Tourists can rent a flat and live like a Parisian

This Paris penthouse is great for entertaining and offers sweeping views of Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower

In this story: Ritzy rental 'Come and go as you please' Cheaper digs RELATED STORIES, SITES

From Stephanie Oswald
CNN Travel Now Correspondent

PARIS, France (CNN) -- Imagine waking up in your own Parisian penthouse and looking out the window to see the golden dome of Hotel des Invalides gleaming in the morning sun.

Or rising to the sounds of busy Paris streets as the booksellers open their stalls on the banks of the Seine, and you head for your own kitchen in your 17th-century apartment.

RENTAL TIPS Click for advice on renting an apartment overseas     CITY GUIDE Get help in navigating your way around Paris     RELATED STORY Paris neighborhood thrives on mix of old and new     MESSAGE BOARD Where in the world do you want to travel?

For the adventurous traveler, renting a flat can be the key to transforming from visitor to local.

"You are not a tourist when you stay in an apartment," said Gourmet magazine travel editor Bill Sertl, who rents apartments when he travels to London and Paris.

"You feel different, and that's something that you can't buy. That's just a wonderful thing to take home with you."

Ritzy rental

It's typically a big-city phenomenon, offering plenty of perks for the flexible traveler. An apartment's ideal, for example, for people who love to cook.

"You're going to love having your own kitchen in Paris. You're going to be able to get your own ingredients, you're going to be able to put together meals, you're going to be able to entertain," Sertl said.

A two-story luxury apartment in the 7th Arondissement welcomes guests with a formal dining room, spacious living room and an office area. Its bright bedrooms are colorful and quaint. It sleeps six, each bedroom comes with a private bathroom and maid service is included.

The kitchen is tiny but comes with a killer view, a nice diversion while you're doing the dishes. There's also a rooftop terrace with a view of Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, perfect for sunbathing in the summer or enjoying a cup of coffee.

'Come and go as you please'

Alfredo Merat started a rental company, Overseas Connection Villas, after helping his future wife search for an apartment about 15 years ago. This is one of his prize rental properties.

With a combination of Old World charm and modern amenities, this apartment overlooking the Seine is a great place for visitors to get a taste of Parisian life

"Sometimes I still think a hotel is a better way, you know, when I have to hop from one place to another. But most certainly when I have a week's stay somewhere I'd rather have the apartment versus the hotel," he said.

That apartment's on the pricey side -- renting for about $6,500 per week. For a little less, $5,000 a week, you can get a first-floor apartment near the Latin Quarter, which offers a blend of Old World charm and modern amenties that include a washing machine, dishwasher and microwave.

"You really do get to feel as if you are a Parisian -- which is a whole different experience than you would get in a hotel," one renter said. "The big difference with the apartment is that it's just so comfortable and you're able to just hang around in your pajamas and come and go as you please."

Cheaper digs

If you're not prepared to spend that kind of money, you can find cheaper apartments, too. One rental operation advertises a small studio apartment for about $800 a week, a one-bedroom, 600-square-foot flat near Notre Dame for $1,300 a week, and a three-bedroom apartment in the 7th Arondissement starting at $3,100 a week.

If it's your first visit to Paris, the seclusion of an apartment might not be what you're looking for, but if you're coming back with family, friends or coworkers, this accommodation option could even provide the best value.

Many rental agencies provide photographs on the Internet, so be sure to ask lots of questions about the location, the interior design, age and amenities. If the answers meet your vacation expectations, and your budget, then you're ready to move in.

"Renting an apartment comes with quirks, it comes with personality," Sertl said. "An apartment isn't done by a hotel company. Hilton doesn't do the apartments all in the same style. Individuals do, it's going to reflect individual taste."

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European Escapes
Overseas Connection Vacation Villas
Gourmet magazine

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