FRANCE
Tips for finding the Paris pied-a-terre of your dreams + a curated list of rentals
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Booking a holiday apartment in Paris gives you roomier accommodation and the chance to experience life like a Parisian. And short-term rental apartments can come with fabulous features found at upscale hotels, such as charming balconies and Eiffel Tower views.
But they do differ from hotel stays in some important ways — there are thing to consider and questions to ask. I’ve learned what to look for and what to be cautious of, all of which I am sharing here. It is more complex than making a hotel reservation, but can be well worth it. I hope these suggestions will help you find a fabulous pied-a-terre for your trip to Paris.
Why Book a Paris Rental Apartment
An apartment can be a better fit in many scenarios. I’ve rented apartments on three of my recent trips to Paris: one was a solo trip, another was with my sister, and a third was with friends. All were wonderful experiences.
I found one of the Paris apartments using a small Paris rental agency. The other was an Airbnb and had multiple bedrooms so could accommodate a group, in this case, four midlife women celebrating a special birthday in Paris. The third was found through a friend so I booked directly with the owner.
• Solo trip: I was in Paris for 10 days and didn’t want to eat all my meals out; having a kitchen saved me money.
• A longer trip: eating at home for some meals can be more relaxing than dining out every meal weeks.
• Traveling with friends: I love having a common space to spend time together. A living area, in addition to bedrooms, allowed us to relax when we weren’t sightseeing. It was also conducive to leisurely mornings spent lingering over coffee.
• Family travel: Holiday apartments are ideal for families traveling to Paris; having a kitchen allows you to prepare quick meals for hungry kids, alleviating the pressure to eat out three meals a day. It also allows you to put young children to bed, and have a separate space to relax in.
Five Tips for Booking a Paris Holiday Apartment
- Look at least six months ahead for best selection.
- Traveling June through mid-Sept? Check for Air Conditioning! (Most don't have central AC but may offer portable units).
- Find out if the building has an elevator. If not how many stairs are involved?
- Read Reviews to look for red flags. Paris can be noisy for example. Or the "kitchen" is only a sink and microwave, no fridge.
- Carefully review cancellation terms. They are usually stricter than a hotel.
When to Book Your Paris Rental Apartment
I started looking for a rental apartment about two months ahead of a September trip and quickly realized I had left it late; many options I liked were already booked. As a result, I spent considerable time searching available apartments until I finally found something.
If you want lots of choice at your preferred price point, it’s best to start early — at least six months is best, and up to a year if you are visiting at a popular time of year such as the summer or over Christmas.
Tips for Finding a Paris Holiday Apartment
Which Arrondissement in Paris?
Your first decision is where to stay. Central Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements (neighborhoods) with the River Seine dividing the areas known as the Right Bank and the Left Bank. You can get more vacation rental for your money the further away you go from the Seine, and if your budget is tight, you might consider it. Using the Paris subway system, known as the Metro, is very convenient with stations every few blocks.
If you want to be within easy walking distance of Paris’s most popular attractions you will want to stay as central as possible – between the 1st and 8th arrondissements.
Some people will recommend the 7th because it is close to the Eiffel Tower. It’s a charming area, where many Parisians live, but it is further to many Paris museums and attractions, so I don’t recommend it for a first trip.
A First Trip to Paris?
If it’s your first visit I recommend being as central as possible which means the 1st, 4th, 5th or 6th. You can also find some great value in the 2nd; I stayed there on a recent trip and it was a good experience. The 1st tends to be where pricey luxury hotels are located.
I love the left bank, in particular the 6th, Saint Germain. But often there is better value in the Latin Quarter (the 5th). Wherever you stay, most apartments will be within a short walk of a Metro station. Apartment listings should mention this; if they don’t, then ask. And don’t be afraid to stay further out if you find a great apartment. Just be clear on how long it will take you to get to get to the attractions and monuments on your list.
If your trip is short, I recommend a central location with lots to walk to. I’ve had wonderful stays in the 16th, a beautiful residential neighborhood, and the 11th which is bursting with creativity and new restaurants. But I don’t recommend either for a first trip to Paris, unless you have a longer stay planned.
Central Air Conditioning is Rare
Many Paris apartments are located in charming old buildings and typically those charming old buildings don’t have air conditioning. If you are traveling in June through mid September, this is a very important consideration because Paris can be very hot in summer. Read the description carefully to understand if there is AC; if they do have it, it is usually a portable unit.
I used a portable AC during an early September visit with several hot days on my trip. It made the difference between being comfortable and not sleeping. I would be hesitant to rent an apartment with no AC for a stay during the warm months. Unless you are used to living without AC.
Parisians manage by keeping blinds closed during the day etc., but not knowing how hot it will get is a chance I wouldn’t want to take on my vacation.
