White Collared LBD in Paris + Renting an Apartment

This week I’ll be sharing a couple posts from our last trip to Paris…so much to say about this amazing city and so little time!

First, I’m sharing a look from our first full day in Paris. A chic little shift dress and OTK boots was my #TravelStyle go-to. The collared detail also makes it look more Parisian! Hey, I always try to dress for the occasion.

Seriously one of my favorite cities in the world! And I definitely feel that my love for the City of Lights was 100% enhanced this time around. You see, I’ve been to Paris twice before this trip. The first time was in June 2010 – the height of summer. The heat and humidity we endured bared no resemblance to romance or anything remotely…cool! We were there for almost a week so we pretty much saw all the must-sees, but my memories are were not filled with rose gardens and charming cafes….but of sweat and lots of discomfort.

The second time I was there was for NYE 2012. We missed our flight out of Rome and got re-routed for the night in Paris. Since it was a holiday, there were no flights home until after the New Year, which was fine by us! It was pretty amazing. Ringing in the new year under the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower. But it was pouring rain and we were were there literally only 28 hours.

This time around, I wanted to do it right. No touristy attractions. No crowds and long lines. I really just wanted to enjoy Paris like a local. So we decided to rent an apartment and do as the locals do! We chose the most amazing apartment next to the Eiffel Tower {see the Airbnb listing here}. It took us awhile to find the perfect place. I had my rigorous list of “must-haves”. I figured I may not have an opportunity to do something like this again for a long time so might as well go big or go home! Am I right?

So I thought I would share my 5 things to consider when renting a vacation rental. All the basics, but sometimes we get romanticized by photos and fancy descriptions that we forget that we really want/need and to do research. So keep things in mind for your next trip!

Location Location Location: This goes without saying. Depending on what you plan to accomplish on your trip, definitely research all the neighborhoods to get sense of attractions, transportation, dining, etc. I knew I wanted to stay by the Eiffel tower for 2 reasons: 1) we were taking family photos around this area and I wanted to have some level of convenience with Jaxson, and 2) its THE EIFFEL TOWER. Duh! Of course I wanted my balcony view to be of the most iconic figure in the world.
Amenities: I know, small city apartment and amenities is an oxymoron. But in the world where Airbnb is king, vacation rentals these days can match the offerings of any 5-star resort. So I definitely wanted a washer/dryer, a balcony {with a view of the Eiffel Tower}, and updated decor/furniture.
Size: I wanted plenty of space for Baby J to roam around! After almost two weeks of cramp hotel rooms, car seats and strollers, I knew he was ready for a place to stretch his legs…and basically tear apart. Just kidding – he didn’t break anything too badly. I might have gone overboard on the space though. Our place was a 3 bedroom, probably 1,000 square feet! Felt a little too big but we managed. 🙂
Customer Service: I loved that the building managers for our rental were onsite for check-in and check-out. And if we had a question about anything, it was as easy as walking downstairs as if we had a Concierge. I believe this is unique situation though. So you’ll want to be sure that the owners/managers are reachable should you need them for any reason.
Limitations: I always check to if there are any special rules for noise, cancellation, or extra guests, or additional charges like resort fees, crib usage or late check-out. Just be aware of the fine print.

Not knowing if we would love the apartment life or not, I actually moved us to a hotel the last couple days of our trip. But I would definitely do the apartment thing again. I’m thinking my next Paris trip will be a trip with girlfriends. 🙂