Living Like the Locals While Visiting Paris, France

NEW YORK, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- When commercial real estate website guru, Tom Brady, president of The Destination Group, invited his parents Tom and Kathie on their 50th wedding anniversary to Paris recently, he chose to base their visit, not in a snazzy hotel, but among the locals in upscale 6th Arrondissement apartment digs offered by host, Delphine Olivier.

"After a day full of Paris' best, we loved coming back to an elegant yet homey environment, without the formality of a hotel. We could host guests, open a bottle of wine with the bread and cheese we purchased down the street, and have a taste of local life," Brady recalls. "Now I'm spoiled. I'll never visit Paris any other way."

Located next to the tiny island along the rive gauche, south side of the Seine River, the two bedroom, 950 square foot apartment, is one of two sophisticated pied-a-terre in elegant 17th century buildings Olivier, a consummate yet unobtrusive host, offers by the week or month. Originally a family mansion, this secure and private building has been completely restored, displaying antiques and engravings lining the circular entry staircase.

Amid the original 17th century handmade brick floor and oak ceiling beams and the restored linen covered walls, the apartment affords a modern, fully equipped kitchen and comfortable bath. The 13th century St. Chapelle and Palais de Justice views across the Seine are draft-free and sans the occasional street noise, thanks to double pane windows.

Olivier's slightly larger second flat, located in one of the most beautiful mansions of the 4th Arrondissement's Ile Saint Louis on Quai de Bourbon, was just elegantly remodeled. Built for the wealthy Charron family, historic beamed ceilings create a dramatic framework for family heirloom furnishings as well as comfortable sofas where guests can catch up on CNN or BBC, use the WiFi or phones. Clerestory windows, called jours de souffrance, flood the living room with cheerful morning sun. The Sorbonne, Latin Quarter, and the Louvre are just a short stroll along lively streets filled with interesting restaurants, locals and tourists.

In both flats, Americans will appreciate queen or queen+ size beds in master bedrooms furnished with period pieces, plus an unobtrusive, flat screen television. As far as access to Parisian highlights, one guest commented, "Every evening, when we left for dinner, the first thing was saw was Notre Dame bathed in light." Definitely puts one in the right mood when embarking on central Paris excursions, all within walking distance.

Along winding cobblestone streets, the neighborhood affords restaurants, clubs, boulangeries, patisseries, and fromageries for daily fresh bread and bakery goods to pick up an "at home" breakfast or late afternoon snack after a day of nearby sightseeing at the Bastille, Musee d' Orsay or Place des Vosges in the historical Marais district.

If you do decide to spend a week or a month living like a Parisian, a few self-selection details are important. The Ministry of Culture, in charge of preserving the historic character of these buildings, does not allow the addition of elevators, so you might think of the Rue Seguier's 70-stair ascent as a way to burn off a croissant or two during your stay. Comments from guests recommend considering the size and weight of your luggage when booking heritage flats like these two. Kids are welcome, but smoking and pets are not. Metro stops at St. Michel make RER train connections from Charles De Gaulle airport a breeze.

Easy to remember, the two flats can be viewed at websites with their street names, http://www.RueSeguier.com and http://www.QuaiBourbon.com.

    
    
    CONTACT INFO:
    
    Chris Bertrand, Travel Writer
    [email protected]
    925-963-3991 cell phone
    
    Delphine Olivier
    011+33 (6) 11 690 526 (Paris, France)

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SOURCE The Destination Group