Valentine’s in Paris – Great ideas off the beaten path!

Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m flying to Paris and I’m taking you! Happy Valentine’s Day!

ATELIER - Gorgeous 2 bedroom at the foot of Montmartre Hill

If you’re fortunate enough to be spending Valentine’s Day in Paris with your significant other it may just prove to be the most romantic Valentine of your life.

Paris is known throughout the world as the city for lovers.  So coming to Paris on or around Valentine’s Day can be truly idyllic. As you turn the corner of a medieval street, take in the view of a gorgeous morning in a bucolic park or admire the breathtaking vistas over any of Paris’ bridges, romance is everywhere.

If you are looking to impress, surprise or move your sweetheart to tears, Paris Hideaways has compiled some great ideas for an unforgettable Valentine getaway in Paris.

When planning Valentine’s Day in Paris most people will immediately think of a dinner cruise or a night at a cabaret. But Paris has so much more to offer for that special day of the year. After all, Paris is internationally known as the capital of romance and Parisians like to think of themselves as the world experts on love…

Love comes naturally in Paris on Valentines Day and there are numerous settings that inspire intimacy and sentimentality. Whether you are cuddled up in a warm blanket with a glass of wine sitting in the Square du Vert Galant, at the quays looking at the reflection of the city on the Seine, simply passionately kissing and holding hands in the Palais Royal gardens or under the arcades of Place des Vosges, Paris is the perfect backdrop for a romantic I Love You…or Will you marry me?

When people think of a Paris getaway for Valentines, they may think of luxury hotels, an expensive meal in a Michelin star restaurant and some champagne at the end of the night. However, it is so easy to push the thought of Valentines in Paris further and take it up a notch by making it extra special, extra unforgettable, extra unique.

So put aside the idea of hotel – restaurant – boat cruise and check if these packages have the wow factor you are looking for.

Les Cent ciels - One bedroom apartment with large balcony under the Paris Sky

After reviewing our extensive list of poetic, characterful and certainly most idyllic vacation rentals, we at Paris Hideaways have come up with a short list of our most romantic apartments for an unforgettable stay in Paris. Of course the list was long and the advantages of staying in a personal abode instead of an impersonal hotel bedroom are so much greater that it was hard to confine ourselves to just these!

A LUXURY PAMPERED COUPLE Package

• Spend 3 nights in a luxurious apartment:
  - QUAI DES SOUPIRS is a studio for two on ile de la Cité with breathtaking views of the River Seine and the Right bank.
  - VOGUE is a one bedroom with a charming balcony overlooking the pedestrian streets of Montorgueil and rooftops of Paris.

• Book a massage for 2 in your Paris apartment:
  

  Enjoy a massage from the comfort of your Paris apartment

  COCOONEZ-MOI From ayurvedic to tantric massages, massage with 4 hands or seated, the possibilities are there to suit your pace, style and your expectations.Australian born Desbina Collins is another excellent practitioner who offers shiatsu massages in the comfort of your Parisian home.  06 14 96 15 39  or  01 42 55 79 93  desbina@free.fr

• A picnic on the banks of the River Seine or better yet a warm catered meal from the Mouffetard market into Luxembourg gardens with a bottle of wine.

• Organize a private wine tasting in your apartment with an expert:  Passionate about their art, their enthusiasm is contagious and their heartfelt interest will trigger yours. Custom design your wine tasting with the sommelier and enjoy a precious and luxurious moment.
  HOME WINE SCHOOL
  EMMANUEL DELMAS SOMMELIER CONSULTANT
  LABIVIN
  PARIS ON YOUR PLATE

A LUXURY GOURMET PARIS STAY Package

• Spend 3 nights in a luxury Paris apartment:
  -LES CENT CIELS is a high perch one bedroom apartment under the rooftops of a distinguished building in St-Germain des Prés with a jaw-dropping view of Paris from the windows or its large balcony
  -CAPRICE BLANC, Prime Latin Quarter offers stupendous views over Ile Saint-Louis. Need we say more?

• Valentines day in Paris is best enjoyed unhurried. Relax, it lasts all day. Hire a private chef for a dinner “en amoureux”.  CHEFS & TALENTS offers a quality service, with a chef tailored just for you. They will customize the menu according to the season, the particular talents of the chef you choose and to the personal tastes of you and your guests.

River limousine, a romantic cruise on Paris river Seine

• Paris by night tour on a private river limousine :

RIVER LIMOUSINE offers you a unique, tailor-made private cruise down the most beautiful waterway in the world, Paris’ river Seine… in a luxurious Venetian water taxi.

Or in a private limousine, PARIS LIMOUSINE EVENTS.

A LUXURY “I LOVE YOU” package

• Spend 3 nights in a luxury Paris vacation rental:
  -COLETTE, a masterful, luxurious abode facing the Seine River, the Pont Neuf and located in the posh area of St-Germaine des Prés. You cannot get more opulent for a memorable stay in Paris.
  -BALANCHINE, the “crème de la crème”. A location in Paris that is hard to beat, steps from Luxembourg gardens, the most romantic parc in Paris and just next to Pantheon.

• Tongue-tied? If you’re struggling for the words to show you care, head to Montmartre’s WALL OF I LOVE YOU where you can read some 1000 declarations of love in 300 different languages.

• Would you prefer to see your message of love displayed on one of the 170 panels in 20 districts of Paris? From marriage proposals to declarations, People can begin submitting their messages from February 1st via PARIS CITY HALL.

