nicerue50

Starting to plan our Paris trip (11th time) for next year. This year brother and partner joining us. We normally stay at Hotel Prince Eugene in the 11th, but thinking of 2 bedroom apt closer to Hotel Dieu. Have found this one, but when requested more pictures, no reply. Has anyone used this site for booking? www.ideapractices.org

http://www.ideapractices.org/check_a...12/4/21290/en/
Would like to spend about 150 euros night or 1200 weekly

Any ideas of other rentals? A lift is a must. Thanks for all your help.

cw

I've never heard of that booking site, and I would be very wary of renting any apartment that did not have enough photos of all the rooms in the unit. It is called a two-bedroom but lists only one-bedroom in the description of rooms and amenities. That arty photo of the bathroom sink doesn't match the poor quality of the dining area/living room photo.

There is a Paris Vacation Apartment thread here--you can search for it and get some names of agencies that people have successfully used.

CarolJean

One bed seems to be in the living/dining room area. There are lots of 2 bedroom apt. available. I would look further.

nicerue50

Thank you for your info. I'll search the thread http://vacation.lodgis.com/en/paris/...ets-apartment/
in the meantimes how does this one look?

Christina

They are probably just trying to make a business and are honest, but I personally wouldn't deal with renting a Paris apt from a Czech company, especially a year in advance. That may be part of the language problem (that the company is Czech). I also wouldn't expect them to have the best Paris apartments nor service. The website has some errors on it, which are probably honest but sloppy (ie, listing two different email addresses for booking, the one at the top is no doubt a typo as it leaves out the a).

I wouldn't want to do that much work when renting an apt., either, such as having to request more photos. Those photos aren't good enough and while any company has to choose some to show, the only ones I saw were 3 and none included a bedroom (I also think one of the bedrooms is that alcove off the dining are you see). You can't even see the living room, for heaven's sake, unless that dining table and bed are also the living room. I wouldn't even deal with a company that makes that kind of presentation. If it's their own website, they should be posting more photos, it wouldn't cost them anything. And the ones that are posted aren't very good (ie the bathroom one is just of the sink).

There is something fishy about that apt., it doesn't list many photos and doesn't list many details compared to the other ones on their site. I suspect they don't know much about it. It claims for "bedroom" there is a king and twins. Well, where, the information is really lacking on that website, the apt is only 45 m2. so I suspect it is a very small 1 BR with a bed also in an alcove that is part of the living area. that's the size of a studio apt in many places.

cw

Here's the link to the apartment thread if you haven't found it already: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ent-thread.cfm

The lodgis apartment is better but is it located where you want to be? My concern would be that it doesn't seem as though it's available until next year, and a lot could happen in the interim. I know you want to keep the price low, but the price for this apartment seems really low for the size. Not saying there's anything wrong with it. I've rented apartments twice in Paris but I've only rented from agencies that have been mentioned here and elsewhere in a positive way. I wouldn't rent from a private owner without seeing recommendations.

Good luck in your search. It isn't easy to find a place that meets individual requirements.

Suzanne2

In April we stayed in VRBO#39183. It has 2 good sized bedrooms and a large living/dining area. It is a little out of the center of Paris with easy access to Metro Line 1. Nice neighborhood next to Parc Vincennes. I thought it was a great value at $150.00 US per night.

Christina

I've rented through Lodgis and had a great experience and mentioned it positively on several threads. They are very professional and have been in business quite a while now. They are a lot more professional than some of the other agencies people mention on here, as they have legal French contracts, do follow-up surveys, provide you a link to a cheap rental insurance company and respond quickly, and are registered with the city of Paris. A lot of people on Fodors don't use them because they are a French company, I think, they want an American company or owner.

However, it is an agency that is not fully responsible for each apt, it is kind of in-betweeen VRBO (which is nothing but ads on the web, basically) and a place that manages each apt themself directly. So, while the agency is very professional and handles the contracts and details well, any individual apt experience can depend on the place and the particular owner, of course. The owner can set some of the terms, also, such as deposit. I think Lodgis has a standard one listed but it goes to the owner, so they can waive it if they so choose. The owner of the one I rented did (as long as I purchased the renters' insurance through their company link and proved it, but that was only around 30 euro), but that will vary, of course.

I would feel more comfortable renting through Lodgis than VRBO, but it's still the individual apt that matters, of course, and its owner.

As for the Lodgis one, the apt looks a lot better. It's just kind of far out to Nation metro for me, but you obviously know Paris and where it is, so that is your choice. I don't find that price unusual at all in that location, I'd be surprised if it were a lot more expensive.

denisea

I recommend Paris Perfect...not sure what your budget it but they are great to work with.

Christina

Their budget is 150 euro a night or 1200 euro a week mentioned in the OP. Parisperfect apartments are very, very expensive and nothing is remotely close to that for a 2 BR. I think their cheapest 2 BR is around 3000 euro a week in September, although there is some sale now for 2000/wk on that one. Either price is way higher than the OP's budget.

Suzanne2

In the past we had only rented apartments from vacationinparis.com. I was nervous to consider using VRBO. In our case the apartment was recommended by a TA member with whom I communicated. I was really pleased with the apartment. If we ever need a 2 bedroom again I will not hesitate to book this place again. Vacationinparis.com has only a handful of 1 bedrooms in that price range and certianly no 2 bedrooms.

nicerue50

Thank you Suzanne2 Loved that apt, but unfortunately for us it was already booked for Sept 2012. I'll keep looking. Any others out there like this, please let me know,

melissa19

Here is a 2BR in the Marais where we have stayed many times... highly recommended!

http://www.vrbo.com/15502