Staying like a native in Paris

Bonjour tout le monde!
I was given the wonderful opportunity to visit Paris and to stay in an apartment.  The last time I was in Paris and lived "like a native", I was 20 and a junior at Stanford.  Then, I lived in a boarding house in the 7th arrondissement with some of my Stanford classmates.  We had a great time, and I felt like a Parisienne.
This time, our apartment was in the Auteuil village area of Paris, in the 16th arrondissement.  My husband and I had the opportunity to stay in this apartment for a special birthday week in Paris, because I did some work for the owner.  She lives there part time, and does indeed rent it out.  It is a spacious place, beautifully and thoughtfully furnished, with living room, a small study with a desk, a wonderfully huge bedroom with lots of storage and a queen sized bed.   The kitchen is big and has all that you need to make dinner if you don’t want to eat out.  We might not have used the stove often, but it was lovely to relax every morning with coffee and baguette in our own space.  There is also a washing machine, separate dryer, and dishwasher, just in case you need them!

Speaking of need, there is all that you need to live just like a native.  If you want to go food shopping, there is a rolling shopping cart that will make you feel oh so Parisian when you venture out to one of the two grocery stores that are close by.  Having that shopping cart made it much easier to transport the big bottles of water and all the provisions that we got! You will also need it to check out the local open air market that occurs twice a week.

One of the coolest things about the apartment is that it is so close to transportation, both the Metro and the bus.  A quick 5 minute walk gets you to either stop or station, and it was easy to get into the center of Paris!  If you need anything to help you navigate public transportation, you can find it in the apartment – maps, tourist guides, wifi for downloading the Paris Metro map onto your smartphone before leaving. Valerie has provided all that you need to have a wonderful experience in Paris, whether this is your first time, or you’re a veteran Parisian visitor.

What my husband and I really loved was that the apartment felt homey and cozy, but that there is enough room that keeps you from feeling crowded.  The Auteuil neighborhood feels just like the village that it used to be; when you stay here, please take the time to explore that area, too!

 We loved this place and hope to make it our “home away from home” next time we visit.  You should check it out, also.

http://www.greatfrenchrentals.com/

If you are visiting the south of France, she also has a place right in the middle of Aix-en-Provence!

Watching the Super Bowl - in the apartment!