After we had licked our buttery fingers, my boyfriend went for a jog while I washed the dishes. He returned tired but jubilant. "Why," he asked me, "can't we just have an apartment in Paris?"
Why, indeed.
My google searching began the same morning. There are hundreds of companies that offer vacation rentals in Paris. The most important thing to look for, other than prices that suit your budget, is this symbol , which indicates that the Paris Office of Tourism approves of and recommends the rental agency. For a full listing of approved rental agencies, visit the Paris Office of Tourism website.
The search was half the fun. I revelled in trolling through website, examining and reexamining all the possible choices. We booked our apartment with Ah Paris, a company that acts as an agent for individual owners. The owners set the rental prices, and they can vary widely; there is no negotiation. (Often, what you pay the most for is the location; the nearer the tourist attraction, the higher the price.) They offer all the convenience that we were looking for as travellers, not tenants. For example, there are no agency fees in addition to the rental price. Heat and water are included, as well as linens. Furthermore, the staff, particularly Jéremy, were friendly and always helpful. If I had an unlimited amount of money and vacation days, I would rent apartments with Ah Paris again and again and again.
We stayed in apartment number 367, at 6 bis-6, rue de Clignancourt. Although technically in the 18th arrondissement, it was just steps from Gare du Nord. The site couldn't have been more convenient. We had easy access to all major attractions via metro lines 2 and 4 at Barbès-Rochechouart station, but we were just far enough removed from the city centre as not to be constantly surrounded by other tourists. The 23m² space was small but not cramped. The bathroom in particular was clean, modern and spacious. The kitchen came fully equipped with all that we needed to cook our own meals. There were two groceries stores, Leader Price and Champion, within half a block, as well as a patisserie just steps outside the door. A quiet courtyard, seen at below, separated us from the bustling street.
Ah Paris currently has 313 apartments for rent. There are a few I would recommend particularly... see the list below.
Ah Paris - Notable Apartments
- #1 15eme arrondissement (M) La Motte Picquet-Grenelle Sleeps 3 42m²
Amenities include: DVD player, telephone, WiFi, stove and oven, washer
- #107 4eme arrondissement (M) Saint-Paul Sleeps 4 35m²
Amenities include: Telephone, WiFi, stove and oven, washer
- #184 11eme arrondissement (M) Parmentier Sleeps 2 23m²
Amenities include: DVD player, telephone, WiFi, dishwasher, washer, dryer, stove and oven
- #204 10eme arrondissement (M) Poissonière Sleeps 4 37m²
Amenities include: DVD player, WiFi, dishwasher, washer, dryer
- #235 3eme arrondissement (M) Rambuteau Sleeps 6 80m²
Amenities include: DVD player, telephone, WiFi, stove and oven, dishwasher, washer, dryer, bathtub
- #273 4eme arrondissement (M) Rambuteau Sleeps 6 80m²
Amenities include: DVD player, WiFi, stove and oven, dishwasher, washer, dryer
- # 329 19eme arrondissement (M) Jourdain Sleeps 4 (but 2 would be more comfortable) 28m²
Amenities include: Internet access, stove and oven, dishwasher
- #367 18eme arrondissement (M) Barbès-Rochechouart Sleeps 2 23m²
Amenities include: WiFi, bathtub, stove
If anyone else has booked with Ah Paris before, please let me know what your impressions were. If you have any other questions about the services they offer, visit their website or contact me directly.
Hi. I am a long time reader. I wanted to say that I like your blog and the layout.
ReplyDeletePeter Quinn