Elevators/Walk Up
Many charming old buildings also don’t have elevators. Some have the smallest elevator you have ever seen. This is important to know and should be mentioned in the listing. Are you ok to walk up three flights of stairs to reach your apartment several times a day?
When I arrived at one Paris apartment, I was met by the property manager who helped me carry my bags up the several flights. When I left at the end of the stay, I was on my own. I packed two small roller bags (rather than one large) for this reason. Two small bags allows me to carry them one at a time. I learned this lesson the hard way in Barcelona when my husband left before me and I had to get my one very large and heavy bag down four flights of steep stairs from a rental apartment in a building with no elevator.
TIP: Smaller bags are also easier to store if you are traveling by train in Europe. And you can bring one as a carry-on so that if your checked luggage is delayed you still have clothes to tide you over.
Read Reviews
Read the reviews of any apartments you are considering. You will find out things like it’s a busy street, or the neighbors above have a loud baby. Or in my case — that the loading dock for Le Bon Marché department store is across the street and they sometimes get going early in the morning. It actually wasn’t a problem for me but I was glad to be aware of it ahead of time; I brought earplugs.
Read the Fine Print
Photos don’t always tell the full story so read the fine print on the listings. I found one apartment I liked but didn’t realize until I read the detailed description that the “kitchen” was only a sink and microwave. That would be fine for some renters; I wanted a fridge for my wine and cheese.
Listings will show a place in its best light and photos taken with a wide-angle-lens can make rooms appear much larger than they are. Checking the square footage (likely listed in meters) will give you a complete picture and help you ensure the space is large enough for you/your group. (1 square meter is roughly equal to 10 square feet). Some listings will include a floor plan which is very helpful.
Know the Cancellation Terms
Reading the terms is also crucial for understanding the cancellation rules and how much of your refund can be returned and when. More on that below.
Booking a Paris Airbnb
thatI’ve stayed in Airbnb’s in Rome, Barcelona and Geneva and had great experiences. The challenge with Airbnb’s in Paris is there are strict rules they must comply with; as a result they are less plentiful than in other European cities. To know that the listing is legal, look for a registration or licence number. If it’s not shown in the listing, request it.
I stayed in a Paris Airbnb on a fall trip with three close friends to celebrate a special birthday — we were born the same year :). We shared this 3-bedroom apartment in the 2nd arrondissement and had a great experience. There was lots within a short walk including the Palais Garnier (Paris Opera) and Galeries Lafayette which has a fantastic food hall.
We were within a 15-minute walk to Place Vendome, a 20-minute walk to the Louvre, and 25 minutes to the Tuileries. The Opera Metro station was a 2-minute walk and we used it often. We also took Ubers (with Paris traffic, the Metro is often quicker than an Uber). If you are interested, that 3-bedroom Paris Opera Apartment sleeps up to 6.
Pros and Cons of Airbnb in Paris - My Experience
The main difference with Airbnb, versus a smaller local agency, is that you likely won’t get the same booking assistance, or level of service once in Paris. Some Airbnb apartments are also self check-in, although in Paris that seems less often the case, than in the U.S.
The upside — Airbnb sometimes offers more flexible cancellation terms.
We did have someone meet us to check us in to our Airbnb, and there were some small issues. First, although we had said that we planned to use the pull-out sofa in the living room, there was no bedding for it in the apartment. (They did get us some by that evening.) Second, there were only two keys to the apartment despite our booking saying four adults. We asked if we could get additional keys and the answer was no. For a place that sleeps six, two keys seemed ridiculous and required some annoying coordination.
Otherwise, the experience was good. The apartment was pretty much as advertised, very clean, and we were happy with it. The main living space was about half the size that it appeared in the listing, so note the square footage of listings.
Having a small kitchen was great. I adore having a kitchen and living area when traveling with friends.
I bought vintage champagne glasses at the Les Puces Flea Market, and we toasted our Paris holiday, and apartment, in style.
After that experience I would be open to renting another Airbnb, although I would prefer to use a local agency.
Booking with VRBO in Paris
I haven’t booked with VRBO in Paris. I had a negative experience with VRBO with a misleading listing (in New York City), so I don’t book through them anymore. It’s my impression that they don’t monitor effectively for misleading listings, it’s buyer beware. I know other people have had good experiences. This is just my opinion.
A Holiday Apartment with Paris Perfect
For my 10-day solo Paris trip in fall, I was looking quite last minute, as I mentioned. I ruled out some that weren’t right, and missed out on several nice ones that were already booked.
I ultimately chose a 1-bedroom apartment with the rental agency, Paris Perfect. They have a curated selection of beautiful apartments in great locations and the reviews were excellent.
