sckattycat

I would never recommend Vacation In Paris LLC. They are the worst to deal with. Everything is fine until you have a problem! Worst of all they always have the same thing to say....everyone else loves the apartment...blah blah blah also! Well I am not everyone and I was unhappy with the fact that they refused to return my deposit for a shelf that fell due to a cheap and poorly placed glass shelf over the sink-yes glass over the sink imagine that! I was lucky that I did not get cut. Also, the windows in the bathroom were so sheer you could see us sitting on the toilet and not to mention that the window into the kitchen had absolutlely no curtain! The shower head had a rubber band holding it together. So cheaply furnished. We had to use paper towels to cover the window. And what is VIP's response, well no one has ever complained about this apt.,a waiting list etc. again, blah blah blah, instead of ...what can we do to make it better? That is what I would call good customer service. Just imagine if the cheap bed would have fallen, they probably would have charged me for a new bed! Not worth the headache to save a few you end up spending more! Well I will give it to them that the location was very nice, but the apt forget it!!!! I will never ever use VIP and I caution any one that does use them and has a problem! Thanks to American Express, I receied my deposit back after 2 months of waiting. Yes two months! It is not worth saving money to get aggravation!!! Find a better rental company!

Suzanne2

Sckattycat, Please tell us which apartment you rented. I'm getting ready to book an apartment and I surely don't want to end up in the one you had.

sckattycat

I recommend that you pick another rental company. There are many! This is the off season in Paris. You shuld be ale to get a good deal with another rental company. My friend used another company, can't remember the name , but if I do I ill post it. Her apt was beautiful. Even flat screen TVS. The apt I rented only had one English channel- which was a new channel. Imagine that! Read above, what others have said and you decide what to do. For me, never ever again with vacationsin paris llc located in New Jersey!

sckattycat

spelling correction- the only channel in this apt was a news channel in english,other than that nothing else available. The bed was also terrible to sleep on!

sckattycat

One more thing about Vacations in Paris LLC , they leave you all these Don't's in the apt. Don't do this, Don't do that, maybe 10 of them. However, if you have a problem forget! Not their problem! The lock of the entrance door was locked one day of of the entire stay, the rest of the time , they removed the lock because it was broken and they nevever even replaced it. I complained , but nothing was done and it was nerve racking, coming home and worrying if someone was hiding somewhere-and when I told VIP they said, safe area, I shouldn't have worried, the rules for repair of the common area door is different there, blah, blah blah. I have never felt so disappointed with a firm like VIP. Not their problem attitude once they take yur money!!!!!

Suzanne2

Scattycat,

We have stayed in the same apartment you had, approximately 6 years ago. The glass shelf was at that time, firmly attached to the wall. I had no problem using it for my make-up and was glad to have it actually. The sink as I recall was made of brass. So it seems odd that it would be strong enough to break that shelf. The window you mentioned looked out on an air shaft and I doubt anyone would have a view of you on the toilet since there were no other windows there as I recall it was not a problem for us at any rate.

I am truly sorry you had a bad experience but I do wish to point out that we had a great time staying in that apartment.

As I've said before we all seem to have differing expectations as to what we should be getting for the money we are spending.

For those of you who are curious, it is #38.

CarolA

Is there a reason this thread was resurrected from the dead?

I have used VIP and would recommend them. My apartment was as advertised and the deposit was refunded by the next cycle (Of course I won't use Amex after it took them SIX months once to refund me something and I had the vendor on the phone with Amex showing them on his statement EXACTLY when he refunded me... they sat on it for 6 months LOL!)

Yes, Paris Perfect is probably better but honestly they charge for it.

sckattycat

Suzanne2 on November 10 ,2009 Your first asked me what apartment I stayed in ,since you did not want the same problem. I never responded with the address and then on Nov 11 you write that you stayed in the same apratment I had 6 years ago and that the glass shelf was there etc etc . and yes it is #38 and yes it does sound to me as if you work for Vacations In Paris LLC and just want to protect your firm. This is a blog for travelers who have had good and bad experiences. I don't feel that this is a blog for VIP llC. If you really want people not to write a negative review, then try to work on customer service rather than sweeping under a carpet! If VIP is so good, why are their other customers that are so unhappy with them and not just on this site ,but even people I know that have used them and would never ever use them again! You sound like the same person that rented me the apartment and told me, that you have stayed there with your daughter and had no problem. As the windows Miss know it all...I have photos to prove it. If you recall when you stayed there 6 years ago as you say...you have to walk up the stairs to get to the apartment. Yhe door is on the right -the windows are on the same side and anyone walking up the stairs to the next floor can easily see into the kitchen where I had to cover with PAPER TOWELS and can see into the bathroom ,which is where the toilet is and a with the sheer curtain you can easily see in and see the person sitting on the toilet! I have photos to prove this!!!!! Do you ??The area was very nice , I said that before,but I DID NOT HAVE A PLEASANT STAY IN THIS APARTMENT AND WARN OTHERS TO CHOOSE ANOTHER COMPANY. ESPECIALLY AFTER SEEING THAT THIS FIRM CHECKS THIS BLOG TO DEFEND ITSELF BY POSING AS REGULAR TRAVELERS AND NOT EMPLOYEES! My opinion and I am entitled to my opinion. For your information, I couldn't stand the attitude from VIP saying" Everyone loves that apartment ,blah,blah blah, Not everyone is happy with Vacations In Paris LLC located in NJ and I for one am not!!!

