Couchsurfing in Paris
Arriving in Paris
I hop off the metro and find myself at last on the streets of Paris. Excited and a little nervous, I make my way down the street. Wandering past little cafes, I hear the soft babble of conversations in French rolling lightly through the hot, muggy air.
I continue on, making my way towards my accommodation with a mix of anticipation and hesitation. After all, it can feel a little nerve wracking to forgo the usual hotel rooms or Airbnb and commit to Couchsurfing while you travel.
My host seemed lovely online, we chatted briefly – swapped social media accounts and I read through dozens of positive reviews on his profile. It doesn’t seem like he’s a serial killer, aggressive flirt or any other strange mix of crazy. Let’s hope this couchsurfing in Paris adventure goes well!
Meeting my host
I ring the bell and am buzzed through to a quaint open space between the apartment buildings, my host calls down to me from above. “Emily, Emily! Up here!” I crane my head up and see him waving at me from a balcony.
As I ride up the elevator to his floor, I have butterflies in my stomach. I’m perfectly comfortable meeting strangers but I can’t help but feel a slight rush of adrenaline when I know I’ll be staying here the next few days.
The door opens and there he is, beaming at me. Charming and friendly, Antoine instantly makes me feel welcomed. Just like every other Couchsurf host I’ve had the pleasure of staying with in the past year. We chat briefly about my travels and his life here in Paris before he offers me some local tips and guidance. With a friendly hug and my own set of keys to his place, I leave to go do some sightseeing. Viola! Easy as can be.
Exploring Paris On My Own
I climb the Eiffel Tower, drink champagne at the Moulin Rouge, eat crepes from a street vendor after the show and tip toe back into his apartment. (Careful not to make to much noise and wake him!) I instantly fall asleep after a long day of sight-seeing.
PARIS ON A BUDGET: 3 DAYS FOR JUST €100
A Friendly Face in A Foreign City
The following day we chat pleasantly about my adventures from the day before (“I saw theeee most EPIC sunset from the Eiffel Tower” etc.) And with that, I’m off again! But before I go, I offer him to join me on a river cruise that evening down the Seine River with Paris City Vision. He happily accepts having hardly done any tourist attractions in his own city.
Roaming around Paris, I take a thousand photos. Then try and fail to get into the Louvre last minute. (Always book ahead in busy season!) So instead I tour the Palais Garnier- the opera house which was the inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera. As my day is coming to a close, I meet Antoine at the Paris City Vision office, board a bus and we go to the Seine! Laughing and joking along the way, my host has brought macaroons from his favorite place knowing I would like to: A. Try them and B. Take an artsy photo of macaroons in front of the Eiffel Tower. How thoughtful!
After a leisurely float down the river, he heads home as I continue to explore. After all, I needed to catch the Eiffel Tower all lit up and sparkling at night! So I roam the streets of Paris, taking in the sights until I’m too happily exhausted to do anything else but board the metro back to his place.
The next morning, I wake- my last day in Paris! It feels like I only just arrived. And Antonie wants to interview me for his Youtube channel. Quickly changing out of my pajamas, I toss on a little make up and hop in front of his camera to do this following interview:
Couchsurfing: A Cheap, Simple Alternative To Hotel Stays
After a whirlwind trip in Paris, I’m off to Croatia! Thankful for yet another wonderful Couchsurfing experience.
Have you considered using the Couchsurfing app while you travel? It’s free and a great way to meet locals!
Shop my look for couchsurfing in Paris:
4 Comments