PARIS TO THE MOON

BY LONGTIME NEW YORKER WRITER ADAM GOPNIK

Before our 30^th anniversary (one year belated) two weeks in Paris, I re-read Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik.

Though the book came out nearly two decades ago, based on experiences Gopnik had with this family nearly a quarter century ago, it holds up perfectly.

Paris is timeless.

Here’s the Penguin Random House blurb on the modern classic:

Paris.

The name alone conjures images of chestnut-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés, breathtaking façades around every corner–in short, an exquisite romanticism that has captured the American imagination for as long as there have been Americans.

In 1995, Adam Gopnik, his wife, and their infant son left the familiar comforts and hassles of New York City for the urbane glamour of the City of Light.

Gopnik is a longtime New Yorker writer, and the magazine has sent its writers to Paris for decades–but his was above all a personal pilgrimage to the place that had for so long been the undisputed capital of everything cultural and beautiful.

It was also the opportunity to raise a child who would know what it was to romp in the Luxembourg Gardens, to enjoy a croque monsieur in a Left Bank café–a child (and perhaps a father, too) who would have a grasp of that Parisian sense of style we Americans find so elusive. 

ADAGIO ACCESS PARIS REUILLY -- part 5

GREAT PARIS APARTMENT-HOTEL IN 12th ARRONDISSEMENT

The Adagio Access Paris Reuilly has a small, onsite, self-serve breakfast area on the ground floor (there also an inner courtyard terrace for warm weather.

The courtyard is decorated, for several vertical stories, with neon lights.

They look cool and hip – but they lit up my room at night.

I was in room 101, facing the back – it would benefit either from the neon being turned way down/off at night.

Better still, install blackout curtains.

The room has one small window – equipping with big, no gaps blackout drapes would serve the savvy travelers attracted to the Adagio brand.

The Accor Hotels site for the Adagio Reuilly is:

https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-8984-aparthotel-adagio-access-paris-reuilly/index.shtml

I got a slightly better deal through Booking.com:

https://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/adagio-access-paris-reuilly.html

ADAGIO ACCESS PARIS REUILLY -- part 4

GREAT PARIS APARTMENT-HOTEL IN 12th ARRONDISSEMENT

Dear Adagio Access Paris Reuilly: I’m sharing some ideas to make a great room perfect.

Put the room safe anywhere but the bottom floor of the closet.

Coming off a long flight and being mid 50s, the last thing I want to do is get down on hands and knees and kiss the floor to access the safe for stowing my passport. 

Raise it up to waist height.

Put in a toaster.

The cooktop and microwave are very nice, but for morning toasting of all sort of French bread, bagels, even pastries -- I needed a toaster or small toaster oven.

Put a chain on the stopper in the wet room sink. 

I pushed the stopper down to do laundry in the sink -- a very common practice for road warriors -- and could never open it again.

The sink filled up with soap suds, toothpaste waste, etc -- fix this oversight.

ADAGIO ACCESS PARIS REUILLY -- part 3

GREAT PARIS APARTMENT-HOTEL IN 12th ARRONDISSEMENT

Adagio Access Paris Reuilly is a great deal because I got a room at a great time of year in Paris (September) for 200 USD per night -- fully loaded with VAT including.

I don't want to pay extra for a big lobby, tired crappy round the clock restaurant, gift shop, concierge, or 10 stupid decorative pillows on the bed upon arrival.

I'm a savvy traveler, so that extra crud insults me and tacks on 50 USD or more per night – making me pay for things I don't want.

Thank you, Accor/Adagio, for figuring out that there are those of us who will eat local, figure things out for ourselves and be low maintenance on housekeeping and staff -- so savings are passed on to us.

One other super high bonus point – the 3 star amenity (4 of 5 in ratings) property has 6 rooms adapted for people with disabilities.

ADAGIO ACCESS PARIS REUILLY -- part 2

GREAT PARIS APARTMENT-HOTEL IN 12th ARRONDISSEMENT

The apartments at the Adagio Access Paris Reuilly range from a 20 square meter studio to a 35 square meter one bedroom.

I had the studio and was amazed by the efficient use of space.

I loved the wet room – no enclosure around the shower.

I don’t know how the floor dry so quickly, but every hotel on the planet should use the same not slippery, super-fast-to-dry material.

The bed was firm and super comfortable.

The fridge plenty big, as were the kitchen sink, cooktop and microwave.

I'm low maintenance.

I do not like housekeeping barging in daily.

At the Adagio property, housekeeping is an extra charge unless you stay 7 days or longer.

That suits me perfectly.

I like to go to local/artisanal markets to buy some snacks, breakfast items, bottled water, and local food to keep in fridge.

The Reuilly property accommodates that perfectly.

ADAGIO ACCESS PARIS REUILLY

GREAT PARIS APARTMENT-HOTEL IN 12th ARRONDISSEMENT

I’m not normally big on chain hotels, but the Accor Hotels’ Adagio Access Paris Reuilly was perfect for nearly two weeks of business and pleasure in the City of Light.

I give the brand new, non-smoking low-rise hotel high marks for:

• Great price point
• Super close to major subway stations
• Helpful, low-key staff.
• Location in a neighborhood more authentic/less tourist-choked than closer-in arrondissements.
• Very close to the hip and eclectic 11th Arrondissement.

Quiet is very important to me.

I don't know how a budget place could be better built than a high end property, but I never heard construction sounds during my stay.

And the entire city block opposite this property is under heavy construction.

My room was right next to the apart-hotel’s two elevators -- like inches away.

But I never heard the typical people departing the elevator at night talking loud sounds.

Bravo.