Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago

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Vacation rental sites like Airbnb and Booking.com have exploded in popularity over the past few years, often because they offer travelers a more immersive and authentic experience as they visit new places. Of course, France is no exception, with many visitors choosing vacation rentals over hotels when they visit.

If you’re planning an upcoming visit (or simply collecting inspiration for your dream France vacation), you’re probably considering a vacation rental yourself. But there are some key differences between homes and apartments in France compared to the United States that need to be considered.

In today’s lesson, I’ll explain 5 mistakes that tourists often unknowingly make when booking their vacation rental in France. I’ll also give some tips on how to carefully read the listings or ask the right questions, so you can avoid these mistakes.

Let me know in the comments: have you visited France before? If so, what differences did you notice between the homes here and in your own country?

0:00 - Intro
0:32 - Tip #1 : Understanding Room Count
2:00 - Tip #2: Checking for Elevators
3:16 - Tip #3: Essential Amenities
5:05 - Tip #4: Checking for Air Conditioning
6:30 - Tip #5: Choosing the Right Neighbourhood
8:15 - Outro

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At Comme une Française, we specialize in everyday spoken French. We focus on three unique aspects that are different from school French, self-study books, Duolingo, etc:
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😘 from Grenoble, France.

Géraldine