• Enjoy a glass of Champagne admiring the most famous panorama of Paris from the steps of Montmartre Sacre Coeur.

• Treat your partner to a romantic dinner with the most spectacular view on the Eiffel Tower at LES OMBRES

• Order a love poem from Poet MARY FONS and offer it to your loved one with  a single  rose under the Paris sky.

EXPERIENCE PARIS TOGETHER Package

• 3 nights in a luxury Paris apartment:
  

  Matisse apartment - 2 balconies offering unobstructed views of Paris and its monuments

  -MATISSE, everything about this gorgeous vacation rental spells romance. Two balconies each with a180 degree view of Paris. A remarkable home to spend a cocooning holiday and seeing it all.
  -AMARANTE is the apartment at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. The building itself sits in the Champs de Mars gardens! Eiffel Tower glittering a million lights every night… unspeakable romantic delights. Can’t say we didn’t tell you!

• For a more hands on experience, a private cooking lesson at your Paris apartment or elsewhere is the perfect idea. PARIS CHEF offers three options: let the chef cook, cook with the chef or take a cooking class. Opt to accompany him to the market to select ultra fresh products for your recipes! Choose your menu: typical French? Regional? Pick a gastronomic level: it is all about you!

• Catch Valentine’s Day on film by taking a photo tour of Paris! Realize your goal of seeing the sites and taking pictures, learn more about photography, build your own portfolio of amazing Paris photographs, maximizing your photography opportunities while traveling. Conducted like a hands-on workshop in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere, the photo tours provide one-on-one tutoring tailored to the skill level of every participant.
  PHOTO TOURS IN PARIS
  BETTER PARIS PHOTOS
  LINDA MATHIEU
  PHOTO ADVENTURE FRANCE

• Book a night at the OPERA DE PARIS to see Don Carlos or la Dame aux Camelias

VALENTINE’S WITH THE GIRLS IN PARIS  Package (or any other day of the year!)

No valentine in sight but you would love to come to Paris with the girls?

• Spend 3 nights in a fabulous Paris apartment:
  -COMTESSE, views over the Invalides, large open spaces, steps from rue Cler market, this is a stunningly luxurious holiday home for the traveler who wants the best.
  -ATELIER, former atelier workshop of painter Gericault, this upscale urban Paris loft is set at the foot of Montmartre in the village like atmosphere of rue des Martyrs. A perfect getaway from the tourists crowds.

• Create your own perfume ! The  STUDIO DU PARFUM workshop allows perfume fans to be initiated to the world of composition through an initial hour and a half course. An artistic experience, a soft moment of creation.

• Enjoy a lunch at LE ZYRIAB with the most outstanding view on Notre-Dame and the Paris islands.

• Want to discover the best Parisian boutiques not listed in any travel guide? Hire a private shopper and choose your area.  St Germain des Pres, Avenue Montaigne, Rue Saint-Honoré? A Personal Shopper is your shopping professional guide and know of the latest Parisian boutiques.
  YOUR SHOPPER IN PARIS
  PRIVATE SHOPPER
  FASHION SHOPPER PARIS
  Personal shopper for men COMME UN HOMME

• 

  Valentine's treat from Chocolat ROY

  Visit the chocolatier to view (and taste!) their Valentine collection of irresistible patisserie and chocolates
  PIERRE HERME
  ROY CHOCOLATIER

• Yes you have earned it, all this walking in Paris burning calories, now treat yourself to a sumptuous dinner at Le CRISTAL ROOM BACCARAT

PARIS SEXY AND UNUSUAL. Impress Her, Seduce Him! Package

• Spend 3 nights in an unusual, eclectic Paris apartment:
  -IMPRESARIO This custom Paris apartment rental is fully inspired by an eclectic mix of colorful decoration and is enhanced with exceptional craftsmanship and fine attention to detail. With inspiring interior design, this “Idea Home” full of character, is punctuated by touches of vintage design.
  -SOPRANO It is a most healing and productive space. The one you go to to reinvent your life, write a book or fall in love…

• NAUGHTY PARIS TOUR . Let Naughty Paris guides show you around the sexy City of Light! Navigate the chic lingerie and fetish boutiques, tour the city’s erotic artworks while getting the best insider advice on bringing out your inner Femme Parisienne.

• Burlesque striptease French style! From Lido to Moulin Rouge and Crazy Horse to Paradis Latin,
  

  Paris Burlesque striptease - Gentry de Paris

  Paris is home to an array of wonderful burlesque venues. Tasteful, elegant and artistic, these women are in charge of their sexuality and seductive powers.
  Feel positive about yourself while learning with the masters. Learn all aspects of striptease and burlesque. These are fun and exciting visual art forms that enable you to express a variety of fantasies and liberate the essence of your sensuality.

ECOLE SUPERIEURE DE BURLESQUE
CHARME ET SEDUCTION

• APOTEOSE SURPRISE When in Paris, surprise your beloved with one of these thirty romantic scenarios that will literally amaze him/her.

• Experience Paris on a deeper level, find the city’s soul, explore its hidden corners… PARIS PRIVE arranges visits to inaccessible venues, organizes incredible meetings with masters of French luxury, and guides you on personalized visits off of the beaten track far from any queues or clichés. Fashion houses, Gourmet and oenology, Artists in private ateliers and custom made tours.

Now, isn’t that hotel-restaurant-boat cruise Valentine’s Day looking just a tad ordinary?

