How to Rent an Apartment in Paris

Jetting off to Paris for an extended getaway sounds pretty good right about now, and what could be better than crashing in an actual Parisian apartment? It’s a great way to explore local life and get swept up fully in one particular neighborhood — something few get to do on short trips. But how does one go about renting an apartment? Here’s what you need to know.

There are TONS of sites specializing in short-term rentals. Paris Perfect, VRBO, Homeaway and AirBnB all offer apartments around the city. Prep for your trip by browsing any of them and getting a sense of what’s available.

Be ready to fork over the cash. If renting from an independent owner, have the security deposit ready to go when you contact them about bookings. Always be careful when sending money to strangers, particularly overseas. Also check how you should go about paying the rent and when to expect your deposit back.

Check on insurance. Always better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to insurance. Ask for proof of insurance on any residency, so if something happens you don’t find yourself in a sticky situation.

Ask for references. If renting from the owner, see if you can get a few references. This way you know they are reliable, and you won’t end up sleeping on the Metro your first night in Paris.

Confirm any special need-to-know information. Door codes, neighbors who have the keys, weird instructions to finding the front door around a corner and up some stairs — make sure you ask about anything that isn’t intuitive. You’ll want that information handy when it’s time to drop your bags and start adventuring!