We're planning a trip to Paris next year and we are looking to rent an apartment for ten nights. We would like to be in the 6th as this is our first trip to Paris. I've spent countless hours researching apartments and have looked at many agencies including VIP, Paris Perfect, Paris Best Lodge, and on, and on. Just today I came across Rentapart.com. Does anyone have experience with this agency? Any information would be very much appreciated.

http://www.rentapart.com/

Bringing this up to the top.

I have no experience with this agency. Have you searched its name on this and other sites? And check www.slowtrav.com for possible reviews.

I looked at their website and they don't give amounts for the security deposit, so I'm assuming it may be an agency that represents various owners, so one experience may or may not be representative of the agency.

cw - Thanks for your comments. I found the name of this agency in a travel guide. I searched for information about this agency on this forum, TA, and "googled" it as well. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I have decided to move on. I cannot (will not) rent through an agency without some level of successful research. I appreciate your thoughts and ideas.

I recently used Vacation in Paris http://www.vacationinparis.com/. They were very efficient and extremely helpful. I used internet as well as telephone and they responded immediately.

I did a quick google search and found this about rentapart.com:

http://goo.gl/FwMFI

http://www.luvaville.com/travel-with...s/rentapartcom

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-in-paris.cfm (Scroll about half-way down to the short post by mot)

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-...de_France.html

If you said how many people, anticipated dates and your budget, perhaps you would get some other ideas.

walkabout: You can link directly to a comment by right-clicking on the date time of a post and copying the shortcut. Mot's advice is here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...omment-2745233

Thanks for the tip.

bab706, you've probably already looked at these agencies, but I've stayed with Paris Vacation Apartments and Parisian Flat. I echo Alan_CT. If you give us your requirements, people may have specific recommendations.

BruceRhonda: Thanks for the tip on VIP. We tried this agency, but they did not have anything available for 10 nights starting in late March. We are looking for a studio or one bedroom in the 6th.

walkabout: Thanks for the links - I saw a couple of them during my search. But I did not see the TA post where Rentapart did not return a portion of a deposit. That would have sealed it for me. So in all of my searching, I found two negative experiences - and no other feedback. How do these places stay in business without customer reviews!

cw: I have searched more than ten agencies - all of them recommended here or on Trip Advisor. I don't think I looked at Parisian Flat - I'll do that now.

Thanks again everyone!

More chancy, I know, but you might also try Paris Craigslist. http://paris.en.craigslist.org/vac/ and/or Airbnb. http://www.airbnb.com/paris-france

At least with Airbnb they do not pay any money to the landlord until you arrive and find the place exists, and is as advertised.

nukesafe: Thanks - but based on my research and comments from other posters, I'm going to pass on Craigslist.

We have stayed here for the past 4 years. It is in the 9th, and a good location. 10 minutes to the Metro, 3 minutes to a bus stop where the bus goes to the Louvre.

Nadine Giblin
Studio 30 sqm Paris 9e near Montmartre
E-mail : [email protected]
Website : http://locationparis9.canalblog.com

Been to Paris many times, and love using Haven in Paris to rent - their apartments are heavenly, and well located. Also, you'll have an English speaking greeter, and you can get situated easily, since it is your first trip. www.haveninparis.com

I stayed in an apartment a few weeks ago with Paris Deluxe Rentals (http://www.parisdeluxerentals.com). We stayed in the one bedroom apartment Cherche Midi which is on the rue Cherche Midi in the 6e. The apartment was very nice and the agency was great to deal with.

They were able to accommodate us at the last minute. Someone meets you at the apartment and shows you around. Someone also comes when you are ready to check out to do the same and gives you back the security deposit. I had rented from VIP before and they are good but I liked having someone show me around so I could actually use the appliances while we were there.

The apartment was great - very comfortable bed and two sofa beds that were also very comfortable. I stayed there with my husband, 5 year old daughter and baby. If you are just two people, they also have a studio apartment in the same building. Location was great. Lovely street, convenient, three metro stops right nearby, great shops and restaurants outside and one block from Le Bon Epicerie.

My husband and I used myparisvisit.com earlier this year and were very happy with both the apartment and the agency. Here's a link to the apartment where we stayed:

http://www.myparisvisit.com/rental-o...s-59.html#desc

I just threw in a date for late March and it looks like they have lots of apartments available.

Have a great trip!

Very pleased with my first Paris apartment rental experience earlier this year - with Parisbestlodge which has a range of reasonably priced, well located properties and its easy to deal with and very helpful on the spot owner/ manager Thierry responds quickly to email enquiries.

bab, I am currently looking at apartments in Spain and Portugal and I came across WayToStay who seem to have apartments everywhere (!) including Paris, and at least have a very user friendly website with contact numbers in many different countries which is less common.
I haven't contacted them yet but thought I would throw it into the mix..
http://www.waytostay.com/