Hello -
This is my first post, so I'm sort of jumping in here. We are planning a trip to Paris in October and recently decided to give up the timeshare we originally had and go later. Now I am looking for an apartment in Paris.

We're looking for something for Oct 10th-17th, ideally around 600 euros for the week. We're fine with public transportation and walking. I can find plenty of boring but serviceable apartments in that range, but it is our first trip to Europe together, and is our honeymoon too, so I'm still holding out for a smidgen of charm in our lodging.

I am a bit overwhelmed, but so far I like the ones at www.apartmentparis.fr the best. Has anyone used them? I could not find anything about them when searching the forum, and they don't have any reviews on their website. The apartments look nice, but are much cheaper than most others I have seen, so it makes me wonder if something is not quite right. I'd love any feedback you can give. Thanks!

I have rented apts before and thought I would check out your website and see if I could offer you any help with your question. I have to tell you, while the apts that I could see looked nice enough and the price was low, I had a lot of trouble with the website and could gather absolutely no information as to what was/was not included (other than the little graphics).

Important things to know would be if there is a cleaning fee at the end? What is the security deposit and how is that taken? Is there a refund policy should you have to cancel?

Check out www.parisholidayapt.com or www.vrbo.com and you will see what I mean. The majority of apts there answer all of your questions without you having to search out the answers. Since there are so many apts out there, having info easily accessible would seem an advantage. Perhaps an info page on this site would be helpful.

If you really like what you saw on that website, try contacting the people and see what they have to say. But without more answers and some type of feedback or referral, I am not sure I would choose it. But that is just my opinion.

If you're in the U.S., Vactioninparis.com is a good service and you can talk to them by phone and pay by Visa. Here's one apartment in a good location that might suit you (ID#49):
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_49.htm

I agree with Nancy. vacationinparis.com is very easy to deal with. I have a reservation with them for apt#122 for 2008 as I've stayed in that neighborhood...the 6th... almost annually since 1981 although before 1981, I stayed in many other areas. It's a perfect location to walk to Notre Dame, the Louvre, and other areas and there are two metro lines... #4 and #10 just a short walk away.Also excellent bus lines...you can take the bus... bus stop directly across from Louis Vuitton... to the Louvre in about 5 minutes. It stops right in front of the Louvre. Plenty of restaurants/bakeries/delis etc... nearby,too. It's especially a great location since you're a first timer. I've been to Paris in October although I usually go in March or April and in October it was like a ghost town...kind of nice in a way. In the 3+ decades of going there, I'd never seen it like that before. I was lucky and got excellent weather in October. Happy Travels!

Thanks for the quick replies! I did send off an email to the people at apartmentparis but they replied to say all the apartments were full. I was prepared for that even though many said they had availability online. So now I am looking elsewhere, including the suggested sites. I may check back for your opinions once I know which ones are available! You are all so helpful.

We are very much looking forward to this trip. We have a second week in Venice to plan, but thankfully we split up the research and I only have to do Paris!

Hello,
I can give you my feedback....
I have rented apts before with them : www.apartmentparis.fr
They are not expensive because it's not an agency. They have a cancellation policy, but i do not remember exactly the terms. There is a cleaning fee at the end, but there is no security deposit. The people of apartmentparis are very nice, and the flat was really lovely. We paid 439 € for a week with the cleaning fee, in the center of Paris.

Remember Paris is very busy in October with the Rugby World Cup taking place. If you do find a vacancy, I suggest you snap it up or someone else will.

I think I've heard a few folks ask about them on here before, but I reviewed the website and can tell you why they are so cheap. First, they are an agency by my definition, just a small one. It's a guy who went into business for himself and has an inventory from himself and friends of several dozen apts. That's an agency to me, I'm sure he's making a profit.

They are cheap because some of them are very very small, and a lot are in undesirable/cheaper arrondisements. So that's why. Also, the headline rate is the cheapest rate of the year, during a low season (like early Nov), so it won't be the rate you'll pay in October or June, etc., once you get into the listing. I personally don't think they are so great looking or so cheap in comparison to many others I've seen, so there is nothing outstanding to me on there. Their cancellation policy is fairly typical (50 pct refunded if you cancel 30-60 days before, no refund if less than 30 days, etc.). I didn't see any cleaning fee mentioned on there, so I think that is hidden a little bit.

well, guess it's moot at this point if they have nothing available, but I just didn't think they were anything special compared to most others -- unless you do want a 20 m2 apt in the 10th arrondisement, now that is a point. They do have some cheaper ones than the websites that cater to tourists who want to spend a lot more, because some of those other websites won't even have apts. in some of these cheaper areas.

Christina,

As we rent with us, i can confirm this is not an agency. This is a group of private owners. Sure they are making a profit, but sure there is no agency fees. They Have 20 flats.
What's more, we do not rent in a cheap area or a cheap flat. We rent this flat, in front of the Parc Monceau, a very nice place, near Etoile : http://www.apartmentparis.fr/aparteng.php?Id=19
This is a 40 sqare meters flat, with nice and new furniture and a free wifi acces.
I found my contract and
Their cancellation policy :90 pct refunded if you cancel more than 60 days before, 50 pct refunded if you cancel 30-60 days before, no refund if less than 30 days.
We paid 409 € for a week, and 30 € for the final cleaning.