Apartments were priced in $US and had floor plans and detailed descriptions. The listing was clear that there was no elevator and it was 34 stairs up to the apartment.
Everything about the booking process was the complete opposite from Airbnb. There was full support from live agents if I had questions. Plus they had additional Paris resources and information on their website, and they emailed me a package ahead of the trip.
I found a charming place within my budget (thanks in part to a sale which offered a discount), and booked the Sangiovese apartment in the 6th arrondissement, a central location that would allow me to walk almost everywhere I planned to go. Paris Perfect does tend to be pricey so don’t start here if you are on a tight budget.
Payment & Booking Terms
With Paris Perfect, I had to pay in full for my rental at the time of booking as I was within 60 days of arrival. With Airbnb we were able to pay in several installments and had until a few weeks before travel to cancel for a full refund. Paris Perfect has much stricter cancellation terms than Airbnb and less ability to get a refund.
Having to pay in full ahead of your stay is typical for boutique rental agencies in Paris. Of course, this is one of the main differences from a hotel where you provide your credit card to hold the room, but typically don’t pay until arrival or checkout, unless you’ve chosen a prepaid rate.
Payment and cancellation terms are a crucial detail to be clear on when you are choosing a holiday apartment. Your travel insurance may be the only way to recover your costs, in the event of a cancellation.
You may also be required to purchase a damage waiver that covers you for accidental damage. With Paris Perfect the damage waiver amount was included in the reservation confirmation. This was essentially insurance, rather than a damage deposit, as it was a small amount that would not be refunded.
Sometimes cleaning fees are in addition to the price you are quoted, so be clear if those are additional, and the amount.
Airbnb Versus a Local Paris Apartment Agency
Benefits of Booking with a Paris Rental Agency
When renting a Paris holiday apartment, ideally you have an English speaking employee greet you at the apartment and give you a tour, as I had. Most will do this but do ask when you are booking. It was great having Thomas to show me around. Unlike a hotel stay, your apartment has appliances that you will need to know how to operate. A kitchen or kitchenette, dishwasher, and in some cases a washer and dryer. Even having someone show you how to turn on the TV is helpful. I tried to recall the French words for washer and dryer when I did a load of laundry later in the week, as a single machine performed both functions.
When I checked in, a lovely array of goodies was waiting for me — a bottle of wine, nuts, cookies, orange juice and milk.
Many rental agencies also offer a concierge service to answer questions and help you with reservation. I did ask Thomas to help me with one dining reservation.
I also appreciated the pages of useful tips and resources for everything from how to take the Metro in Paris, to names of a local dentist and doctor, and most crucially, recommended boulangeries (bakeries) in my neighborhood. Since I was traveling solo, it was reassuring to know I had support if I needed assistance while in Paris.
My Paris Perfect apartment was even prettier than the pictures. The bed was beautiful and comfy, the kitchen was fully equipped and I loved the little extras like umbrellas and a collection of Paris guidebooks. Similar to a hotel, there was a hair dryer and an ironing board and iron. There were also several adapters which I appreciated as I was only traveling with one. There was also a washer and dryer and since I was in Europe for three weeks, that was a wonderful convenience.
Book a Holiday Apartment in Paris - Six More Rental Agencies, Beyond Airbnb
Paris Vacation Rentals
Paris Vacation Rentals offers a broad selection of professionally vetted and managed apartments in Paris’s central neighborhoods.
Their current roster includes 138 apartments, from cozy studios to family-size apartments. Their team is based in Paris, so they offer great depth of knowledge and service. They are available to assist you in finding the perfect vacation apartment.
Some apartments have air conditioning (this will be mentioned in the listing) and extras such as baby cots and baby high chairs can be requested, at additional cost.
I found their website easy to navigate and love that I can search by my favorite areas of Paris such as the Latin Quarter and Le Marais. with lots of detailed information about each apartment.
Paris Vacation Apartments
Paris Vacation Apartments has a small curated collection of 19 charming apartments, all decorated in a traditional French style. They’ve operated since 1995 and their apartments have multiple reviews. This is a full-service rental company and they offer lots of local knowledge, a greeter on arrival and a concierge service. Many of the apartments are large with multiple bedrooms.
I would love to try them on my next visit and I’ve listed a couple of options below in my own short-list of apartment rentals for a future trip. Note that these seem to book up well ahead.
Plum Guide
Plum Guide is a London-based company, similar to Airbnb in that it has rentals in many cities, not just Paris. Like Airbnb, they are a listing and booking platform but do seem to offer slightly more specialized expertise during the booking process.
Their customer service agents are referred to as “matchmakers” (cute marketing) and have all lived in at least one of their flagship destinations, so can answer questions and and help you find a suitable location and apartment. Once booked, the guest is put in touch with either the owner or property manager (similar to Airbnb in that regard).
