Living like a local in Paris and our 1st giveaway!

When planning our trip to very expensive Paris, we partnered with Wimdu.com. We prefer living like a local as much as possible when we travel, and we wanted to give it a try before recommending their service. They provided us with a few nights’ accommodation so we could test it out. We liked it enough that not only would I recommend them, but they’re giving us a $200 USD voucher to give away to one of you lucky people! Keep reading for details on the giveaway.

paris, street musician, living like a local

I found Wimdu.com‘s website very easy to use, and I liked being able to see what amenities were available (WiFi and a building with an elevator were very high on our list). We found a place that was close to a popular metro line as well as grocery store and restaurants.

A huge part of travel for us is getting to see the local culture, not the culture that’s been created for the tourists. This is one reason why I love being able to get an apartment or to rent a room in someone’s home, like we did in Lyon. You live in a building with locals, do your grocery shopping where they do, experience neighborhood life, etc. Living like a local makes the whole experience more enjoyable.

Often, it’s also cheaper and more comfortable than staying in a hotel, or even hostel, especially when you factor in the cost of having to eat all meals out vs. having a kitchen to store and prepare food. And with the cost of dining in Paris, we’re talking HUGE savings.

charcuterie, living like a local, paris

This particular apartment was a studio with a small kitchen, but it was fully stocked: dishes, silverware, toaster/convection oven, tea kettle, pots and pans, etc. This host even went above and beyond by also having seasonings, salt & pepper, sugar, tea bags, and coffee. Just like with a hotel, all linens and towels were provided, too.

Another important thing for me was that Tigger had his own bed. I really dislike being able to spread out and not having to worry about potentially crushing my child when I turn over. The studio also had a futon/couch, so we were both able to sleep comfortably.

inglorious basterds, bistro, paris, living like a local

We found out a nearby bistro (Bistrot La Renaissance) had been used for filming part of the movie Inglorious Basterds, and we headed over there for a meal. It was a bit pricey, but oh so good! Plus, it was fun to sit at a table just a couple of meters away from where the film’s scene had taken place. Apparently, it’s been in some other movies as well. We never would’ve come across this place if we hadn’t been staying in this neighborhood.

Overall, it was a great experience, and I would definitely use this service again.

Now for the giveaway!

I’m using Rafflecopter to randomly pick the winner so that it’s completely fair. To enter the giveaway, you just have to like our Facebook page. That’s it!

Use the widget below to officially enter the contest. The contest starts NOW and will continue until March 11th. The winner will receive a voucher valid for up to $200 USD for use on Wimdu.com. There is no expiration date, and the voucher can be used for any property available via Wimdu.

Please share this with your friends!

If you have any questions, please comment below or email me.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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32 Comments

    • I’m just glad I’m use a randomizer so I have no responsibility. I want too many of my friends to win. LOL

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  1. Rentals is our favorite lodging option, and a tiny little flat in Paris is what got us started on that. I love going to all those fabulous markets, bakeries, etc. and taking food back to the flat for a picnic supper!

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    • Absolutely! Plus, I’ve made some great friends that way.

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  2. This is awesome Talon.
    I’ve been using homebase, sabbatical homes and airbnb. I can now add another home finding service to my repertoire. YAY!!

    I could definitely use the 200 bucks for when we go to Dublin..
    ps
    Congrats on your first give away too.

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    • Thank you! It’s fun to be able to offer a cool prize to readers. I hadn’t heard of Homebase before. I’ll have to check it out.

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  3. Congrats on your first giveaway and also for finding such a great place in Paris. Ever since I heard about renting through sites like wimdu I’ve been dying to give travelling like that a go. One day soon I hope!

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    • Thank you! It really makes it more enjoyable. We really don’t like staying in hotels anymore. So much nicer to have a home to come back to, be able to prepare food, and such.

      I hope you get to travel soon as well!

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  4. Nice Talon. I would be a miserable vegan if it wasn’t for apartments. Makes my travel sooo much easier. I’ve entered. Thanks Wimdu! Nice to see them partnering with bloggers.

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    • I bet that can be quite the challenge! Definitely a lot easier when you can fix your own food!

      Yes, Wimdu is really great about working with bloggers. I wish more companies were as good as they are.

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  5. Nice! I’m exploring the apartment rental options for our trip to Paris in a few months. My husband will be working out of his company’s local office most of the time so I want to have a comfortable place with a kitchen so we can settle in.

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    • It’s so nice to feel like you’re going home. Eating out is fun, especially in Paris, but it’s so nice to be able to enjoy a nice meal in your own place, cook, etc.

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    • LOL! I think you have a couple of other people to contend with. 🙂

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  6. Great contest. I think apartment rentals seem to be a great accommodation alternative. The idea of having your own space and kitchen in a busy, and expensive city like Paris seems pretty nice.

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    • We’ve done it almost everywhere we’ve gone and enjoy it so much more than a hotel. It’s just so nice to have your own space and a place to prepare food.

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  7. Never heard of Wimdu.com, but definitely use it when being in Paris next time. I see you treated yourself with some nice food 🙂

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    • You better believe I did. Had a nice glass of wine with it, too. Had to have sandwiches for dinner that night, but it was worth it. LOL

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  8. I’ve never tried Wimdu, but all of the other times we’ve tried apartment rentals, etc., it’s always been great! My mom is coming to Seville with two friends in June, and I’d love to house her in something a little bit better than our teeny apartment with just a futon! That said, if you and Tigger make it back…!

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  9. I’m a big fan of renting apartments too. Much prefer having access to a kitchen and separate sleeping space for the kiddo than being crammed into a tiny hotel room. I’m keen to try Wimdu out myself so fingers crossed.

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    • It is so nice to have your own space. We’ve occasionally rented a room in someone’s home, and most of them time that’s been great, too. Especially in Cuena and Lyon where we made such great friends by doing that.

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  10. I’m not gonna enter the giveaway, cuz I’m sure you have other readers who can use the Wimdu credit much more than us. But I do want to say “Damn you!” for posting a picture of such delicious looking charcuterie. I’m currently on a low-fat diet, but man, that platter looks delectable!

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    • OMG! It was so good I had to replicate it at home a day later.

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    • The charcuterie was the first thing I focused on as well, but this is a helpful giveaway – I can attest that staying in an apartment is a great way to experience city life.

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      • I probably could’ve eaten charcuterie every single day we were there. In fact, I replicated this meal with some bread and cheese at our apartment on our last night. LOL SO good!

        Yes, I MUCH prefer having an apartment or room in someone’s home over hotels.

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  11. This is completely unacceptably… EASY!!!!!!! Lol Congrats on your first giveaway! I hope I can be your first winnnnnner!

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    • I could add some extra requirements if you’d like. LOL

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