There were five of us in Paris, some for the first time. It was early May, we were in a beautifully curated Parisian apartment on the top floor of a building in the 11th Arrondesmont, and not one of us could have afforded the place alone. Split five ways, it came to less than a mediocre hotel room each.
When four friends decided go on a little girlfriend getaway and join me for a week in Paris, I didn’t hesitate to book with Paris For Rent again.
This was my third vacation rental apartment booking with Paris For Rent. I found the company in 2015 after buying a Rick Steves guide to Paris while doing research for a trip the following year.
Here’s what a Paris apartment actually gets you on a girls getaway, what it costs you, and why I’d book it again tomorrow.
This is my honest Paris For Rent Review
Why we skipped hotel rooms for this girls trip
Cost
Cost is always a big factor when I travel. For the five of us, we would have needed two hotel rooms for sure. That’s an average of $1400-$2500 per week for one room. That’s not factoring in meal costs, which you can save when you are purchasing groceries and making meals in your apartment rental vs every meal in a restaurant.
Paris For Rent has multiple options in different price ranges. For us, while not budget accommodations by any means, we paid about $1600 per person for our weeks stay. Other times when I have rented a one bedroom, I paid right around that $1400 price for my rental.
Comfort
Comfort is the next factor. Have you ever stayed in a tiny hotel room in Paris? Or any European city? It’s like staying in a shoe box. Small beds, small bathrooms, small everything. Unless you stay in an Americanized hotel chain, this can put a damper on your vacation. I’m actually from the “you only sleep there anyway” camp, but I much prefer a kitchen, or at least a small kitchenette, and some space to spread out sometimes.
This usually only applies to longer stays, a week or more. If I’m only there a couple of nights, then a hotel might be the way to go. I will say, in the case of this girls trip, an apartment was perfection. We had plenty of room to have private time, or enough corners to curl up with a good book after a long day of sightseeing.
The Paris For Rent Republique apartment
The Republique apartment sits near the Marais and the Canal Saint-Martin, which is to say right in the middle of everything I love about Paris, the narrow streets, good bread, and people far more stylish than me pretending not to notice I exist.
If I’d died and gone to heaven’s version of Paris, this apartment would be where I’d live. Creaky wood floors and squeaky doors included. It was a dream. Ours was the only apartment on the top floor, and a classic wrought iron balcony ran the entire length of one side, with elegant windows opening onto it from every room.” We went in early May, when the weather was thankfully cool (no AC in this grand old building), so the open windows were more a romantic choice than a survival strategy. I had the second king room, and no lie, I kept my window open every single night anyway, despite the 40°F chill. A far-off view of Sacré-Cœur lit up in the dark brought tears to my eyes.
There’s two salons, a spacious kitchen, two WCs, an en suite shower room in one of the king bedrooms, a larger central communal bath with a wonderful shower, plus a washer and dryer. Original non-working fireplaces. Exquisite crown molding. Beautifully decorated throughout. An apartment begging to host an elegant party.
That apartment oozed elegance, and I was there for every bit of it.
My friends were equally smitten.
How booking with Paris For Rent works
This was my third time renting through Paris For Rent, and I cannot recommend this company enough. The process is always seamless, communication is golden, and my personal greeters have been fantastic. They make it abundantly clear that they’re available for any questions or concerns. The greeters meet you, walk you through everything in the apartment, and offer advice and recommendations for the neighborhood.
The initial contact
When you are scrolling through the Paris For Rent website, you’ll probably find a place that catches your eye. Click on it and you can request a quote. There is usually a starting price for the apartment. Our Republique apartment’s nightly starting price currently is listed at $690 per night. A representative will talk you through the process, or help you find just the right property. Since I have rented multiple times, I contact one of the property agents, Sang Ye, directly. When I am planning a trip, she lets me know what’s available and we go from there. It’s a seamless process.
You book, pay half down and you will get a notice when the rest is due along with a security deposit (security deposit must be paid by check), which will be returned to you after your stay. You will be asked if you would like airport transportation service at an added cost. I did this the first time I rented an apartment. It was my first trip to Paris on my own and wanted a stress free airport transfer option. It was wonderful, but now I book my own taxi or Uber.
Before you leave home
The great thing is if you have any questions in the meantime, you don’t need to hesitate in asking your contact. They are a wealth if information about the city, the properties, and anything else. The first time I booked a rental in 2016, Patrick, who now is a co-owner was always ready to answer any questions I had.
Before you leave you will get contact details on your greeter who will meet you at the apartment, the access details, and any other information you need for your arrival. I usually research the neighborhood for things like the nearest metro stop, nearest Monoprix (groceries and essentials I may need), the nearest boulongerie, restaurant, and coffee shop, but your greeter can also share this information with you.
Arrival day
You will be greeted when you arrive at the apartment by a friendly person who is packed full of information about the area and the apartment. Oftentimes if you arrive before check in time, you may be able to leave your luggage at the apartment while the apartment is being finished up for your stay. That is something you can discuss before arrival.
