When I travel, I hate to feel like a tourist. I long to blend in, to get behind the scenes, to shop locally and not just tourist faire, and whenever possible I prefer to stay in an apartment rather than a hotel.
I was recently asked to check some rentals for a friend traveling to Paris in the Spring, she had heard of flats available via Airbnb and wanted to know more.
Airbnb was started in the states in 2008 and last year it went global and rocketed to success. The principal is simple, it is part of the fashionable ‘sharing economy’ whereby anyone can rent out a spare room or a flat or a whole house. Rather like couch surfing but way more sophisticated and comfortable. Rentals are rated by guests and literally come in all shapes and sizes and generally at very reasonable prices.
So here for you dear readers are some of the pictures that caught my eye, and by the way the good folk renting them know nothing about this blog piece, it is just me surfing and searching.
Flats are often just for two people, but I saw some bigger ones too.
The site is well constructed and gives you information about the various parts of Paris according to what you are looking for.
Prices are given for one night or for a week, and are incomparably lower than a good hotel.
Bye for now, I’m thinking I’d like a weekend away myself!
19 comments
Hi Sharon,
What a great idea this is. thank you for sharing it with us all. I’ve just had a very quick look at the airbnb website, and the choice is pretty amazing for Paris, will check out other destinations later. I quite fancy staying in Montmartre, living like a local, and as you say, feeling less of a tourist.
Hi Sharon,
Thought you might also like to know about a service called One Fine Stay – their website is http://www.onefinestay.com It is a fantastic company who organise staying in private homes in London / Paris and the States. As we are often in our house in France we are one of their hosts here in London . The company have a very interesting concept about what they call
‘the unhotel’ and how to live like a local. Am happy to chat with anyone who wants more information on how this great idea really works.
Thanks for posting this. I am going to try it on our next trip in May. I usually use Guest Apartment Services in Paris to stay in the 4th on Ile Saint Louis but these rates are much lower and the properties look nice. It is so hard to find reliable information and someone you can trust when giving them a deposit. Great information, THANK YOU!!
My son attended an internship in Kansas City where he made friends with many international students. We live smack dab in the middle of America’s Midwest; nothing exciting; plenty of corn fields and soybeans. But since his internship we have enjoyed house guests from all over. I have enjoyed getting to know these great young adults from Canada, England, Switzerland, Jordan and Hong Kong and some from the states also. Your post gave me the thought about opening up my home for other travelers who might enjoy a farm stay not too far from Chicago and Indianapolis. If you ever want to switch for a week, just let me know!! I love your blog! Thanks for sharing.
Great finds Sharon. I have to say that staying in an apartment made my trip to Paris so much fun – I loved disappearing behind my very own gorgeous Parisian doors every night (I’ll probably remember the code for the rest of my life!) I went with Paris Perfect, but Airbnb looks like a great resource, too! XO
Our daughter and SIL spent a year in Europe and stayed mostly in AirBnB places in various cities. They think it’s a fabulous resource for travelers.
The flats you’ve shown are gorgeous.
Thank you, Sharon! Just spoke to an artist friend who used Airbnb and was very happy for her stay in Paris. Mulling it all over for my next sojourn to the City of Light!
Great idea, and great pictures. I’d heard of Airbnb, and nice to know a “real” person’s checked into it. The other sources listed in comments sound useful, as well.
Hi Sharon!!!
When my sister and her hubby went to Paris, they stayed at a rented condo and she said it was so inexpensive compared to the hotels. They were there a week and totally enjoyed themselves.
It was a great way to visit Paris on a budget.
Have a great week!!
Pam
xox
I wanted to second the use of Airbnb. My husband and I used it when we stayed in Paris this past June 2013. We had a great flat just off Republic Square. Every morning we walked to the cafe for coffee, cocoa, pastry. We sat out on the street, enjoying all things Parisian. The busy people starting their days, the sweet men who frequent the cafe, the parents running kids to school/daycare. We were absorbed in Paris. I would do it again in a heart beat. We ate, shopped, road metro all like Parisians. Loved it.
