I loved the Pingus apartment! I stayed there from June to September as I carried out my mission as a Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics volunteer.

The apartment is located just outside of Paris in the suburb of Puteaux. Although I booked it because it seemed close to Paris' 16th arrondissement where my volunteer position was based, in the back of my mind I was afraid that commuting from a suburb would be difficult. However, getting around was never a problem. The apartment turned out to be just a short walk from several modes of reliable, frequently running public transportation, making for quick and easy trips, not only to the 16th arrondissement, but to anywhere in Paris: I found Puteaux to be closer and better connected to the center of Paris than some parts of Paris itself!

My second major concern with booking outside of Paris was safety. Was I going to feel safe living in Puteaux? As a volunteer, I had some shifts starting as early as 6:00am and other shifts ending as late as 1:30am. But despite these very early and very late times, I always felt safe leaving from and returning to Puteaux and the Pingus apartment. Even at these oddball hours, I felt secure walking to and from the transit station.

Puteaux turned out to be lovely. A quiet neighborhood, yet everything I needed - from public transportation to traditional French boulangeries to parks to supermarkets - was within walking distance.

Regarding the apartment itself, it is exactly as pictured on the website. When I first entered the apartment, I was blown away but how accurate the photos were. There's always a bit of apprehension booking through the internet, but I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that what I saw in the pictures was exactly what I was getting.

Everything was clean and well maintained, with practical conveniences like a washer and little luxuries like a Nespresso machine. And drinking my coffee on the balcony, overlooking the complex's private garden, was a simple, daily indulgence that made me love the apartment all the more!

Although I've lived in and around Paris on other occasions, this particular trip was filled with so many unknowns, from not knowing what to expect as a volunteer to not knowing if my accomodations would make volunteering challenging. However, the Pingus apartment contributed in making my Paris 2024 volunteer experience one of the best experiences of my life!

The Pingus apartment, as well as the consistently supportive and attentive professionalism of Guillaume Kech, delivered quality of life. For the time I was there, I experienced my dream of living and working/volunteering in France. I fully lived my French fantasy of waking up and walking to the local boulangerie for a croissant and warm baguette, to then return home, make myself an espresso, and have my breakfast on the balcony as I watched neighbors leave for work and school. Beautiful mornings leading to beautiful days, first as a tourist visiting Parisian landmarks then as a volunteer on a mission. And, with a washing machine in the apartment, never having dirty laundry piling up!

The Pingus apartment gave me all this and more! I've already written a lot, but could go on and on about how much I loved the Pingus apartment and how grateful I am for Paris Autrement!

The Pingus apartment truly checked all the boxes and I would stay there again in a heartbeat!