Though I’m still working on our Paris travelogue, a few of you have written to ask about where we stayed. The good spots get snapped up fast in the high season, so I don’t want to delay!
As soon as we had our tickets to Paris, I got in touch with the folks at Haven in Paris to see if they had any apartments that would be a good fit for our family. I’d heard nothing but positive things about the agency, and we’d all exchanged emails when I’d first started blogging. (They have a great blog with lots of insights into visiting the city.) We were lucky to find ourselves in a beautiful apartment, new to their listings, in the 6e arrondissement—just a couple of blocks from the Jardin du Luxembourg.
We were excited about the prospect of staying in an apartment (more space), but also a little nervous about leaving the comforts of a hotel (less assistance). We found that the pros far outnumbered any cons. In fact, we were met by a friendly woman at the apartment who welcomed us in, and showed us around (asking us to be careful and considerate), gave us our keys, and some local direction; and she offered to answer any questions throughout our stay.
Hudson had his own room, which was nice not only for us but also for the babysitter we had come for a few evenings. (Of course, Hudson never really adjusted to the time change and woke us up most mornings at 3am anyway, but that’s another story.)
We didn’t get a whole lot of practice on the stove, but it was so nice to have a kitchen for bringing home cheeses, butter, and sausages. And we did make dinner “in” for Hudson on the nights we went out.
The kitchen also had a hidden washer/dryer that we used to come home with clean clothes. Such a treat!
I loved feeling like a local for a few days, passing families on a quiet side street—filled with beautiful, turn-of-the century buildings—and walking through the park on the way to the Seine.
I’d definitely recommend renting an apartment if you’re visiting Paris, particularly if you’re visiting with your family. And Haven in Paris did such a nice job of putting our minds at ease: the apartment was clean, beautiful, and well-stocked (with everything from a hair-dryer to a computer, to a bottle of wine and roses); they were quick to answer our emails and checked in with us right before our trip; and, most importantly, everything they described in the advertisement for the apartment was found to be totally accurate. They have some mind-blowingly gorgeous apartments for rent (for example), so that’s really key.
A far cry from the many nights I spent once at the slightly grimy Young & Happy Hostel in the Latin Quarter years ago! (Though perhaps equal in romance if you count nostalgia.)
Rive Gauche Penthouse, Haven in Paris
[Note: Haven in Paris helped us get a modest discount, but all of the expressed opinions are my own.]
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