Vacation rental in Paris : agency or private owner?

So you are sold on the idea of vacation rentals?

ARBUTUS - 2 bedroom near Eiffel Tower 1850€/week - Exclusively through Paris Hideaways

In our previous article, we let our guest share their views on the benefits of opting for a vacation rental instead of a hotel when traveling abroad. However, as there  are so many choices and so many avenues, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Should you opt for a private owner or agency? If you are still undecided here are a few pointers which we hope will help.

When it comes to choosing a vacation rental in Paris, you will find an amazing array of websites advertising directly with private owners. The fees linked to these rentals are sometimes (but not always) less than agencies but they come with another kind of price…

Private owners will vouch for their property, but can sometimes be misleading prospective renters about the quality and rating it what it is worth. Parisian owners have a preconceived idea of what you would expect of a vacation rental based on their own cultural experience. Remember that apartments are considerably smaller in Europe, a lot less modern (if you choose a charming Paris abode in a medieval building, you will know what we mean) and the internet was almost non existent in most rental properties only five years ago!

On the other hand, Paris vacation rental agencies will pre-screen properties, and view them through the eyes of guests coming from North America, Australia, Canada – travelers who have very different expectations of rental properties, modernity and cleanliness. While agency fees can range from 13% to 40% (Paris Hideaways is the cheapest one on the market at the time of writing this article), an agency will be the intermediary between you and the owner in the case of any litigation that involves prices, check in conditions and amenities advertised but not present. Around-the-clock assistance and support is also something you can expect. Agencies can also offer benefits such as discount offers that private owners cannot. And an agency’s website well organised is the ideal one stop shop to design and built up your dream stay in Paris, from cooking lessons to boat cruises to finding places to shop.

Things you may have to give up

AMBASSADEUR- 2 bedroom overlooking Bastille Square - Paris Hideaways Sole Agent from 950 euros/week

Our guests choose vacation rentals for the freedom and personality they offer and giving up the more structured environment of a hotel for the greater self-sufficiency of an apartment was not sorely missed. But as our guest likes to point out, not all rentals are designed equal. A vacation rental, which is privately owned, can be a hit or miss situation. This is where the expertise of an agency becomes very important. An agency has viewed the property you are about to select and so are able to answer any specific questions you may have.

One of our guests suggests to really delve into the details of a rental in order to have the best possible idea and dismiss any wrongly conceived notions of what a rental should be. Ask plenty of questions about anything that matters to you: sleeping arrangements, view from windows, noise level, how far it is from the metro, kitchen equipment, accessibility of the bathrooms from the bedrooms and hallways, elevator access, Wi-Fi or dial up internet, late check in or check out, nearest supermarket, etc. An agency that has done their homework will not only reply quickly but will have answers to any questions you may have.

So choosing a vacation rental will probably require a lot more research, but can be infinitely more rewarding.

If you opt for a Paris apartment you may forfeit maid service unless your owner can offer it at an extra cost. A concierge service unless you go via a booking agency that offers that service, room service and in-house restaurants will also not be available. It will also be your responsibility to leave the flat tidy. The rental will be cleaned after you leave, but some agencies may charge check out cleaning fees. Other agencies, such as Paris Hideaways, have an all-inclusive policy so long as the flat is left in a decent and tidy condition.

If you prefer not to cook on your vacation, or are allergic to any sort of tidying up on departure, a vacation rental may not be for you. Remember that you are renting someone’s home and not a hotel.

When you think about it, you will experience Paris with the Parisians not the tourist crowds. That is the best way for an immersion “à la francaise!”

CAPUCINE - One bedroom Artist Loft in St-Germain des Prés

Either way you go, be sure to do business with a high-quality accommodation broker or an owner whose credentials can be verified: www.paris-hideaways.com can readily answer your questions and understand your needs. With an expert partner who knows the lay of the land in the locations you will be visiting, you can be confident that the apartment of choice fits your plans, your style, and your bank account.”

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Paris Hideaways is an entity of Charming Hideaways Ltd, and is registered and based in London. Katia Provencher is the Director of Charming Hideaways, and has several years experience in the vacation rental and tourism business, including being vacation rental owner herself and also having been a long-term resident of Paris.
For further details on Paris Hideaways vacation rentals, please call + 44 (0)208 144-5887, via Skype Parisrental, email contact@paris-hideaways.com or visit www.paris-hideaways.com.

Paris Hideaways guests talk of the benefits of a Paris rental

Paris Hideaways has run a survey with their clients to find out what makes them choose a vacation rental over a hotel stay during their trips to Paris.

We asked our guest to give us their opinions on the benefits of apartment rentals as well as any of the downsides. Here is a compilation of interesting points made by our clients which we believe can help you weigh your options when choosing which type of accommodation is most likely to suit your style when traveling to Paris for a holiday.

LES VIGNES - Splendid 2 bedroom Paris rental with private courtyard terrace

There is a belief that visitors to Paris who opt for a hotel stay will often see much of their holiday budget being spent on accommodations alone. Our Paris Hideaways guests found this to be rather true. For the same rates as a typical hotel, an apartment rental provided them with more value for their money and more choices regarding sizes and style. Cleaner and quieter, rentals have the added benefit of a kitchen. Our guests found that they could save money by dining at home rather than in restaurants every day. Even a Paris studio, the smallest sized vacation rentals, is often larger and better equipped than a simple single standard Paris hotel room.

