Living just steps away from some of Paris’ most revered and well known places – like the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral – made for quite the adventure on my recent visit to the City of Light.  Paris Autrement, which literally means Paris the other way, is the luxury vacation rental service that landed me in the architectural beauty and energy of Paris’ Le Marais district, where I felt the past meeting the present. Everything I wanted or needed was within walking distance of my new home – cafes, museums, restaurants – even shopping at Louis Vuitton on the Champs-Elysees.

As one of the city’s best kept secrets, Paris Autrement provides accommodations that not only keep you technologically connected to the world, but does so with convenience and affordability.  The nightly rate is easy on the travel budget and wi-fi is included. Phones are available in most apartments, though they are limited to calling Parisian numbers only. This saves a lot of minutes when calling new friends living in the city.

Your choice of 88 gorgeous Paris apartments…

caprice-compressor

caprice_2-compressor

fenetre-compressor

apt-compressor

Visitors choose from eighty-eight very different apartments that welcome from one to as many as seven guests. Many of the apartments are loft-like, some have balconies or courtyards, but they all present their own surprises and uniqueness. Rates range from 45€ to 275€ (That’s around $48 to $295 USD today). You can choose opulence, or at least trendy comfort. On this visit, I opted for the Caprice Amour property because I loved the brash combination of raw wooden beams and clean modern lines. Reminiscent of the lower deck of a pirate’s ship in structure, Caprice Amour was more like a mini yacht inside with perfect lighting and the warmth of home.

One of the first orders of business after checking in to my temporary Parisian home was to immediately stock the ‘fridge with goodies like champagne, baguettes, cheese, fruit, salmon and beer. A supermarket is always close-at-hand in Paris. Grab a map and go.

crazyhorseparis1-compressor

Le Marais district offers endless entertainment, dining and nightlife options. For art, the Pompidou and Picasso museums are almost in your backyard. For dining choices, I like Cheri Bibi or my favorite, Cafe Arts et Metiers. The neighborhood’s nightlife is equally amazing. For live music, check out Duc Lombards Jazz Club featuring artists from New Orleans to Tokyo.  For adventure, the Crazy Horse is the bet – this avant-garde cabaret brings you topless girls and bottomless champagne flutes. For dancing, end the night at the Balajo, the high energy dance club where Edith Piaf sang like a sparrow during Paris’ golden era.  To see all eighty-eight of Paris Autrement’s trendy apartments and the neighborhood, click here.