Your greeter will take the time to go through the apartment. You are shown how to work all the appliances, which is very important. Many times these older buildings have some quirks, so they have all the tips and tricks. You find out what to do with the trash and any departure information. They are completely thorough.
You are left with a gift basket and fresh flowers. Your greeter is easily accessible by Whats App during your stay and you should never hesitate with any questions you have.
I have to say, I have always had impeccable service.
Departure and after
Your greeter will want to know when you plan on leaving to relay to the cleaning crew. You will be notified if there is any damage or other concerns. I had one minor thing this last time. A button had broke off an electric kettle, but after answering a few questions and myself consulting my friends, all was fine. Not long after you will have your security deposit returned and you will be prompted to leave a review.
Figure out your expectations
All in all, I have zero complaints about Paris For Rent. The apartments can be quirky, but that is all about the experience. You really need to figure out what your expectations are BEFORE you begin any apartment search.
Are you mobility challenged? Make sure the apartment is on a low floor or has an elevator.
Do you melt in the summer? Does the apartment have A/C. Also know the definition of A/C is different in Paris as it is in the states.
Always carefully read the description.
Why a Paris apartment is a right choice, even when I travel solo
I like a kitchen. When I’m solo, I prefer to eat in. I’ll splurge on a restaurant now and then, but after a long day out, I crave the quiet of my own four walls. I also like to eat earlier than Parisian dinnertime. My stomach simply does not settle with a 9 p.m. reservation; it files its complaint around 5:30 and expects results. I’m slowly converting to bigger lunches and lighter dinners, mostly to keep the peace.
Being an introvert, I need plenty of downtime, out of the crowds, to recharge my batteries. I can read and write in a hotel just fine, but there’s something about having my own space, with everything I need, without having to venture back out for it.
I’ve always booked apartments with at least a washing machine. This last trip, I was gone three weeks, and carry-on-only packing means doing laundry. I’m fine with that if it spares me from schlepping heavy bags onto trains and up flights of stairs.
And then there’s that “feeling like a local” reasoning.
Now, I know I’ll always wear an “American” label every time I visit Paris. But I enjoy pretending, even if for a fleeting moment, that I belong there. I like to imagine that, as long as I keep my mouth shut, no one’s the wiser. I can glide through a courtyard looking very nearly French, right up until I open my mouth at the boulangerie and my “bonjour” lands with a Wisconsin thud. The spell breaks. The baker knows. He always knows. But punching a code into a keypad, canvas shopping bag over my shoulder, to swing open a fancy centuries-old wooden door with a courtyard waiting on the other side still makes me sing with joy.
And that’s the real reasoning behind my choice.
It was glorious to sit around at night, talk, and work our way through the many bottles of wine from O Château and the charcuterie from La Grande Épicerie. So much wine flowed, I committed a French faux pas by ordering beer for the remainder of the trip.
So here’s my pitch: next time Paris calls you for a solo trip, skip the hotel. A room is a lovely place to sleep, but a Paris For Rent apartment is a place to live. Eat dinner at an unfashionable hour, throw open the windows, and let Sacré-Cœur keep you company at night. You trade the front desk and the daily housekeeping, but what you get back is the feeling of belonging somewhere instead of just visiting. Go solo or grab a few friends, split the cost, and go live in it for a while. I promise you’ll never look at a hotel the same way again.
FAQ’s
Is Paris For Rent legitimate? Yes. I’ve booked and paid for three separate stays with them since 2016, and each apartment matched its listing photos and description. If you’ve noticed that the reviews on their own site are uniformly positive and gone looking for independent ones, that’s a fair instinct, and it’s part of why I wrote this post.
Is Paris For Rent the same company as Haven In? Both Paris For Rent and Haven In are under the same company name World Guests Abroad LLC. Haven In covers rentals not only in Paris, but Provence, French Riviera, Lake Annecy, and Italy.
Do you pay in US dollars or euros? You pay in US dollars. Your security deposit will be paid by US bank check.
Are there extra agency or booking fees? You booking fee covers all costs, except for any specialty add ons like car service.
What is the minimum stay? Some properties are monthly rentals and some are short term.
How do you get the keys and check in? You will receive information about check in and access to your rental before you leave home. Your greeter will provide keys for you when you arrive if needed.
How many people can share a Paris apartment for a girls trip? Each rental has the number of guest in an apartment listed on the listing. Our Republique apartment listed 8 total guests.
Is an apartment or a hotel better for a girls trip in Paris?
An apartment wins if you want a shared living room to gather in at the end of the day, a kitchen for market breakfasts and wine, and one bill instead of four. A hotel wins if you want daily housekeeping, a front desk, and separate rooms with separate keys. I will choose an apartment most times just for access to more space and privacy.
How far in advance should you book a Paris apartment for a group? I suggest booking as soon as you have a concrete date set. The sooner the better. The minimum for me is six months. This also depends on the time of year.
What should I know before booking? Your requirements. Do you need an elevator? Do you need to have A/C in the summer. Know your budget. What area would you like to stay in. I always highly recommend central Paris.