Hotels may provide breakfast and, if you are lucky, a little kettle in each room. Our Paris Hideaways clients state that this simply does not match up to the pleasure of doing your morning food shopping in the markets of Paris and meeting back “home” with friends and loved ones for a convivial meal.

Tips from our guests: If you are on a budget but want to avoid the terrible one/two star hotels of Paris, consider a vacation rental outside of the first eight arrondissements of Paris. By renting in the 11th district, you are next to Bastille which is just outside of the Marais.

PECHE MIGNON - Calm and quiet lovely 1 bedroom plus alcove near Bastille

An apartment like Peche Mignon may be a perfect choice at a very affordable rate. The 10th district is also kissing the border of Montorgueil and so opting for a studio like Petite Marie or Adagio can be an excellent way to save money.

An area like the 17th district will put you close enough to enjoy the Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe. Consider a property located near a beautiful market called Gavroche or Beausejour, a one bedroom – 2-bathroom accommodation facing parc Monceau.

When choosing a Paris vacation rental you will have access to amenities that would be impossible to obtain in any place other than a 5 star Parisian palace. A two bedroom apartment in Saint-Germain-des-Prés with its own terrace in a courtyard such as Les Vignes or a gem like Vent du Sud, a Latin Quarter triplex with a balcony overlooking the pantheon are real treasures and will make a Paris vacation unforgettable.

It is no secret that fans of short-term rentals are travelers with a taste for things private, charming and personal. If you like to do things your own way, at your own pace without rigid hotel rules, curfews, impersonal service then a vacation rental is for you. Not your first time in Paris? Some of our guests suggest that when traveling with friends in Paris, a personal home away from home adds amazing value and a richer experience to your stay. Entertaining friends in your Paris home with a great meal prepared in a fully stocked kitchen can make for an unforgettable evening…

GAVROCHE - Lovely Studio apartment near Ternes and Arc de Triomphe Paris

Whether you are traveling with adults only, children or are just a group of friends looking to spend a fun time abroad, Paris Hideaways caters for large and small groups. We asked families what made them opt for a vacation rental rather than a hotel suite.

As you can imagine, for a large family a single Paris hotel room will rarely provide sufficient accommodations every one. You can choose to pick two room and cross your fingers that they will be on the same floor, relatively close to each other, safe, and if very lucky, adjoining one another. But there is always a price for this sort of “luxury” and with little children this avenue is not even a valid option. Being confined in the small space of one hotel room presents a problem for little ones who have nowhere to roam and may very well turn the trip sour.

On the other hand traveling together is a great way to reduce costs by allowing everyone to share one lodging together. A vacation rental is the best solution for this type of vacation.

Some apartments welcome up to 6 or 7 guests with 2 bathrooms and separate toilets. Montorgueil’s Accroche Coeur as a very good example of this, as is L’Epicurien, a luxury hideaway near the Eiffel Tower. The benefits of this type of Paris rental are numerous; each guest will enjoy an intimate space to retreat to, while social gatherings can be made in the living room or meals enjoyed in the kitchen. Separate bathrooms allow guests to make use of the sink and bathtub in different rooms without creating traffic in the morning.

Of course, with individual rooms at a Paris hotel you may get individual bathrooms, bedrooms and privacy at night since everyone is separated, but let’s not forget that you sacrifice the pleasure to spend time together and share a unique experience in a relaxed way – the very reason you opted for a family/friend vacation in the first place.

One of our guests who has a family of three young children suggests that one the plus side of a Paris Hideaways rental is not having to dress the kids up and race down to the breakfast lobby of a hotel before the morning meal wraps up. This is perk that is hard to ignore!

So you are sold on the idea of vacation rentals?   In our next article we feature the benefits of renting via an agency rather than through private owners… Read what our guests have to say about this!

Going to Paris? Why lodging in a Paris apartment is better than a hotel

There’s no better time than now to try a Paris vacation rental.

For the last 5 years, Paris Hideaways, a vacation rental agency specializing in short-term Paris accommodation has seen the range of Paris rentals and scale of amenities increase exponentially.

Furnished apartments and weekly vacation rentals can be found in every arrondissement of Paris. Whether you long for the literary ambiance of St-Germain des Prés, the artistic beehive of the Latin Quarter or the Historical beauties of the Marais, you can find your ideal Paris dwelling anywhere in the City of Lights.

Once reserved for beach aficionados, vacation rentals have become a sizeable industry that offers travelers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of a country or city for half the price of a hotel stay and benefit private owners by providing them with small business enterprises. And there is no other place where this is truer than in Paris.

It is undeniable, Paris vacation rental are gaining popularity and notoriety all around the world. When asked, most Paris visitors will tell you their reasons for choosing a Paris rental are the extra space and savings.

These are of course excellent reasons. Here are a few more …

Sheherazade townhouse – 2 bedroom with garden – Marais, Paris

Paris Slow Travel Style

Travelers looking for various ways to experience the City of Light will often opt to stay in an apartment. From shopping at your favorite Paris market to getting your morning croissants for a breakfast on your own terrace or a lazy afternoon, to reading a book and sipping wine in a perfectly comfortable lounge, the possibilities for true immersion into the French experience are endless.

Apartments in Paris also benefit those looking for an extended stay in the capital. You may be coming to Paris for business (a trade show, Paris Fashion week or a corporate meeting) and desire a home away from home rather than living out of your suitcase. Or you may be simply coming for a long stay away from work and need a place you to spend a sabbatical and live your Paris dream.

