How to find Paris vacation rentals
There are many things to consider when looking for an apartment in Paris.
The first thing you'll notice is there are many Paris vacation apartments to choose from. But how do you find the one that's right for you?
The first thing you'll probably want to do is look for practical ways to immediately narrow the field. Unless the sky's the limit in terms of price, the first such "narrowing factor" will obviously be budget. Determine what your absolute maximum price is. It's best to start with a "maximum" and work your way down. If you start with your minimum, you may be excluding an apartment that offers much more of what you're after and is only a few dollars more. Once you know your absolute maximum, you'll be able to eliminate a large number right off the bat.
Next, make two lists.
Your first list will be "Needs," and the second will be "Wants." Be aware many things you may think are needs (lots of light, large square footage, residential neighborhood) are actually "Wants," or preferences. When dealing with Paris, you have to b e able to determine what you can do without, or what you're willing to trade for something else you want more.
Why? For the simple reason that Paris vacation rentals go fast, and certain configurations (for example, A/C and first floor) are simply in short supply. (Many French buildings aren't even coded for A/C, and most apartments still have staircases, not elevators.) And for larger groups, while your party of six may certainly want to stay in the same apartment, you may be better off staying in two apartments near one another, rather than waiting for an ideal configuration that never comes.
So unless you have a medical condition where a bit too much heat (Paris tends to be mild almost all year) or walking a stairs is dangerous, we recommend puttin g things like A/C, elevator and other considerations under "Wants."
However, if mobility is an issue, an elevator may certainly be a "Need," and this will actually work in your favor. Why? It will immediately enable you to narrow the field, and make a more focused search from available Paris holiday apartments .
Many people want to be walking distance from major monuments, the Seine, etc. There are many Paris holiday apartments that are only a short walk to the Louvre, Seine or Eiffel Tower. But you should also be aware that if you want to walk to the Louvre, for example, that may mean staying in the 1st or 2nd, which is not a residential area such as, say, the 16th. So once again, it pays to be flexible in terms of giving up one thing you may want for something you feel comes closer to a "need."
Another frequent bit of advice people hear is "only look in arrondissements 1-7." Again, this is where it pays to understand Paris and be flexible in your search criteria.
First, unlike many major cities, central Paris is relatively small. Many people are quite surprised to learn the distance from Paris' most northern arrondissement, the 18th, to the 1st (i.e., near the Louvre and Seine) is only 4 miles! This means a Métro or bus ride can take you from one part of the city to another in a very short amount of time.
The second thing to know i s that Paris is arranged in a spiral, like a snail's shell. This means simply that an apartment in the 15th can be very close to the Eiffel Tower in the 7th, an apartment in the 9th can mean a short walk to the 1st or 2nd, and on and on.
And because so many people aren't aware of how Paris is laid out, the difference in price can be drastic indeed.
The bottom line is this: If you want to know where a Paris vacation apartment in Paris is located, take it on a "case by case" basis and find it on a map. Ruling out arrondissements above the 7th doesn't just give you fewer options, you may find yourself paying a lot more and getting a lot less.
Once you've set a budget, know what you truly can't live without (vs. what you'd love in a "dream place" but can exchange for other charms), you'll be well on your way to finding a wonderful place to stay in Paris, one of Europe's most exciting and beautiful cities!
Good hunting!
