This unique designed vacation rental in Paris includes a converted french vintage car serving as an unusual bed
If you have ever dreamed of exclusive access to a landmark, this apartment in Paris is the perfect place to stay overnight. However, the sights are not the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or the Moulin Rouge, but a French cult vehicle.
Because in the center of the 40 square meters large vacation home stands a bright red Citroen 2CV, which the owner converted into an original night camp for its guests.
With a width of just 125 cm, the car bed may not be very spacious, but it has good suspension and is therefore ideal for young couples in love or children who normally hog the playful bed on wheels with great enthusiasm.
The characteristic vehicle with its round and curved forms is considered the epitome of the French way of life and gained great popularity and cult status in neighbouring countries in the 1970s under affectionate nicknames such as 'Duck' (Germany) or 'Döschwo' (Switzerland).
At its premiere at the Paris Motor Show in 1948, the attempt to establish the model as a French response to the German VW Beetle still earned the scorn of experts, which gave it the derisive title of 'bathtub of the century'.
But although production was stopped in 1988 after more than 5 million sold vehicles, the duck has lost none of its fascination to this day. The 2CV (from french 'deux cheveaux' - two horses) was particularly popular among students, because the Citroen was not only regarded as a simple means of transport, but also embodied an attitude to life.
No wonder that in Paris exclusive city tours with the typical French car are offered in the meantime, and the classic car is particularly sought after by tourists as a photo motif. But spending a whole night in a Citroen 2CV converted into a bed is only reserved for a few visitors to the Seine metropolis.
If the space seems too cramped or if you are simply looking for a change, another bed is available in the holiday apartment, which also has a special feature: it is circular and thus takes up the nostalgic car design of the 70s! In contrast to this is the rest of the furnishing of the loft, which has been designed for up to 5 people and is emphatically modern.
The use of steel structures, floor lighting and the overall bright and colourful design with synthetic resin give this unique accommodation on the northern edge of Paris its unmistakable character. Further equipment includes a large flat screen TV with wall mount, two single beds and a practical kitchen complete with oven, ceramic stove, refrigerator and freezer, coffee machine, microwave and dishes.
In order to guarantee the comfort and privacy of the guests, the holiday apartment on the ground floor has its own door, bathroom and toilet. Only the entrance area of the house is shared by the three independent apartments in the house. The extraordinary holiday home also offers the possibility of self-catering. As the supermarket and bakeries are in the immediate vicinity, breakfast is not included in the overnight price, but can optionally be booked in addition for an extra charge.
As a guest you don't have to renounce additional comfort, which is not always a matter of course even for more expensive hotel rooms in Paris: next to air conditioning, soap and care products, hair dryer, umbrella, travel guide or maps provided, the urban apartment also surprises with free parking (on request), broadband Internet via WLAN and digital television with 250 channels (including English language channels).
On arrival you will not only find towels and bed linen, but also a 'French survival kit' with baguette, saucisson and a bottle of red wine to welcome you. The personal reception by the owner who lives nearby is not only warm and competent, but also conveniently multilingual (French, German, English). The various tips for activities and shopping and restaurant recommendations that you can pick up from the passionate Parisian at the same time are probably priceless and certainly not available at any hotel reception in the city.
The location in the north of Paris may not sound central, but because the metro station is only a few minutes' walk away, it is absolutely convenient to reach the most important sights of Paris in a short time. Besides that, a real highlight is right on the doorstep: with more than 5 million visitors, the Saint-Ouen flea market is not only the fourth largest attraction in the city, but also one of the oldest and largest antique markets in the world.
Here, almost 2000 used goods of all kinds are on sale in cosmopolitan ambience from Saturday to Monday. From old toys, jewellery and crockery over junk & kitsch, antiquarian books, cards, posters and militaria to records, worn clothes, lamps, works of art and of course furniture, there are rarities to suit every taste and budget. Apart from that, dealers with new goods are represented as well as inexpensive snack offers.
The chic design accommodation, which is located in a former fireplace shop, has a fair price that is well received by families and friends travelling together. Accommodation for up to three persons costs an affordable 125,- EUR per night. One or two additional persons are charged with only 10,- EUR surcharge. Of course without breakfast and tourist tax (0,45 EUR per day and per person).
Happily enough, the final cleaning of the unusual holiday apartment is also included in the price. It is almost superfluous to mention that the demand for free appointments is quite high and the successful reservation requires a time planning of several months in advance.