Airbnb is wonderful. I have used their services many, many times in the US and abroad and I have never been disappointed.
My family has used airbnb in the Bay Area and New York City with great results. We have learned that it is wise to ascertain, before renting, the extent to which the living space is shared with the owner (if at all).
Unfortunately (IMHO), at least several large cities in the U.S. and Europe are now trying to “regulate” (i.e., tax, for the most part) these short-term rental facilitators as they do hotel and motel accommodations, which, if successful, will serve to bring up rates and uniformity and discourage actual and prospective hosts.
The apartments website shows some attractive places but couldn’t find whether it addresses facilities for people with any kind of disability. Quite a few seem to be on higher floors but don’t give info on exact floor level or whether building has a lift or not. Additionally some have internal stairs to a mezzanine bedroom.
We always stay every two years in an apartment in the 4th. Within 3-4 minutes walk from the Pompidou, also walking distance from the Palais Royal, Louvre, Notre Dame, Marais etc. On the second floor with a lift, separate bedroom and all facilities, clean, comfortable and attractive, but not quite as glam as some. Also the owner lives in Paris, which is v. useful if something goes wrong and you need it fixed quickly. It’s also cheaper that most of those on website. There are so many short term rental apartments in Paris, easily googled. But for first time renters, I’m sure this website would be very useful. Cheers, Pamela
PS I think one of the reasons local governments are attempting to regulate short term rentals to tourists is that affordable apartments for young locals are very hard to find. Several taxi drivers in Paris told me last year their adult children just couldn’t find anywhere to live in central Paris, all now too expensive. Tourism is pricing locals out of the market. Sad for them, so can understand efforts to address this, even though we’re tourist renters.
I had an excellent this summer with airbnb. One week in Venice and a perfect week in Paris, in the 7th. A small apartment like a jewel box, with a lift (which we never used) to the 2nd floor, for the handicapped. Walked to the Eiffel Tour every night to sit in the park, watch the lights. A magical week- and so reasonable!
Hi Sharon,
My girlfriend stayed in Paris recently in an airbnb appt. – while waiting for the owner in the courtyard to receive her key, an elderly and irate neighbour told her off in rapid french fire for illegally renting!!! Fortunately my girlfriend had just completed one month’s french language immersion and was able to explain to the elderly woman that best she take it up with the owner!!
Our last two visits to Paris 2011/13 we stayed in Parler Paris Apartments which are presented exactly as per the website and have a fabulous concierge to meet you…worth checking out!
Definitely one for my Paris address book Sharon….thank you! These particular apartments look gorgeous and I am going over to their site now to check it out further.
Have a lovely week!
Sophia x
We are Airbnb hosts in Melbourne, Australia and have been fully booked for the two years we have been operating. In May/June 2013 we travelled to Paris, Rome, Umbria and Venice then on to the UK all with Airbnb. Fantastic site great way to travel and to host guests to our country.
I used AirBnB this summer to rent an apartment in Brooklyn for my family. It was fantastic. Our daughter is 9, too young to be in a hotel room alone and hotels that do have triples or suites are beyond our budget.
The brownstone apartment was decorated with great taste and charm but not tons of money. It had two sleeping areas, so our daughter could go to bed earlier and sleep later than my husband and I. We had room to move, and open suitcases, as opposed to cramped hotel rooms. We saved money as well by having simple breakfast in the apartment, and by occasionally eating doggie bags from the routinely huge servings we got in restaurants.
Also, the neighborhood is one of the city’s trendiest. My daughter saw real New York, not “tourist” New York, and adored it. So different from our sleepy village in the south of France.
You are an amazing person! I live for you insight every day! You are not like the other bloggers that check in when they want. You check in e every day and I love that! I, too have a forest that I take my dog to! Would love to meet you some day!