CarolynAnn

Hi - we are two ladies traveling to Paris September 29 to October 7, 2015. We are looking for a 2-bedroom apartnent (very different sleep patterns!). One bathroom is ok. We are in our 60's in reasonably good shape. Would prefer to keep cost under $2500-$3,000 USD.

First question: What area would you recommend? This is our first trip to Paris, so we will do all the usual sights. While we'll do the museums & galleries, we're probably more interested in absorbing the atmosphere. I think we would prefer an area with good access to bus lines as I've read that some of the metro stops have very long stairs - also prefer being able to see the sights on a bus.

Second question: We have looked at VRBO and TripAdvisor, and know there are many more out there. Can you recommend an agency for rental?

Thanks in advance,
Carolyn

apersuader65

With your budget, I would take a look at http://www.parisvacationapartments.c...s/two-bedroom/

They've certainly got something you'll like.

There isn't really a bad area for access to bus lines or metro stops. Pretty much anything is available within a 4-5 minute walk from any central Paris location. I'd recommend looking at the Palais Royal apartments on the above site, they are definitely central, and have access to all public transport options.

fourfortravel

While I can not recommend an agency, our family stayed in this delightful apartment. http://www.vrbo.com/105451 in the 6eme, very close to transportation. We would stay in this apartment again should our travels take us to Paris. Note that there is no lift, and the apartment is on the top floor, so one must climb a couple of flights of stairs, however.

Judy

We use Paris Vacation Apartments, generally twice a year, and have never been disappointed.

Sojourntraveller

First I would make sure that any apartment I was considering renting was a LEGAL rental. I do not contribute to illegal activities.

https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=...cation+rentals

Knowing that many vacation apartment rentals in Paris are illegal, means that it is the person renting who has the moral responsibility to insure they are not contributing to an illegal activity. N'est ce pas?

Aparthotels are legal. https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=...rthotels+paris

The Gites de France site will not list illegal rentals.
http://en.gites-de-france.com/list.h...ence&lnoident=

DonTopaz

> N'est ce pas? [sic]

People who write foreign language phrases incorrectly look awfully foolish. They would do well to stick to words with which they're familiar.

bdesaul

i highly recommend apartmentsdulouvre.com website. My wife and I stayed here for 5 nights this past September 2014 and could not have been happier. Charlie (owner) and his sister run the building and do a fantastic job meeting you, handing over the keys and whatever else you need. The location could not have been more perfect as it is conveniently located near metro stops, the Louvre, and numerous shops and restaurants. They have one and two bedrooms apartments listed. I actually booked my room from VRBO WEBSITE but you can book at his website as well. I was a little leery at first as I had never rented an apartment before but this is all legit and will stay here again on my next Paris visit.

manouche

Since this is your first trip to Paris, and given the many problems associated with renting apartments (yes, they are illegal, and not always as nice as you hope they'll be), you would be wise to choose two rooms in a hotel - or an apart'hotel, if you need kitchen and laundry facilities. Getting your own meals can be fun, but it's no fun trying to deal with appliances or plumbing that don't work properly, or trying to locate a manager if you need any other help during your trip.

Your first visit should be fun and as carefree as possible - you can try the apartment route on your next trip (assuming that option will still be available).

With a hotel or apart'hotel, you will have the comfort and space you need, plus someone to change your sheets and a front desk staff that will help you with any logistics.

For your budget, you could rent two studios in Citadines Saint-Germaine, which is a terrific location, overlooking the Seine and right in the center of Paris. Also, The Residence Henri IV is a nice little hotel with kitchenettes, located near the Cluny Museum.

There's a current trip report on Trip Advisor from a couple trying to celebrate Christmas in an apartment. It should be required reading, especially for first-time visitors.

Sojourntraveller

You should link the trip report manouche.

manouche

Sorry, can't post a link at the moment, but for anyone interested, it's on TA Paris Forum, listed under "Trip Reports", signed "VacationQueen". A nightmare of an apartment rental - good food for thought for people thinking about renting for the first time. Stuff happens.

29FEB

I'm not very familiar w/TA site, but this blog is mentioned:

http://thevacationqueen.blogspot.fr/

cw

Carolyn, we've used Parisvacationapartments and parisianflats. Both were just as advertised. PVA is a great agency.