For Europeans, a hop on the Eurostar mean that a romantic weekend getaway, a short shopping trip in Paris’ posh boutiques or a special surprise for a loved one are possible at very attractive prices. A Paris vacation rental can often be an attractive way to spend this special time at less than the cost of a weekend in another country.

Paris is the ideal destination for honeymoons in Europe. A Paris vacation rental offers the intimacy, romance and comfort that no impersonal hotel could ever hope to provide.

For a Paris Immersion

If “living in Paris” is on your list of things you hope to experience in life, turn fantasy into reality! Renting a Paris apartment could be your chance to really feel and discover what it feels like to be Parisian!

Choosing a vacation rental allows you to immerse yourself and fit in to live just like the locals. Blend into the local society of your favorite Paris arrondissement, in one of their residential neighborhoods. Set base and unpack your suitcase…for real.

Many Paris hotels are situated in very touristy spots, often just steps from crowded Paris landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Ile Saint-Louis or Montmartre. They tend to be on the main roads close loud bars and busy restaurants. A Paris vacation rental will take you away from this bustling scene and provide you with an environment in which you can relax at a favorite cafe and read for hours, choose your wine at the private cellar shop down the street and get acquainted with the local baker on the ground floor of your Paris building.

We recommend you speak to the owner of your Paris rental well in advance to ask him for tips, addresses, best restaurants and his favorite haunts. Getting this information ahead of time will help you plan your itinerary, get acquainted with your future environment and feel more at ease on arrival. Google the address, draw maps, find opening hours of interesting shops, make reservations and know where to find basic necessities on your first day.

Vent du Sud – Triplex with terrace – Paris, Latin Quarter

The ambiance “à la Parisienne”

The overall better ambiance of Paris vacation rentals versus hotels is unquestionable. Paris apartments are usually privately owned and so the owners add their personal touch to the property. Apartments are often lovingly restored, beautifully furnished and much more personalized that a hotel chain. No Paris vacation rental is the same, each offer their own unique character, views, amenities and style. It is easy to choose one that will reflect the person you are. These homes feel like home and the level of comfort and snugness will exceed any bleak hotel room.  As a perfect example, you cannot beat the personality and charm of Vent du Sud, a 2 bedroom triplex with a private terrace in the centre of Latin Quarter.

Live sumptuously, even if just for a week…

Depending on your budget, your idea of Paris apartments can suddenly become a Latin Quarter townhouse, a St-Germain manor, a Montorgueil penthouse or a city mansion in the Marais. If living like a *rich* local appeals to you, this is the perfect opportunity to experience a lifestyle you would not be able to afford on long term. Imagine your 2-bedroom abode, Sheherazade, nestled in a 16th century Marais City Mansion with an extensive courtyard garden.

Pet friendly Paris apartments

Vacation rentals are often the best alternative to hotel stays if traveling with a pet. Many owners of apartments in Paris are pet friendly and although some owners may require an additional damage deposit, the extra spending is well worth the cost compared to the emotional separation and the costs incurred for having to leave your best friend in a kennel. It is important to always talk to the owners about their animal policies for the property and discuss extra charges. Marais Haute’s owner has a fondness for dogs as she is the owner of a cute little dog and will happily welcome yours for a small additional fee.

Marais Haute Vacation rental – One bedroom – Marais, Paris

Go ahead, make your dream a reality!

Traveling can be an exhausting experience, especially with a large family. A large cosmopolitan city – a European one at that – can be quite intimidating, especially on a first trip. Impersonal hotels can make you feel like an outsider. Paris vacation rentals offer a real opportunity to immerse yourself as little or as much you choose and to do it at your own pace. Residing in a personalized space that will offer a true sense of home and belonging while exploring Paris will comfort you immediately and put a smile on everyone’s face as well as put them at ease. No need to get out, even for a meal if you are not up for it. Cook at home, entertain friends, surf the net, sip wine and let it all sink in. You are in Paris, you are home. Memories are made of this…

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Paris Hideaways is an entity of Charming Hideaways Ltd, and is registered and based in London. Katia Provencher is the Director of Charming Hideaways, and has several years experience in the vacation rental and tourism business, including being vacation rental owner herself and also having been a long-term resident of Paris.
For further details on Paris Hideaways vacation rentals, please call + 44 (0)208 144-5887, via Skype Parisrental, email contact@paris-hideaways.com or visit www.paris-hideaways.com.

Top Five Paris Tours

Paris almost begs its visitors to wander aimlessly through the winding cobblestone streets and stumble upon some of history’s most significant characters at your own pace.  While such meandering is a necessary part of the Paris experience, being guided by an expert opens up other perspectives on the City of Light that will make visitors fall in love with Paris even more.

Vacation apartment rental agency Paris Hideaways director Katia Provencher recommends 5 top original Paris tours to explore the city she loves in more detail.

