was that I’d have to wake up at 4 a.m., drive from Charlotte to Raleigh, fly to Boston, spend approximately ten hours there, and then catch an overnight flight to Paris. Apparently, that was preferable to spending $2,500, because that’s exactly what I did.
By the time I arrived in Boston, I’d already been awake for most of the day and couldn’t fathom sitting in the airport for another ten hours. Instead, I booked a room at an airport hotel, where I could take a nap, get some work done, and relax before our evening flight.
I should note that Makena and I are essentially from two different generations. I’m a millennial, and she’s Gen Z, but the age difference never feels more apparent than when we’re at the airport. I’m the person who arrives two hours early for an international flight, even when I’m staying at the hotel next to the terminal. Makena, on the other hand, didn’t even arrive at the gate two minutes before boarding. In fact, I’d been sitting at the gate for hours and had already boarded the plane before she even arrived.
We hadn’t seen each other in a while, and our reunion happened as she was walking down the aisle of the airplane trying to find her seat. We managed a quick “hi!” before she had to get out of the way, and it wasn’t until we landed in Paris the next morning that we could have our enthusiastic reunion.
Getting to the Apartment
We arrived in Paris early that morning, and thankfully, I’d booked our Airbnb starting the night before. This is one of the bougiest aspects of the way I travel. If the apartment is available, I’ll book the previous night so I can go straight from the airport to my accommodations. I hate arriving somewhere exhausted, having to store my luggage, and wandering around for hours until I’m allowed to check in. I don’t allow myself many luxuries in life, but this is definitely one of them.
We took the train from the airport into the city, which was incredibly easy. The last time I’d visited Paris, I’d purchased a physical Navigo card to use on the trains and Metro, so I began looking around for a ticket counter. Meanwhile, Makena informed me that she’d already added the pass to her Apple Wallet and figured out how to get us through the turnstiles. Once again, very apparent that she’s Gen Z and I’m not.
We got off the train at Notre-Dame, and I loved coming up from the station to find ourselves standing at the foot of the cathedral. Our Airbnb was a short walk across the Seine, about two blocks from the river in the 5th arrondissement. It was an incredibly convenient location, and I was excited to see the apartment we’d booked.
When we arrived at the building, however, there were construction materials in the entrance, including sheets of drywall that had been placed directly in front of the lockbox containing our keys. I’m no stranger to DIY and construction, so after all that traveling, I found myself climbing over drywall in the entrance of a Paris apartment building just to get to the lockbox. We eventually retrieved the keys, carried our luggage up the stairs, and made it inside.
A Very Cute, Very Small Paris Apartment
Our apartment had been recently renovated, and the owners did a beautiful job. It was definitely on the small side, with two nearly identical bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open kitchen and living area, but the layout worked well for what we needed.
The kitchen was immediately inside the entrance and opened into the living and dining area. The furnishings were modern, with wood details and bouclé fabric that felt cozy and chic. The bathroom was particularly striking, with beautiful marble-look tile covering the walls from floor to ceiling.
As much as I love a spacious Airbnb, I didn’t mind the size of this one. We were only in Paris for a few days, and we weren’t planning to spend our afternoons lounging around the apartment when there was so much to see and do outside.
One of our favorite parts of the trip was our mornings in the Airbnb. We’d make coffee with the Nespresso, sit on the couch and talk about what we wanted to do that day, or sit in front of the mirrors doing our makeup while we got ready. Having two separate bedrooms was great for sleeping and getting dressed, but the living area was where we spent the most time together.
It was a great arrangement for two cousins who hadn’t seen each other in a while and had quite a bit of catching up to do.
Morning Runs, Pastries, and Life in the 5th Arrondissement
The location was easily my favorite thing about this apartment. We were only a couple of blocks from the Seine, with Notre-Dame, Boulevard Saint-Germain, and plenty of cafés and restaurants within walking distance. It was also convenient for taking the Metro to other parts of Paris, which made it easy to explore without spending much time figuring out transportation.
One of my favorite mornings of the entire trip was when Makena and I woke up early and went for a run along the Seine. We ran down to the river, followed the waterfront, crossed one of the bridges, and made our way back toward Notre-Dame before crossing the river again.
I’d been to Paris before and spent plenty of time wandering along the Seine, but there was something so fun about waking up and going for a run there. For a little while, we felt like locals instead of tourists.
Afterward, we stopped at La Maison d’Isabelle for pastries, which is on pretty much everyone’s Paris itinerary. Fortunately, it’s worth the hype, and we arrived early enough that there was hardly a line. After getting our pastries, we went to the little market outside where we bought some fresh fruit to take back to the apartment.
The One Thing I Really Didn’t Love
Unfortunately, the apartment had one pretty significant drawback, and that was the street noise in the front bedroom. Previous guests had mentioned the noise in their reviews, but I, ever the optimist, assumed it couldn’t possibly be as bad as they made it sound. A little street noise was to be expected.
What I wasn’t expecting was to be woken up at 4 a.m. every morning by the sound of glass bottles being dumped into a garbage truck directly below my bedroom window. It was incredibly loud, and the white noise didn’t even come close to covering it. Once the trucks finally finished their rounds, I still had the morning sunlight to contend with. The bedroom had sheer window curtains, meaning as soon as the sun started coming up, so did I, whether I wanted to or not.
Makena, however, slept great in the bedroom overlooking the interior courtyard. She didn’t have the same issues with noise and definitely got the better end of the deal.
For anyone considering this Airbnb, I’d recommend bringing earplugs, an eye mask, and whatever else you need to sleep comfortably. If you’re an especially light sleeper, I’d consider booking somewhere else or make sure you’re the friend who gets the back bedroom.
A Few Practical Details
The kitchen had everything we needed for our short visit, including a Nespresso machine that we used in the mornings. The bathroom had been beautifully renovated with floor-to-ceiling marble-look tile, and the shared living area was comfortable enough for us to relax and get ready together.
The apartment’s location in the 5th arrondissement was excellent. We were within easy walking distance of Notre-Dame, the Seine, Boulevard Saint-Germain, and several nearby Metro stations, making it convenient to explore both sides of the river.
The building didn’t have an elevator, so we had to carry our luggage up the stairs.
Who I’d Recommend It For
I think this apartment works well for anyone who’d like separate bedrooms and plans to spend most of their time exploring Paris.
It would also be a perfect option for a solo traveler, as you could sleep in the quiet back bedroom and use the front bedroom for luggage and clothes. Considering how little storage space there was, I wouldn’t mind having an entire extra bedroom to store my stuff.
For us, the apartment was a good fit. I loved the interiors, we had enough space to enjoy our mornings together, and the location allowed us to do exactly what we’d hoped: spend a few days wandering around Paris without much of an itinerary.
While I wish I’d slept better, I only have fond memories from this trip.
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