Other agencies on my list because they have been well-reviewed are Paris Best Lodge, Haven in Paris, and Guest Apartment Services.

manouche

Thank you 29FEB, that's the report I was referring to.

It doesn't matter how well-reviewed an agency is - often, those reviews are not genuine - with very few exceptions (like 1% of the listings), the apartments they rent are illegal. Just because someone has been renting apartments in Paris for years does not guarantee that this will be possible at the present time. It pays to be very cautious, given the political climate at the moment.

Renting from an agency might give you some protection if the apartment you paid for becomes unavailable - that is, pulled off the market due to the Mayor's investigations or complaints from neighbors. It's possible that an agency would have another location to move you to, but it's also quite possible that the apartment would not have the amenities you chose or be in your preferred neighborhood.

Renting from an individual owner gives you even less protection, since an owner might not have any other properties to move you to. You'd get a refund but would have to find another place to stay with no help from the owner.

I know two owners who have been renting for years, and whose apartments were visited by the Mayor's task force in early December. The owners were not notified, but the investigators have the right to enter the property without their knowledge. In one case, the renters were there, opened the door, had no idea what was going on and totally freaked out. The other apartment was vacant at the time, and they were let in by the gardienne. Though the people staying in the apartments were not put out in the street and were allowed to finish their vacations, any subsequent bookings were cancelled, at the risk of heavy fines which would be paid by the owners. A year's worth of bookings is a lot of income to lose, and the clients who were informed of last-minute cancellations now must struggle to find other places to stay.

If something goes wrong - as happened to the couple on TA - since the rental is illegal, the owner's insurance company would not pay for any damages - to the apartment or the people staying there. I do not know if trip insurance would pay either, for an illegal rental - that would certainly be something worth investigating. Since there are no fire or safety checks in vacation rentals in Paris, it's not safe - and not smart - to take a chance. Stay in hotels or apart'hotels, which must meet tough standards and are inspected on a regular basis. They are also legal, and will be there when you arrive.

yestravel

Have rented apts. more times than I can count in Paris and elsewhere. Have never had any serious or major problems. Staying in a hotel is no guarantee of no problems. Do your research and pick an apt that you feel comfortable with. I read the TR linked and it seems things worked out just fine. Have a great trip.

manouche

"...it seemed things worked out just fine." Well, they were not happy about having to change apartments 3 times in one week, didn't like the neighborhoods, then there was the possibility that they might have died in one of them...doesn't sound "just fine" to me.

thevacationqueen

I feel uniquely qualified to weigh in on this topic, as the trip report/blog
in question is mine!

Yes, it was an incredible hassle to change apartments. And it is true that we didn't especially care for the neighborhood of our final (1 week stay) apartment. Did it impact our trip? Yes it did, but to put it in perspective--we spent 2 1/2 glorious weeks in Paris, and enjoyed (almost) every minute!

I do understand the complicated issues/politics/legalities and opinions involved in renting short stay apartments, as we have rented apartments many times in the past 10 years. We've stayed in apartments in Istanbul, Rome (twice), Amsterdam, Venice, Paris (6 visits), Florence, Granada, Barcelona, Bangkok, Krakow, Vienna, Prague, etc, etc. We've used Air BnB, VRBO as well as many other private agencies.

This is the first major issue we have had in all of our travels, and I feel that we have been very lucky. Actually, I would say our "luck" is about 10 % luck, and about 90% extensive research! We are very experienced and confident travelers.

I'm not sure I'd recommend apartment rental for inexperienced travelers, though.

While we were not happy about the smoke issue in our original apartment, we are satisfied with how the agency (Perfectly Paris) took care of us. Having said that, I also understand and appreciate other's opinions and viewpoints on how the situation SHOULD have been handled. In retrospect, for our safety, we should have asked to be moved after the very first "smokey smell" incident. We just assumed it was a chimney downdraft issue from the wood fired pizza restaurant on the ground floor-we weren't to concerned--it was more of an annoyance. Probably not our most brilliant decision!

In closing, I guess I'd sum up our feelings as: All's well that ends well. We've learned from this experience, and we are now busy planning our next adventure.

Peru--here we come!