lachatte

We are going to Paris in November and thinking of renting this apt. It will be our first time so we would really appreciate any feedback on this apt - http://www.vrbo.com/102516. Merci beaucoup!

Seamus

General location is pretty darn good, the pics are pretty (if a tad frou-frou), there is an elevator so floor location is not a big deal, but it does not state the floor space. I'd ask about that and as long as it is reasonable (say, a minimum of 30 square meters) would consider it. The price is not bad, not the cheapest available for a studio but it does offer some nice amenities.

NeoPatrick

To me one of the main advantages of an apartment over a hotel room is the space. I've never liked going back to a hotel room and having to sit or lie on the bed to watch TV or read or relax. There aren't enough pictures on the website to give you a good idea, but I don't see a single "comfortable chair" or sofa or any seating area at all -- save the tiny skirted "breakfast table" with two hard chairs. I suspect that room is hardly bigger than a standard hotel room with the bed taking up most of the space.
Like Seamus I'd want to know and hopefully see a lot more -- particularly about space and seating area.

chicagolori

I am with the other posters - not enough pictures. I always want to see a picture of the bathroom. Also - Agree with Patrick - would want to see if there is a comfy couch or other seating.

Did you try parisaddress.com? I used them and was very satisfied. Tons of pictures of each apartment too.

FauxSteMarie

I recommend Pascale Zytomirski, [email protected].

He tends to be a bit cheaper than the big agencies and was recently mentioned in a piece in The New York Times. If you email him, he may be able to help you.

scdreamer

I think it looks nice - we've rented from vrbo.com a number of times (in fact we have a Paris rental reserved right now for the first week in November) in various world cities, and have been very satisfied every time. You will find that you save a ton of money by having a kitchen.

nancy

Check out RentParis.com and the one in the website below. I rented this for a month (I was single but had my sister and later a friend stay for a week each) and is in a great location. Just a block off rue Cler and a walk to the Eiffel Tower. The metro is about 3 blks away. http://www.rentparis.com/appart-en-6.html

I looked at the apt you're thinking of renting which is probably fine but I, too, wonder about the size. The apt on rue Duvivier is diffinitely cheaper if that matters.

Seamus

By the way, just in case you are unaware, VRBO is not an apartment rental agency bu rather a service that lets owners post their properties. There are some agencies that post on VRBO, but most are individual owners and your transaction is with them.

Guenmai

OK...first of all...personally I have stayed in hotels in Paris almost annually for the past 3 decades and if I'm going to rent an apartment, then I want more space than a hotel room since hotel rooms in Paris are clostophobic compared to other cities I've been to in the world.
It's important to know how big the place is. I'll be renting from vacationinparis.com apartment #122 in the 6th, my neighborhood since the early 80s. I like the neighborhood and it's very central to lots of things...walking distance. The 7th is nice. I've stayed in the 7th, but prefer the 6th over it. The apartment I'll be renting is 40 square meters big. I wouldn't want anything smaller. 40 square meters is a nice size hotel room which was the size of my hotel room when I was staying at the 4 Seasons Bangkok for years. My serviced apartment in Bangkok however is an 80 square meter studio. Paris hotel rooms are probably around 25 square meters big. So, in an apartment, I'd go for around 40 square meters if I were you.
Another thing is that I think newbies to Paris focus absolutely too much on what the apartment/hotel looks like. When I'm going to Paris I pick according to location, not so much hotel or apartment...although of course I'm not going to stay in a dump...but area is just more important to me when it comes to Paris. Plus photos can be VERY deceiving anyway. I've been renting overseas apartments in other countries for some years now. Happy Travels!

NeoPatrick

I agree with most of what you say, Guenmai, except for one statement:

"Another thing is that I think newbies to Paris focus absolutely too much on what the apartment/hotel looks like."

I'm certainly not a newbie, and I too have rented apartments all over -- particularly in Europe. Maybe you don't care what an apartment looks like -- but it is of GREAT importance to me. Location is important, but my surroundings are even more important. I don't live in a dump at home, and I'm certainly not about to when I travel. I think it's fine if someone doesn't care what the decor is, but to many of us, it IS important.

Leely

Too many tchotchkes! Nice location. Not enough photos or other "hard" info, as others have noted. Price is okay. Are there other apartments you're considering so people can compare?

Have a wonderful trip.

tuscanlifeedit

I also feel that there aren't enough pictures; there isn't enough information; and I would want a map.

We rented from rentparis.com last February and we were very pleased. Our apartment was huge, but one of the things we liked best was the video preview of the apartment and the very thorough map.

When renting again, this time in Venice, I looked for the same sort of complete picture of the apartment, with a decent map.