Black Paris

Josephine Baker

The great Josephine Baker once said, “I have two loves, my country and Paris.” This great love of the French capital has been shared by hundreds, if not thousands , of African and African-American artists, writers and intellectuals throughout the city’s history. Walking the Spirit Tours offer an in-depth look into Black Paris through a variety of culturally and historically fascinating tours. Passionate about Paris, Walking The Spirit will also plan your entire Paris itinerary for you.  Visit  www.walkingthespirit.com

Personalized Paris

Photographer Christiane Michels runs ‘A walk in Paris’ tours. Trips are personalized as per your request, and only for your family or group of friends, no group tours allowed.  A Walk In Paris allows for a tour of Le Marais with some Da Vinci Code aspects sprinkled in or more off the beaten path type tours, Christiane is a Paris expert who also offers cooking courses and French lessons.  www.awalkinparis.com

The Dark Side

Mysteries of Paris tour company is a French/American hybrid which explores ‘the dark side of the City of Lights’. On offer through Mysteries of Paris are a Catacombs tour, a Jim Morrison tour, Ooh Lala tours, and of course a Paris Ghost tour, which is the overwhelming favourite. www.mysteriesofparis.com

For intellectual travellers

Context Tours are a heady set of tours run by scholars and experts, professors and professionals who cater to the intellectually adventurous traveller.   Tours include Art, Archaeology, and Theology, as well as the more common themes of Architecture, Cuisine or Shopping, though even these can be a bit like going back to college for a few hours. www.contexttravel.com

Eye Pefer Paris Tours

Run by American Richard Nahem, these customized tours are an effortless foray into Parisian life through the eyes of this professional Paris blogger/journalist and all around nice guy. Eye Prefer Paris  tours are very often completely booked in advance, as Richard has made a name for himself as a top tour guide in Paris. Richard allows you to discover Paris in much the same way that he himself went about discovering it years before.  Richard is also working in conjunction with chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, running Ethnic Paris cooking classes.   http://eyepreferparis.com/

And must-have number 6…Paris On Two Wheels

Velib bike system

Though technically not a tour, seeing Paris by Bike must be mentioned. The Parisians make this as easy as pie with Velib, a 24/7 bike rental service with several thousand bikes available from hundreds of service points located every 300 meters throughout the city. From the moment you arrive in Paris, you will notice that Parisians truly take advantage of the Velib system, hopping on and off the bikes as required as necessary throughout the day. This is one of the best ways to see the city, and the best way to experience Paris like a local. www.en.velib.paris.fr

Wines from La Tour d’Argent go under the hammer

Wines from one of the world’s most famous cellars, belonging to La Tour d’Argent restaurant in Paris, are going under the hammer.

Courtesy of the BBC

A total of 18,000 bottles – including wine from Cognac, Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux – are to be auctioned.

The sale is intended to raise 1m euros (£0.9m) to renew the cellar’s contents and ensure the restaurant keeps its Michelin star.

Its wine list is 400 pages long, with no fewer than 15,000 tipples.

Andre Terrail, who runs the restaurant – the third generation of his family to do so – said he hoped to add new wines from different parts of France, including the Loire Valley, to the cellar.

“It is a heritage my father contributed to and which I must pass on,” Mr Terrail told Agence France Presse.

“We must keep it alive and build on it,” he said of the 450,000-bottle cellar.

‘Like my children’

The sale has had wine fans licking their lips in anticipation – as all bottles were bought directly from the winemakers and have been kept in the cellar’s careful controlled conditions, making them a low-risk investment.

According to the auctioneers, some bottles were expected to reach 5,000 euros (£4,500), though others were more accessible at 10 euros a bottle.

Profits from the sale of one of the dustiest bottles to go under the hammer – a 1788 cognac expected to fetch 2,500 euros (£2,259) – will be given to charity.

La Tour d’Argent’s chief sommelier, David Ridgway, said he had bought most of the wines being auctioned off during his 30 years at the restaurant.

“Each bottle is a bit like one of my children: you see them go and you’re always sad but at the same time they’re going to make space for more, so it’s a sad occasion but a happy one at the same time,” he told the BBC.

He added that the sale was going “remarkably well” despite the recession, with some bottles fetching 30% above the original estimate.

For more information on Paris, click through our Paris Hideaways blog. To book your trip to Paris and live like a local in the City of Lights, visit our website – Paris Hideaways.

For all you London-based Francophiles out there

Jacques Audiard

& The French Thriller – January 2010 at the BFI Southank

It may be said that the crime genre is in Jacque Audiard’s genes: his father was the celebrated and hugely prolific screenwriter and director Michel Audiard and, together with the original masters Jean-Pierre Melville, Claude Chabrol and Henri-Georges Clouzot, he is among the few French filmmakers to create something entirely their own from the generic material of the crime story.

Throughout January BFI Southbank will examine this when we screen all of Jacques Audiard’s films, including a preview of A Prophet (Un Prophète, 2009) which won Grand Prize of the Jury at Cannes and Best Film Award at the London Film Festival. As a testament to his work,  the BFI Southank will present a season of classic French thrillers, including La Bête humaine (1938), Finally Sunday! (Vivement Dimanche!, 1983) and Harry, He’s Here to Help (Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien, 2000).

It was clear, however, from Jacques Audiard’s directorial debut See How They Fall (Regarde les hommes tomber, 1994) that he was never likely to be ‘merely’ a thriller director. His films focus not simply on stories of criminality, but on the theme of social exclusion, on individuals vying to survive in hostile environments – whether jail, office or society at large. And invariably, they find themselves matching society’s amorality with their own. Audiard’s protagonists – usually men, with the distinctive exception of Read My Lips (Sur mes lèvres, 2001) – are never conventionally sympathetic, and indeed can be disconcertingly abrasive. But in the manoeuvres they undertake to salvage something of their own identity in a world defined by lies and oppressions, particularly in A Self-Made Hero (Un Héros très discret, 1996), they at once embody a parodic version of conventional morality and offer a heroic (or rather anti-heroic) form of resistance.

