Airbnb in Paris??
Jun 22nd, 2024 | 06:39 AM
#41
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,683
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Yes, I don't know how easy it will be BACK to CDG. Hopefully, someone with experience will chime in. As for the Navigo cards, I confused until I watched a youtube video (see below). You can now load ticket fares on an iphone. Until recently, it was only on an android phone. (I prefer having a card, and not pulling out my phone. I was very cautious in Paris with shoplifters. More on that below.)
As I'd arrived on a Sunday, I couldn't use my week pass right away (Mon-Sun only, called Navigo Decouverte; cost 5 euro extra), but I DID buy one, which I used for both Versailles and Fontainebleau, and all around the city. I did the rough math and it seemed to save me money, but I didn't bother tracking, as it was so lovely to walk even though I could hop on a bus/subway, which I did a few times. For my Roissybus ticket, I could NOT load that shuttle bus ticket on the Decouverte, and when I used the machine at the airport, it shot out a Navigo EASY card with the fare loaded. Which cost me 2 euro extra for the card.
The differences are explained at around the 10 minute mark of this video:
I was probably over-cautious, but from my experiences in Paris many years back, I was wary of pickpockets and aggressive beggars (which I saw none of, but I did notice a group of young men who seemed to be scoping out targets with a system: a couple criminals stayed on one corner, while 1 followed a target, while 1 seemed to be "waiting" in the block ahead. I could've been imagining things, but being nearly 30 years in Chicago and sensing shiftiness in some individuals from time to time, I don't think I was. And I was always on guard. Happily, this was the only time I sensed something funny.
So on this trip, I bought a flat "neck wallet" that I wore crossbody beneath my clothes, and safety pinned to my shirt, and kept in my purse only my iphone, main credit card, and metro cards. (Once I got to hotel, passport went into the safe; the wallet purse held only a backup credit card. But I was most concerned about pickpockets to/from CDG and Gare du Nord.)
The neck wallet was a Venture 4th Travel Neck Wallet with RFID Blocking, which I bought from amazon. I liked it and will likely use in future for the airport portions of trip, as it was easier than my purse for getting boarding passes and passports in/out.
Have fun on the trip!
As I'd arrived on a Sunday, I couldn't use my week pass right away (Mon-Sun only, called Navigo Decouverte; cost 5 euro extra), but I DID buy one, which I used for both Versailles and Fontainebleau, and all around the city. I did the rough math and it seemed to save me money, but I didn't bother tracking, as it was so lovely to walk even though I could hop on a bus/subway, which I did a few times. For my Roissybus ticket, I could NOT load that shuttle bus ticket on the Decouverte, and when I used the machine at the airport, it shot out a Navigo EASY card with the fare loaded. Which cost me 2 euro extra for the card.
The differences are explained at around the 10 minute mark of this video:
I was probably over-cautious, but from my experiences in Paris many years back, I was wary of pickpockets and aggressive beggars (which I saw none of, but I did notice a group of young men who seemed to be scoping out targets with a system: a couple criminals stayed on one corner, while 1 followed a target, while 1 seemed to be "waiting" in the block ahead. I could've been imagining things, but being nearly 30 years in Chicago and sensing shiftiness in some individuals from time to time, I don't think I was. And I was always on guard. Happily, this was the only time I sensed something funny.
So on this trip, I bought a flat "neck wallet" that I wore crossbody beneath my clothes, and safety pinned to my shirt, and kept in my purse only my iphone, main credit card, and metro cards. (Once I got to hotel, passport went into the safe; the wallet purse held only a backup credit card. But I was most concerned about pickpockets to/from CDG and Gare du Nord.)
The neck wallet was a Venture 4th Travel Neck Wallet with RFID Blocking, which I bought from amazon. I liked it and will likely use in future for the airport portions of trip, as it was easier than my purse for getting boarding passes and passports in/out.
Have fun on the trip!
Last edited by ChgoGal; Jun 22nd, 2024 at 06:41 AM.
Jun 23rd, 2024 | 04:56 AM
#42
Original Poster
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
This is great! Thanks so much. I think it will be fine getting back to the airport. I'm going to watch that video now. Why do things have to be so complicated? I just want a card, like the old days. I don't plan to do much with my phone if I can help it. If anyone super experienced with Gare du Nord wants to chime in with tips for navigating that place, I'm all ears. Cheers, all!
Oct 26th, 2024 | 06:51 AM
#43
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
We've rented perhaps 5 homes in Europe through VRBO and 3 with AirBnB. We have not had any problems with any of the places we've rented & stayed in with either firm. However, this Sept we have an AirBnB place reserved and I feel quite nervous about it. There has been very little communication about the property with either the proprietor or AirBnB itself. All I have is a somewhat messy 5 page scramble of sentences that says I paid some $$$ & owe more later. I communicated with the proprietor about something regarding the location of the property, and she refused to give me any info at all until I made my final payment. With VRBO, I communicated with about 3-4 proprietors before I chose the one I wanted last year in Provence. I did this with 3 VRBO places. I asked them how much time it took to walk from their property to the Cafe de la Poste in Goult. They all replied.
Our closest friends reserved an AirBnB in Strasbourg for Christmas 2021. It was a disaster. When our friends arrived by train at 4PM and phoned the proprietor to get her to open up the place, she said she was still at work & wouldn't be available till 7PM to do so. Our friends walked to the property hoping to find a way in, and people were departing the complex and indicating it was not a nice place to stay. Our friends scrambled & stayed in 2 hotels - and had a heck of a time getting a refund from AirBnB. They own an apartment in Tuscany and rent it out through VRBO, so they are not neophytes.
Stu Dudley
Our closest friends reserved an AirBnB in Strasbourg for Christmas 2021. It was a disaster. When our friends arrived by train at 4PM and phoned the proprietor to get her to open up the place, she said she was still at work & wouldn't be available till 7PM to do so. Our friends walked to the property hoping to find a way in, and people were departing the complex and indicating it was not a nice place to stay. Our friends scrambled & stayed in 2 hotels - and had a heck of a time getting a refund from AirBnB. They own an apartment in Tuscany and rent it out through VRBO, so they are not neophytes.
Stu Dudley
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