Paris has my heart. No matter how many times I visit I fall in love all over again. This year I ticked something off my Paris bucket list I have been thinking about for years – staying in a Paris Perfect Apartment. I first heard about this exclusive collection of decked out Parisian apartments with views of the Eiffel Tower from my friend and author Kat Lawrence (she wrote one of my favourite Paris books – Paris Dreaming) and have been myself dreaming of staying ever since.
How to rent a Paris Apartment
Once I had decided this was the trip that I would finally make my dream of living inside a Parisian apartment a reality, the tough choice began: which apartment to choose!? The Paris Perfect website has so many beautiful apartments to choose from that my toughest decision was choosing just one. I settled on the St Emilion apartment in the 7th arrondissement, with an incredible close-up view of the Eiffel Tower.
This apartment was offering a special discounted rate (the best way to find a discount on these apartments is by booking in low season or signing up for the newsletter and waiting for last minute deals). The apartment was huge, filled with light and of course had the most incredible view of the Eiffel Tower from the living room windows. The windows opened up to a small landing however there was unfortunately no balcony/terrace (a bucket list moment I’ll save for the next trip!)
Staying in the 7th Arrondissement
One of the hardest decisions when travelling to Paris for the first time is deciding on an arrondissement. My long time friend and fellow Francophile Faye lived in Paris for some time and wrote an article detailing the best Paris neighbourhoods to stay in and what each arrondissement has to offer.
The 7th is of course home to the iron lady herself, the Eiffel Tower. While this apartment and arrondissement has great views of Paris’ most famous icon, it is not the best neighbourhood for restaurants and cafes. However what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in quality, with two of my favourite cafes nearby: Coutume Cafe and Carette Cafe. If you pop by the latter be sure to try their salted caramel macarons (I’ve dubbed them the best in town).
Things to Know Before you Rent
Renting an apartment for a short stay in Paris is one of the best ways to experience the city. You come to learn your favourite cafes, bakeries and the familiar walk home after a long day of sightseeing. Here are a few things to note before you book an apartment in Paris:
Choose a central location – there is so much to see and do in Paris and the city is vast. Choose a neighbourhood near the attractions you want to visit to take out the time and effort of darting across the city.
Consider your arrival time – I landed in Paris on a Sunday but luckily the concierge team (who meet you at the apartment to show you the ropes) work 7 days at Paris Perfect. They do however charge an out of hours fee if you arrive late in the evenings.
Split the costs – Many of the apartments I shortlisted before choosing mine were 2 bedrooms and some even 3 bedrooms. If you can visit with friends or family, the price of the apartment reduces dramatically!
Planning a trip to Paris? Check out our guide:
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