In particular, Audiard focuses on masculinity and its fault lines, often depicting flawed father-son relations, both literal, The Beat That My Heart Skipped (De battre mon coeurs’est arête, 2005), and figurative, See How They Fall. The story is told again in Audiard’s superb new film A Prophet, which tells of a brutal apprenticeship within prison walls.

Writing with such collaborators as Alain Le Henry and Tonino Benaquista, Audiard has created a detached yet entirely personal voice, his primarily realistic directing style often displaying a discreet but complex stylisation (as witness his work with the minutiae of sound in Read My Lips). He is also one of France’s finest directors of actors, working with the likes of Romain Duris, Emmanuelle Devos, Vincent Cassel and Mathieu Kassovitz to develop densely nuanced creations: characters that you probably wouldn’t want to meet in real life but who, once encountered on screen, aren’t quickly forgotten.

Preview: A Prophet Un Prophète

In this spare, red-blooded prison drama, compelling newcomer Tahar Rahim is Malik, a young man whose hard-won ascent through the behind-bars crime system begins when he gets involved with the ruling Corsican gang. Despite elements of action thriller and eerie surrealism, this is essentially an essay in hard realism, offering a steely take on racial tensions in contemporary France. Without a doubt, one of the hardest hitting French films of recent years, previewed here (on the heels of its Best Film Award at the London Film Festival) as a highlight of our season devoted to the work of Jacques Audiard, an innovative master of the contemporary French thriller genre.

France 2009 Dir Jacques Audiard With Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif 150min EST

Courtesy of Optimum Releasing

Wed 13 Jan 18:00 NFT1 Tickets £12.90, concs £9.65 (Members pay £1.40 less)

The French Thriller

Jacques Audiard’s highly stylish variations on the crime movie are in keeping with a long, distinguished French tradition of major auteurs working in that genre. Vivid characterisation, taut plotting, a strong sense of social milieu and a fascination with the ethics of trust and betrayal have meant that directors as different as Jean Renoir and Henri-Georges Clouzot, Jean-Pierre Melville and Claude Chabrol have produced more than their fair share of landmark movies. And the tradition is far from dead; Audiard is not alone in making superior crime fare, as is made gloriously clear by the films made by Cédric Kahn, Dominik Moll and Bertrand Tavernier selected for this brief but surprisingly diverse survey of crime classics.

Strikes affecting Paris Museums

FYI for any Paris Hideaways clients and other visitors to Paris! Reprinted from The Age courtesy of AFP

People wait outside Orsay Museum in Paris. Six of France’s 31 national museums were closed by the strike. Photo: AFP

Many of Paris’s most popular museums and tourist sites including the Musee d’Orsay and the Arc de Triomphe were closed Wednesday after staff went on strike to protest against planned job cuts.

The Louvre museum and the Chateau of Versailles remained open, however, with visitors to the Louvre being offered half-price admission to make up for the inconvenience caused by reduced staffing during the stoppage.

The Pompidou Centre of modern art was shut for an 11th day after staff failed to reach an agreement with culture ministry officials during several meetings held since they walked off the job on November 23.

Authorities said two of Paris’s most popular tourist sites were closed — the Arc de Triomphe war monument at the top of the Champs Elysees and the Sainte-Chapelle, a stunning 13th-century chapel in the heart of Paris.

Six of France’s 31 national museums were closed, as were six of the 96 national monuments, officials said.

In Paris, visitors also found themselves locked out of the Rodin museum and the Gustave Moreau museum, while some chateaux outside Paris were also shut down, including Azay-Le-Rideau in the Loire Valley.

Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand was to meet union leaders later Wednesday to discuss their demands for scrapping planned job cuts.

Unions argue the plan to slash state payrolls by replacing only one out of every two retiring civil servants will severely undermine services at museums.

“How are we supposed to reconcile the desire to ensure Paris attracts more tourists with the reality that there will be fewer resources allowing the city of lights to stand out from the other capitals?” said Joseph Thouvenel from the CFTC union at the Pompidou Centre.

Staff fear 400 of the 1,100 jobs at the Pompidou Centre, known to Parisians as Beaubourg, will be cut over the next 10 years.

More than 40 percent of staff at the Pompidou Centre are over the age of 50. The legal retirement age in France is 70.

The seven unions representing staff employed by the culture ministry called for the open-ended strike last week just as Paris was getting ready for a rush of visitors during the Christmas holiday season.

France is the world’s top tourism destination, drawing tens of millions of foreign visitors every year.

AFP

Did You Know…Part 4

One of the things we pride ourselves on is our knowledge of Paris - inside and out, past and present, relevant to our company, and completely banal information.  We love to share this knowledge with our customers, but we dont often get to share the little pieces of trivia about Paris during the booking / itinerary planning process. So, once again, we’ve been tweeting them out and here is a round-up of the five most recent fun facts about Paris, from Paris Hideaways!

Did you know…Jim Morrison was buried at Pere Lachaise Cemetery, but rumoured2b empty after bandmate declared it too short.

Did you know…no one wanted to be buried in Pere Lachaise as 2far out of city until famous lovers Abélard & Héloise were transferred there.

Did you know…The croissant was originally created in Austria in the 17th century.

Did you know…France has over 500 different types of cheeses, every region has own specialty.

Did you know…trompe l’œil literally means to “trick the eye,” describes a photograph-like realism in painting.