I'm a little concerned about the amount of decoration in the apartment.

Guenmai

NeoPatrick...reread my post...I stated that I'm not going to live in a dump....been there done that in my university days while traveling around the world. I also don't live in a dump at home. I live in a very nice place. However, being one who has rented apartments in other countries, I'm very aware that photos can be deceiving so I don't focus so much on photos. Plus, a person might miss out on staying in a great area because too much attention has been spent on how a place looks. And how long is one in an apartment/hotel room in Paris anyhow? Most of us are probably out in the streets most of the day and night. Happy Travels!

NeoPatrick

Fair enough, but I still think how much concern a person has for the interior has little or nothing to do with being a newbie. And for example, I would never use the phrase "I'm not going to be in the room that much anyway", which to me indicates that it isn't really a place I'd WANT to be in very long. Beyond not staying in a dump, I think I'm probably a lot more particular about the interior than you or many others might be. That's just me.

And oddly enough, I think the more times I rent in Paris, the more I think I put too much emphasis on location. I have been in so many neighborhoods, I sometimes wonder why I keep returning to the same general area. I suspect I could be happy in a lot of different areas of Paris. But the looks of the apartment are probably more an issue to me.

Guenmai

Neopatrick...Fine. When I was talking about the situation with newbies....I'm talking about people who are going to Paris for the first time. I've been on the forum for some years and I read post over and over again by the newbies to Paris and more than a few times I've seen folks select accomodations in areas that I question....like the 16th...the 19th...etc...because there's a hotel/apartment there that they think they'll like by the photos and description. But, those areas are not areas that one would usually choose if it's one's first time in Paris....now if one has been to Paris many times, then that's a different story.
The original poster has chosen the 7th, for now, which is a nice area.Who knows he/she might look at tons of other apartments in tons of other areas before it's all over with. So all I was saying is to think about more than what a hotel room/apartment look at the whole picture ...location,district,convenience to what one wants to do, etc... There just seems like an awful lot of stress over hotel/apartment selection. I understand wanting a decent place(not a dump) that's not the issue here at all...at least not to me...plus not everyone has the same definition of what's decent(not dumpy) and what's not.
You've stated that you've been to Paris many times and stayed in many neighborhoods and thus the looks of a place is more important. And if that works for you then great. Although I've been there many times over many decades and have stayed in a lot of different areas ,in order to decide on which area I like best, I have no problem with continuing to stay in my #1 selected area. To each his own.
And I'm totally confused as to you thinking that because I mentioned something about most people probably not staying in a room/apartment that much to translate to they don't stay in it that much because they don't want to be in it...well... that's totally off from what I meant. We all know that Paris is a city that people like to go out in and a lot so it's not like one is going to be cooped up in an apartment/hotel room a lot. For decades I've stayed in very clean, decent 0-2-star places that were nothing to write home about and chose them over more costly/ nicer-looking places because they were in neighborhoods or on streets I liked....so it's give and take...depending on what one's priorities are. So I find the forum is a means to throw all of one's ideas/opinions out there in order to help the original posters and especially the first timers...newbies...to a place better decide. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

correction..."think about more than what a hotel room/apartment looks like and look at the whole picture.....". I accidentally edited out part of the sentence. Happy Travels!

cabovacation

I love these apartments: www.lacigaleparis.com

elsiejune

Lachatte: As others have mentioned, you need to see more photos of this apartment, get sq. footage, perhaps see a furniture floorplan, and get the address. Armed with that information, you can make a thoughtful decision. I'm not sure if this is the first time you're renting an apt. or the first time you're visiting Paris. My general recommendation is not to stay in an apt. on a first visit to the city. The owners of this particular apt. have not really said much in their vrbo blurb. I'd want to know what floor it's on and whether it looks out onto courtyard or street (noise level). I can recommend two other flats in this general area (rue du Bac metro), vrbo #9718 and #61185. While they are both more money, I suspect that they are also "more apartment", as well. Have fun in your search. EJ

slangevar

Another positive vote for rentparis.com. I'm in one of their apartments in the 4th right now and it's fantastic. No hidden or extra fees, MUCH cheaper than the one you posted, great apartments (at least mine is), great locations and the guys that run it (Fabrice and Jean Pierre) are lovely. I had a small problem with my cable/WiFi/phone and Fabrice came out to fix it the same day. Oh, and they brought me wine and flowers when I checked in.

lachatte

Wow! This is amazing! Since we have never been to Paris, location and comfort would be our top priorities. We don't mind the small space but it has to be cleaned and pleasant. We will check out all the recommended websites and a big Thank You to all of you! Merci! Merci! Merci!