When searching for a property you can select the currency you want to see prices in, saving you having to check exchange rates. I also really like that they show the properties on a map, so you can do a visual search by your preferred areas. And every listing has lots of photos, square footage and a floor plan.
They offer extras for a fee, such as airport transfers and stocking the fridge for your arrival. (Many agencies will do this). They do have some options for budget travelers.
ParisForRent & Haven In
I’ve listed ParisForRent & Haven In here together because they are owned by the same company. Haven In seemed to have more expensive apartments overall and there were multiple options for large apartments 4+ bedrooms. If you are visiting Paris with a group, or large family, they have options.
They offer an in-person welcome, 24-hour support and planning services. San Francisco & Paris-based Paris For Rent has some of the same apartments in their portfolio. The prices are in US dollars and there seemed to be more options “from” under $300 a night. Some of the apartments offered discounted rates for weekly or monthly stays.
Paristay - Options for Smaller Budgets
Paristay has a much larger inventory than the others on the list, 700+ properties, and both short and long-term rentals. The time I spent looking seemed to indicate there was more choice for tighter budgets so you might start here if that is what you’re after.
Note that rentals begin at a minimum of 5 days. When I was looking for a holiday apartment, there were fall rentals for as low as 650 euros for five nights. I liked the search interface of their website.
OneFineStay - Luxury Rentals in Paris
One Fine Stay is a luxury vacation rental agency with properties around the world. This is on the expensive end; if you have a large budget this might be for you.
They have a curated selection of around 40 properties in Paris. I had a lovely time perusing them, and imagining which I would pick. Friends who have used One Fine Stay say they have been very happy with the experience.
Arrival in Paris & Airport Transfers, Taxis
Most apartment rental agencies will arrange your airport or train station transfers, or recommend a car service which you can book directly. There is a fee is they do this. I’ve not seen complimentary transfers offered.
I typically take a taxi from the Paris CDG airport. There are taxi stands outside the terminal and staff can assist. But there can be a bit of a wait. Taxis charge a flat fee depending on whether you are going to the right bank of left.
I haven’t taken an Uber from the Paris airport as I’ve heard they can be difficult to locate, and not all drivers speak English.
With Paris Perfect, the property manager for the apartment, Thomas, reached out to me a few days ahead of my arrival to confirm my flight details. He asked if I had any questions and we were able to easily communicate via email and WhatsApp (an app I recommend you add to your phone for Europe travel).
Since I took my own taxi, I met Thomas upon arrival at the apartment. It was 11 am, and after a 9-hour overnight flight I really appreciated the early check-in.
Welcome Pickups
Another option is Welcome Pickups which I’ve used in Paris Dublin and Athens. They are reliable and you are able to pay ahead online with your credit card. Your driver will be waiting for you inside the airport arrivals hall with your name on a sign. My driver was also in touch via WhatsApp and I got an email notification that they had arrived at the airport. Note that can be more expensive than a Paris taxi; rates seem to fluctuate. My recent ride with them cost 65 euros, so only a little more. Well worth it to have a driver waiting.
Storing Bags Until Check-In
If your apartment isn’t ready upon arrival, some agencies will store your bags for you. Paris Perfect will keep your luggage at their office in the 7th, until your apartment is ready.
Others don’t have facilities to do that and can recommend baggage storage facilities such as Luggage Hero. Note: some storage services recommend advance reservations.
With Airbnb, don’t count on the fact they will store your bags until check-in. We ended up storing our bags at a locker a few blocks from the apartment. We had to book the locker ahead, and it was a bit of a walk.
Holiday Apartments in Paris
My Short List for Future Trips
Budget-Friendly Studios
One-Bedroom Paris Apartments
Two-Bedroom Paris Apartments
Three-Bedroom Paris Apartments
Paris Apartments with Eiffel Tower Views
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J'adore! Paris Holiday Apartments
My stays in holiday apartments in Paris have been truly magical. I’ve loved having a living area to relax in, whether on my own, or with friends. And having a kitchen has allowed me to visit the lovely food markets of Paris, known as Marché de Plein air (open-air markets). On one weekday, I visited the Marché Raspail along with mostly older Parisians who asked very pointed questions about the provenance of the cheese or the freshness of the fish. It was a delightful slice of French life. And by the end of my solo stay I was wearing a beret and buying baguettes on my way home in the afternoon, just as the French do.
I do also enjoy staying in hotels in Paris, but apartments offer a different experience — the chance to “live in Paris”, even if only for a few days.
I hope this guide to booking Paris holiday apartments has been helpful. Have a magical trip to Paris!
À bientot! (See you soon)
More Paris!
Planning a trip to Paris? You might also enjoy:
A Guide to Paris & the Best Views of the Eiffel Tower