sckattycat

PS: Suzanne2 you also say and I quote "I am truly sorry you had a bad experience but I do wish to point out that we had a great time staying in that apartment. As I've said before we all seem to have differing expectations as to what we should be getting for the money we are spending. For those of you who are curious, it is #38. THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN EMPLOYEE FROM VACATIONS IN PARIS LLC WRITING ON THIS BLOG AND POSING AS A TRAVELER. Most people would not apologize for a firm unless THEY WORK THERE! It is too bad that you have to defend this firm in this manner. If they were so good, bad reviews would not appear on a blog.

sckattycat

Carol, this resurrected because of the bad experience I had in Vacations In Paris LLC. Perhaps next time I will take your advice and try Paris Perfect or the rental company one of my customer uses and loves. When I remember the name I will post it. Too bad about American Express , I have never had a problem with American Express and have been a customer for decades. I hope they too know what they put you through.

sckattycat

By the way Suzanne2, we read blogs to get an idea of what experiences others have had etc. Everyone is entitled to their opionion and I am sure there are some that never had problems with VIP and are happy with them.It is up to the individual to make up their own mind where they want to stay and what company they want to use. That is why we all read blogs, to get a sense of what is out there. In the end, it is up to the individual to decide what is right for them.

Suzanne2

Sckattycat,

First off, I am sorry you feel the need to attack me just because I liked the apartment and you did not. As I said it was a while ago and I really do not recall being bothered by the windows. When I am in Paris I am so happy that very little gets me down. Was your experience in Paris a good one?

Why is it that you refused to reveal the apartment identity? If you want to vent about the apartment at least allow those you are venting to to see it. Seems like a more honest approach to me.

I agree that Paris Perfect and some other agencies have beautiful apartments. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to stay in them at this point in time. Maybe someday.

I've been on this sight and others for a long time now and I am sure there are some folks here that can vouch for the fact that I do not work for VIP. Might be more fun than working as an office manager for a dental office in Long Beach California now that you mention it.

I have rented several apartments from VIP over the years and while none were perfect and none were as gorgeous as the PP apartments, I did find them to be clean,safe, and comfortable.

I am really not interested in having a confrontation via this web site with you. As you said we are all entitled to our opinions and this is just mine.

I'm a firm believer in not sweating the small stuff.

sckattycat

First of all , it wasn't an attack. I was stating my case and the facts that happen to me when I was there. As far as not identifying the property, I beleive you answered your own question, since you commented on how you stayed there 6 years ago, etc etc etc. I am not sweating the small stuff nor am I interested in a confrontation with you, I am merely responding to your comment that you addressed to me. Due to the present economy, there are alot of bargains out there. This includes rentals and hotels .So if you are looking to save, check with CBS morning show,I beleive they had a show that talked about affordable top hotels in Europe.
PS: Enough said! End of story about VIP,since I don't care about them anyway.

djkbooks

We just returned from a two week stay in VIP #62 and #154 (my husband and myself in one, my brother in the other).

We had considered these apartments previously. VIP was always forthcoming in e-mail inquiries regarding the contruction and obstructions to the view (though one could only imagine the impact).

I did check with VIP ahead of booking, and ahead of paying the final installment, and ahead of leaving home, about construction. (I had even made hotel reservations as a backup.) I was informed there had been no recent reports of any obstructions or noise.

Our trip to Gare Montparnasse (around half past noon on a Monday) on Air France coach was smooth. I was pleasantly surprised to find the walk to the apartments shorter than expected, especially due to a cut through in the station (with escalators!).

While it's true that the Montparnasse metro station is a distance away and positively enormous, the Falguiere station was actually closer and a small, one line, station, so very convenient. But, we mostly used the buses from Gare Montparnasse stops right around the corner, where there were half a dozen or more routes to all over. Best was always getting a seat leaving (beginning of route) and not worrying about finding our stop at night in the dark, as it was always the end of the route.

I found the VIP booking process to be extremely attentive, responsive, straightforward, and incredibly easy. Especially favorable was the (only) $150 key/damage deposit, and being able to pay online with PalPal (even if, like my brother, one doesn’t have a PayPal account). We received the keys by mail more than two weeks ahead of departure, with beautifully illustrated directions for getting into the apartments. We did have a couple of minor problems during our visit. We had the owner’s cell and home phone numbers and had no problem contacting him. When the owner didn’t show up as promised, I e-mailed VIP. Within hours, the owner was e-mailing, phoning, text messaging, and did come and take care of the problems (cable TV not working, light bulbs out) the following day. Our only need for the TV was to check on details of the upcoming strike, and the owner did provide web links for checking in the meantime (which were actually more helpful than the TV). He was so kind as to text me a couple of days later advising he had checked our train for us and it would be running as scheduled.

