Italiaphile

Hi, we are looking for a vacation apartment in Paris for two adults/two children (for 3 - 4 nights in January) and wondered if anyone had any recommendations? I know that there are hundreds of them listed on various websites but most do not have any kind of guest review system. We stayed in an apartment earlier this year in Sorrento that bore absolutely no resemblance to the description or the photos on the owner's website, so I'm definitely in a 'once bitten, twice shy' frame of mind. But an apartment makes more sense for us as a family than a hotel. Any suggestions would be most welcome! Thank you!

theresac

We just rented an apartment through Paris Perfect (www.parisperfect.com)
It was even BETTER than advertised on their website. You will not be disappointed, I promise you. (Unless they are already booked for the dates you are requesting, of course!)

Leely

We used Guest Apartment Services Paris. I can recommend them wholeheartedly: the apartment was very elegant, on Ile Saint Louis, in perfect condition, and they offer tons of services (massage in the apartment, anyone?).

Caveat: they are NOT inexpensive. I believe they usually offer specials in January, however.

Website: guestapartment.fr

Barb

I highly recommend Paris Sleeps. I rented an apt. in Sept/Oct. and it was fantastic - much better than what I had expected and Gail Burns is just a joy to work with. www.paris-sleeps.com

Seamus

We (2 adults and a teen) rented a the Rue Mornay apartment that is posted online at http://www.paris-vacation-rental.com and liked it. Location is great, quiet residential area but a couple minute stroll from Bastille, convenient to two Metro stops. If the kids are young enough to share a bedroom it may work for you.

57BelAir

We rented a 2 bedroom apartment in the 1st arrondisment from www.vacationinparis.com in April 2003. We were very happy with the apartment. They allowed us to rent for five days, whereas most other places had a one week minimum, and the security deposit was only $200 (U.S.). I think the rate was $205/night. It also had a sofabed in the living room. It was about a 10 minute walk to the Louvre, and 5 minutes from the Palais Royale, which had some nice restaurants.

carcassone

Have you looked at the reviews at SlowTrav? We rented RentParis apt #7 (35 rue de Montmorency) in the summer. It was our 1st apt rental and it was such a positive experience that apt will be our preference over hotel from now on. You can read my review at:

http://www.slowtrav.com/france/revie...iewnumber=1073

However, it looks like this apt is already booked the 1st 3 weeks of Jan. I can't speak of other RentParis apts.

BTW, please post a review on your Sorrento apt on SlowTrav so others won't be "bitten".

e-mail to [email protected] if you need more info.

Nikki

Barb, I am considering renting from Paris Sleeps. Which apartment did you rent?

Italiaphile

Thank you all. I will follow up with these suggestions.
Carcassone, I will go to Slowtrav and post a review on the Sorrento apartment - it was a nightmare that is funny in retrospect but no fun at the time!
Thanks again!

MargieC

I guess everyone has different experiences with the same company. My sister and I rented an apartment from Paris-Sleeps last September and had a terrible time. The elevator was broken and Gail helped us with our suitcases when we arrived but then left for California and was gone for most of our visit. We expressed our concern and asked for help getting our suitcases down the 4 flights of stairs and she told us that her assistant would help. He, however, never showed up and told me when I called him that she had given him the wrong time. To make a long story short, we had to carry our heavy suitcases which resulted in a rotator cuff injury. I'm still in pain almost three months later and in physical therapy. When we complained to Gail, she told us to rent from someone else next time (that's a quote). I really should bill Gail for my office visits, xrays, physical therapy and medication but she has already made her views on any liability, moral or monetary, very clear. My advice is the same as her advice to us: Rent from someone else.

BTilke

I'm not going to make specific rental recs (we rented from a private party), but one general caveat: do NOT rent an apartment on the ground floor (RdC), no matter how attractive. If you do, you will have to roll down all the security blinds in every room each time you leave the apartment, even if you're just stepping out to the local charcuterie for 10 minutes.

Nikki

Oh Margie, that does sound bad. I am in the process of renting an apartment, have already sent in a deposit. Could you tell me which apartment you had in which the elevator was broken so I can find out whether it has been repaired? Thank you for sharing your experiences.

MargieC

Hi Nikki: We were in one of the apartments on the Rue de L'ecole Polytechnique. We rented the one on the 5th floor a number of years ago and had a great time which is why we rented from Gail again. This time we were in the 4th floor apartment and it is not nearly as nice. We read the guest book and several prior guests had noted that the elevator was broken so I think this may be a continuing problem. If you have any other questions, let me know.

Margie