On my most recent trip to Paris I had the fortune of staying in a gorgeous apartment on the Île Saint-Louis. The central location made it so ideal for setting out to explore the city by foot (my preferred method) and since I was a little girl I have loved the Île Saint-Louis. My parents brought us there on my first trip to Paris in elementary school and it’s truly a gem within the city of lights.
The best part of the stay? Realizing that by staying in an apartment while traveling, you really have a different sense of what it feels like to be a local vs. just a tourist returning to a hotel every evening. I visited the local boulangerie for baguette and croissants, stopped by to see the lovely man who runs the frommagerie on the Île and took quiet early morning walks around the island to truly soak up the sights and sounds of this charming neighborhood.
I know hotels seem like the path of least resistance when you’re planning a trip, but I’d beg to differ.
I worked with A La Carte Paris for my stay and had such a wonderful experience. Everything from the kind staff, to the warm welcome at the apartment (the gentleman who greeted me at the apartment even carried my suitcase up the stairs!), the experience was top notch. Their team also provided a thorough guide book they’d compiled that included the best neighborhood haunts for everything from lunch spots to the best crepes to cultural points of interest nearby.
A La Carte Paris works to represent the best 50 rental properties in the city so you know you’ll be staying in a wonderful location, in divine surroundings. Unlike airbnb (which I’ve personally had two bad experiences with of recent…), the A La Carte Paris team is readily available to help you have the easiest time coordinating your lodging. They even assisted in booking me a car to the airport for my departure.
The element of service in working with small teams like A La Carte Paris is the attention to detail that doesn’t always happen when you use a larger apartment booking service like airbnb. What I loved about working with A La Carte Paris was they are familiar with all of their properties and they can also work with you to provide you with neighborhood recommendations based on what you’re looking to do in Paris.
During my stay I absolutely loved coming home to this beautiful apartment. The highlight had to have been the night I decided I’d had my fill of three course meals (my trip was coming to a close and my clothes were feeling tighter let’s just say…) so I decided to grocery shop and make an easy dinner at “home.” I bought some of my French food favorites and enjoyed them in the apartment while watching a movie. It felt like I was really living in Paris again and to me, there’s no better feeling than that.
If you are heading to Paris soon (or Provence!), I really cannot recommend A La Carte Paris enough. (I have a friend and my parents both looking at using the service for future trips already…!) And, naturally, I’m already plotting my return to my favorite city.
[Photography by Meghan Donovan]
p.s. 72 hours in Bordeaux, France and the best places to shop in Paris.
This post is not sponsored however A La Carte Paris did provide me with a media rate for my stay. As always, all opinions are my own.
I rented in apartment in the Cinque Terre (Italy ) last month and I totally agree with you! It’s such a different feeling having a “home” to come back to during your stay. Depending on your accommodations it can cost much less than a hotel. Especially if you use the kitchen!
On another note, I finally caved and purchased some detergent from The Laundress this week. I washed 3 silk blouses today and let’s just say I’m never bringing them to the dry cleaner again! It’s a game changer!
Completely agree about the cost difference for sure! It’s so worthwhile to feel like you have a home base to yourself.
And so glad to hear it re: The Laundress! Love that you’re loving it!