'Live' in Barcelona and Paris at these apartments

You may have noticed new TV ads from Airbnb that urge travelers to not just visit places like Barcelona and Paris, but to "live there." As our name, Like Living There, makes clear, that's what we've been urging since our founding in 2009. And how did we come to get into this endeavor? Through our own experiences, traveling as a family of five adults and as a couple. In the first instance, hotel rooms - at least two and possibly three - would have been prohibitively expensive, and would have offered none of the shared experiences wanted to be an important  part of our trip. So, we rented apartments in Barcelona and Rome, where we could relax together, eat together and "live" together as we would back home. Here's the 4 bedroom apartment we rented in Barcelona:

This building, professionally run by family owners and offering smaller apartments as well, has become our most popular, with guests from couples to families. In addition to being very well-maintained (it's been refreshed since we were there) and equipped by the family owner, who has an office on-site, it's in a great location, in the center of the Ciutat Vella (Old City). There's a huge choice of eating and shopping places, and many key historical and cultural sights within a short walk on the active, well-lighted streets.

Here are just a few of the nearby attractions: Santa Maria del Mar church, remnants of Roman Barcino, El Born Cultural Center, Cal Pep, Picasso Museum, Santa Caterina market, Chocolate Museum. The list could go on and on. And when you want to see other parts of the city, the Jaume 1 Metro station, a taxi stand and bus stop are all within a block.

While this is a popular tourist location, it's not hard to get away from the crowds (many locals, too) by taking the Metro a few stops into the Poble Nou district, which is also near the beaches. Or, go in the other direction to l'Eixample or Gracia.

Gracia is where you can find this charming, professionally renovated 1 bedroom with large terrace, on a small street near the zone's many authentic bars and restaurants, and pretty small squares. You'll find fewer tourists here, but all amenities, and it's fast and easy to reach the Old City and other areas.

While these apartments are set in quite different neighborhoods, neither is in the tourist hotel districts that are inevitably peppered with luxury chain stores, which can afford high rents that are out of reach for local shop owners. That makes it easy for you to sip a morning coffee in a small cafe, pick up food (which you can cook in your own kitchen) at a local store or market and linger over a beverage and some tapas at a place run by and primarily for people who live nearby. Places like Cal Boter in Gracia, or the reasonably prices La Luna de Jupiter in the Barri Gotic.

With its status as the most-visited city in the world, it might seem harder to have an authentic experience in Paris. But because the city hasn't been turned over to greedy skyscraper developers, it's possible to find a home-away-from-home even near the most popular tourist spots. Still, I prefer places like this 1 bedroom flat in the largely residential 15th arrondissement.

We haven't stayed here, but have good reports from clients. As you can see, this is a real neighborhood, with all amenities one needs. And it's near good Metro and bus lines that can take you quickly to all the key sights.

Here's a pretty place smack in the center of the action, on the Left Bank but within walking distance to and across the Seine to the Louvre.

So, what's the difference between Like Living There and "sharing" sites like Airbnb and VRBO? Primarily that we have experience with the apartments and managers we represent. We haven't seen or stayed in them all, but we have many, and we have long-term relationships, so we know the service is reliable. That's very different from relying on photos and descriptions provided by the landlords, with no verification. It's nice that other sites offer to refund your money if you show up to a disappointing (or non-existent) place, but do you really want to deal with that at the end of a long flight, perhaps with tired, hungry kids in tow?

Oh, and one more thing; you can email us at info@likelivingthere.com and we'll gladly engage in a conversation to be sure we offer apartments that are appropriate for you. Or you can call us at (+1) 570 406 3048, and we can talk "live." Sorry if you're using Airbnb, direct contact with the owner, manager or agency isn't allowed.

We hope you take a look at more vacation rental apartments we can offer in Barcelona and Paris at www.likelivingthere.com, and then let us know if we can help you plan a memorable visit.