We absolutely loved these apartments and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

There were four cranes in the near distance, but beyond the neighborhood. One was between us and the Eglise du Dome (which was beautiful lit up at night with the crane not visible in the dark). Had we not had such an expansive view (!), we wouldn’t have seen any cranes. There were no cranes obstructing our views of the Tour Eiffel.

Our balconies overlooked a beautiful garden. On the opposite side was a new building, covered with scaffolding on the side visible to us and the side to the right. At, promptly, 7:30 each weekday morning, workers arrived and removed the scaffolding piece by piece. Their barely audible conversation was louder than any noise involved in removing the scaffolding. They were very careful to be quiet about it. Over our stay, scaffolding was removed entirely from one side of that building. There was also continuous work on a nearby rooftop. But, we could only see and not hear it. The neighborhood is very quiet. We could not hear any street noise from our balconies. Sometimes we could hear conversations, music, from neighbors. But, when the sliding glass doors were closed, we could hear nothing going on outside.

On our return home, I mailed the keys. Two days later, I received e-mail that the keys had been received and a credit for the deposit processed.

I should mention that we have been guests of ParisPerfect three times. On our second visit, the refrigerator was not working (and had been reported by previous guests). For more than a week, we heard nothing. (Later, they said they tried to phone but “someone” had turned off the answering machine.) Then, one morning, after we had gotten home very late, planned to sleep in and enjoy breakfast on our balcony, the phone rang. Workers were downstairs to deliver a new refrigerator, and it would take only ten minutes. But, because the refrigerator would not fit through one side of the double front door, it was necessary to take the closet, installed to the other door, apart in order to open that door. The workers began gathering our belongings from the closet and tossing them in the bedroom. Since this was going to take some time, and we could not access the kitchen, we headed out (without showers) for some coffee. They agreed to phone when the job was done, but they never did. There was also a recent report on TripAdvisor of an elevator not working in the building of their 6th (!) floor apartment for their entire one week stay, and the lights not working in the stairwells, either!

Suzanne2

We will be in Paris next month staying in ID #38. I had hoped to stay in 179 but it was booked already when I checked in June. I like this area of Paris and although #38 is not my first choice it is still a good one. IMO

CaliNurse

DJKBooks, Thank you for your feedback.I've booked a flat with VIP (left another thread about it) and hope all will go well. I like your point that things can and do go wrong no matter which agency, anywhere.
ParisPerfect is now a much larger agency, not just a couple renting out flats they or Madelyn's sister own, from back in the day when all flats had the Eiffel Tower view (even if it meant craning your neck at a 90 degree angle to see La Tour).They now are agents for other owners' listings too. While i loved the flat we rented , it was very expensive. Was it worthwhile? It depends on if you want to pay big bucks for high-end interior decoration and re-decoration.

CaliNurse

LOL, talk about different perceptions!! One person's treasured is another's trash. Why anyone would "enjoy" watching, construction is beyond me, but i guess for a little boy, cranes would be more interesting than the Eiffel Tower!


Review of #154 written April 9, 2009
We had a lovely time in your apartment. Today is our son’s 7th birthday and what a way to spend it – in Paris looking at the Eiffel Tower! We actually enjoyed watching the construction going on too!

djkbooks

Rates for our first stay with Paris Perfect were a splurge, at $275/night. We booked our next stay at current rates which were up to $373 by the time of our stay. Between our second and third stay, the apartment was completely redone and refurnished, and air conditioning had been added. In my opinion, the place was totally charming previously. (At that time, Madeleine had a real knack for shopping the flea markets for wonderful furnishings.) The new decor is all slick and modern, with the furnishings imported from Italy! Current rate is €564 (on sale for €395 except New Year's week).

nina88

I have a reservation rental with VIP for next month and I am curious to know about the person who is not pleasant to deal with mentioned above. Would you please post the name so I will avoid that person when placing a call to that office? I am actually getting concerned with the negative review of this agency. So far, what's being mentioned is accurate....they are nice and prompt in replying until after you make a payment. I just made a simple request which is being made to appear like a major operation/big deal!

basingstoke2

Nina - We rented #176 from ViP a couple of years ago and the transaction was seamless. It was exactly as described - no surprises at all. I like the idea of getting the key in the mail before the trip rather than having to meet an owner/agent when you get there with a fistful of Euros. It was also convenient to pay with a CC and get FF miles for the transaction. Since we were continuing on from Paris after our stay, we mailed our key back from Bruges and our deposit was returned by the time we returned home. I recommended them to friends who were Paris neophyte and their experience was positive as well.