Paris Hideaways explores… The Latin Quarter

A sunny Sunday morning on the steps of the Sorbonne in absolute silence allows for nostalgic imagination of this spot in a grand but distant past, when education was of the utmost priority in this area of Paris on the left bank of the Seine.

The Latin Quarter is home to a number of higher education establishments – the University of Paris – La Sorbonne, the Ecole Normale Superieure, the Schola Cantorum and the Jussieu campus, and acquired its name from the Latin-speaking students of the Middle Ages.

Nowadays, an early weekend morning is about the only time to bask in the silence, however, as the Latin Quarter is known more for its lively atmosphere and crowded wine bars and bistros lining the thin winding streets. Boulevards St Michel and St Germain cut through the Latin Quarter, and it is here where Hemingway and other famous expat writers and artists used to congregate.

From the Place de La Sorbonne, it is hard to miss is the Pantheon, was originally built as a church in the 1700’s but essentially became a mausoleum for intellectuals, and it is here where Volatire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Marie Curie, Louise Braille and other artists and scientists are buried. This is also where Foucault proved the rotation of the earth by hanging a pendulum from its dome in 1851.

The Moyen Age (Middle Ages) Museum (also known as the Cluny Museum) sits where Boulevard St Michel meets Boulevard Saint German. Built on the ruins of Roman baths, this museum’s major attraction is the series of medieval tapestries called La Dame et La Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn).

Saint Severin is an 11th century Catholic church with 20th stained glass window and the oldest church bells remaining in Paris, cast in 1412. St Severin also boasts pillars in the form of palm-tree trunks

The Latin Quarter is also home to L’ Institut du Monde Arabe, established in 1980 when 18 Arab countries concluded an agreement to establish the institute and research Arabic and Arab cultural and spiritual values. The Institute covers 181,850 square feet (16,894 m2) and the remarkable architecture acts as a buffer between the rationalist blocks of the Jussieu Campus, and the Seine.

Also a must see in the Latin Quarter is La Mosquee de Paris, which was built for Paris’ French Arab community in 1926. It is home to a tea salon and serves excellent mint tea and flaky, rich pastries.

Speaking of Eating and Drinking in the Latin Quarter..

If you are staying in a vacation apartment in the Latin Quarter, you may want to forage for your groceries at the Rue Mouffetard Market(La Mouffe say the locals) or pick up the perfect ingredients for a picnic in the nearby Jardin des Plantes, France’s permiere botantical garden and home to the Natural History Museum ( don’t forget to grab some wine at La Fontaine aux Vins at 107 rue Moufftard!). One of Paris’s best-known markets, Rue Mouffetard is one of the oldest in Paris and feels like a tiny self-contained village where you will find butchers, bakers, cheese shops and wine stores, perfect for eating like a local in Paris. The market runs from just behind the Pantheon down to St Medard Square. Best visit in the morning, as some stalls close in the afternoon. Make sure not to miss the Shakespeare & Co English-language bookstore nearby, with its laid-back anything-goes vibe and excellent selection of literature (read Guardian review of this spectacular shop here).

Around the Rue de La Huchette, you will find several small bars, all good for a cheap drink and laugh with students. Another great place to grab a drink is a tiny bar called Caveau des Oubliettes(TimeOut Paris review here), on the beaten path but often overlooked by tourists. This bar offers strong drinks and live jazz nightly and a bit of history, as the basement here was where prisoners were historically held before their executions.

For more sophisticated dining, Le Coupe Chou on rue Lanneau, was started by three famous French actors Francis Lemonnier, Francis Nani and Christian Azzopardi in the 1960s, and the restaurant/bar quickly became a place where French and foreign performers and stars could intermingle with spectators. Le Coupe Chou has expanded into several neighboring townhouses over the years and time has been taken to restore it to its original 17th century appearance. Lena et Mimile on rue Tournefort is an old-fashioned bistro on a mini-square, and La Perraudin in rue Saint-Jacques still uses red-and-white checkered tablecloths (with old-time prices to match).

Brasserie Balzar, where Camus and Sartre often lunched together, offers not only an excellent menu, but great people-watching property on the rue des Ecoles. The Place St Michel, was once the spot of numerous protests and social uprisings, strikes as well as more light spirited congregations of artists, writers, poets, musicians and dancers. The Boulevard St Michel leads to the Place St Andre, which is lined with bistros and restaurants.

Raclette is a must, and the Saveur de Savoie at 20 rue Saint Severin is about as authentic as the experience gets: a half circle of cheese, melted before your eyes, which you scrape off and pour onto mini plates of potatoes, meats and veggies.

Eric Kayser boulangerie in 14 rue Monge is one of the best bakeries in Paris, and the perfect place to grab breakfast for the next morning. Of course, for any homesick Americans, the authenticBreakfast in America diner offers pancakes, bacon, even huevos rancheros, though if you are looking for the best Mexican food, then the Latin Quarter is predictably the right spot for Anahuacalli at 30 rue des Bernadins that is always packed, so make sure to reserve a spot.

Getting There

The Latin Quarter has several Paris Metro and RER stations to arrive there, but explore the area on foot.

Cluny/La Sorbonne, Maubert/Mutualite, Cardinal Lemoine, Jussieu, Place Monge, Censier/Daubenton, St. Michel, Luxembourg

Latin Quarter Bus Lines – 27, 87, 86, 24, 21, 47, 87, 84