Though I use Fodors often for reference, this is my first time posting a message!

My husband and I are planning to visit Paris for our one-year wedding anniversary (May 20). After reading through various threads on Fodors, I contacted ParisPerfect, and they have no apartments available for those dates (no surprise since every apartment shown on the website was totally gorgeous!).

Since we really want to be in Paris ON our anniversary, anyone out there know of comparable apartment rentals in the 7th? Thanks in advance.

Hi Whiteflower--

Try www.VRBO.com, they have lots of apartments to choose from and you can search by arrondissement. I rented one in the 3rd for the first week of April.

Kelbert

Try panacherental.com. We used them 1 1/2 years ago & was very pleased w/the service & location of the properties available.

I didn't know this panache site, so just looked through it. Wow. Those are some high priced apartments! And the first time I've seen Paris apartments listed as "everything included except phone, electricity, and gas".

I have used Parisperfect for 3 years and plan to continue, but if they aren't available, an excellent backup, luxurious spot in the same neighborhood can be found at: http://www.rentalfrance.com/index.php?location=grenelle. Something smaller and a little less luxurious, but nice is listing 18244 on VRBO. We have also rented the same owner's loft; 8667 on VRBO, all in the same neighborhood.

there are certainly tons of vacation apts. for rent in Paris -- a couple good websites you might look at are www.francehomestyle.com and www.drawbridgetoeurope.com or maybe www.franceforrent.com

I think they might have the same idea.

I agree with Patrick that is sort of a funny statement, as those are usually the things that are charged extra, so if those are still extra -- big deal.

Panache has a lot of the same apartments as some other websites and sometimes charges more for the exact same apartment, but usually it's just a little bit but I'd doublecheck anything you find on their website. For example, they charge $225 per night for this one BR on rue Berthollet, and Barclay charges $218 for it. Panache and barclayweb.com and athomeinfrance.com have a lot of the same apartments. Generally, I think Barclay is the best of that bunch. The Panache apts don't seem unusually expensive to me, pretty typical.

Hi Whiteflower,
we will be renting one of those parisperfect apts this March. I looked at many sites before we settled on that one, if you click on my screen name and find the apartment rental in Paris thread, I have lists of places that I used ... vrbo is good, there were a couple of gorgeous apts, top floor, skylights all over the place that would have been good for us also. In the 7th. Good luck~

We were in Paris over New Year's and stayed in an apt. for the first time. I can heartily recommend vacationinparis.com
We were in apt. 74-Invalides, which is very well located in the 7th.

You will not have the luxury or the views of Paris Perfect, but you won't be paying those prices, either. The apt. has a very comfortable bed, lovely completely equipped kitchen, and is in a very quiet bldg. w/elevator.

More importantly, from the people at the office in N.J. to the local apt. mgr., they could not possibly have been more professional, prompt, thorough and congenial. And the website's photos and description were absolutely accurate.

By the way, I have absolutely no affiliation with them, except as a very well-satisfied customer.

Wherever you choose to stay, enjoy Paris, and congratulations on your upcoming anniversary!

Apt 74 was taken when we wanted it in March. I recently heard that they have done some updating and fixed up a few things in the apt. I will keep it in mind if we decide to rent again, instead of a hotel.
I still have to see if I love the idea of making my own bed on holiday

Christina is right, Panache is not the only broker for some of the apts. You can often find them much cheaper. For instance I rented the one listed at 71 av. Segur from Apartment-living.com which has it listed at €170/day vs. the €275/day quoted by Panache.

Actually Christina, maybe I was out of line. I've never, ever paid for gas or electric in any apartment I've rented anywhere in Europe, so I didn't know that charging for them is common.

Maybe I've been lucky.

I would check with Pascal Zytomirski. He handles apartments on this website:

http://www.rentalfrance.com/

Pascal can also be emailed directly at [email protected]

I rented the apt at 11 rue Duvivier and was well satisfied. Others I have referred have posted positive experiences on AOL.

I would not just restrict myself to the 7th arrondisement. There are lots of areas within Paris other than the 7th where you could be centrally located.

My "landlord" at parisperfect.com, said that the only time they have ever charged someone for utilities was after a family stayed during the winter, had the windows open and the heat On! His heating bill was $500- so he charged them.
Not one of the sites that I used, said that lights/gas/electric were extra..only phones.
Which leads to a phone question I will post so as not to hijack Whiteflowers thread

I don't know about lucky, nothing is free IMO -- you pay for it one way or another. I don't rent expensive apartments and would never pay what parisperfect wants, so getting electricity "free" when you are paying that much for an apartment doesn't impress me. Yeah, a lot of Parisian rental agencies charge extra for electricity and phone. I don't think gas so much. I think this must just be some Paris custom as a lot of them do it, whereas it seems to make more sense to me to roll some average cost into the rent (except for phones, you never know about them). I wonder if there is some regulatory or legal reason for it, probably not--you know how some customs just sort of perpetuate themselves illogically. I've never paid that much for the electricity, maybe 20 euro a week, which is why I never understood why they go to that trouble. It is true electricity costs a lot more in France than some other places, like the US -- or so I've been told -- and that's one reason they don't have AC as much.

Robdaddy: Last October my two grandchildren and I stayed in the same apartment you recommend, #74 on the vacationinparis.com website.

We liked it very much, especially, as you remarked, the very well equipped kitchen. What I really appreciated was the convenience of the washer/dryer in the evenings, which minimized the amount of clothing we had to lug to Paris in suitcases.

The place must be terrifically popular, though. When I replied to a "Bonne Annee" email from Mr. Cannon, I mentioned a friend who had been interested in renting, but had been told the apartment was not available. Mr. Cannon wrote back to say that in the next few months, the apartment is only available from Feb 24th to Mar 7th, or April 1st to the 8th.

This is what comes of offering such a quiet, comfortable bed! The gleaming copper pots and pans weren't too shabby, either.

Whiteflower: perhaps the apartment may be available on May 20th for you. It's definitely worth a try. Wherever you end up staying, I wish you the happiest of anniversaries!

Okay - I have that #74 apartment for part of March! Lucky me that Robdaddy and Croque Madame had such nice reports of their stays there.
I have a couple questions for Robdaddy - What restaurants did you frequent in the neighborhood? And was there a hairdryer and iron/ironing board in the apartment? Thanks!

For kbrennan: Yes, there are an iron and board, and a hairdryer as well, which delighted my wife and daughters!

As for meals, we ate all over town, and cooked in two nights with stuff we bought on Rue Cler. But in the neighborhood, we did eat twice at La Varangue on rue Augereau, which we enjoyed very much and fgound to be very reasonably priced. It gets somewhat mixed reviews on this board, but we liked it a lot. (We enjoy dining out and trying new things, but are not foodies). Go between 7 and 7:30...there are fewer than 20 seats, and when it gets close to full, he just locks the door.

Have a wonderful time, and if I can offer any more suggestions, please ask.

P.S. The cafe Max downstairs in the same bldg. as the apt. is closed for reno at the moment, as is Lei, down the street which has been recommended here...but of course, they may both have re-opened by the time you visit.

Thanks Robdaddy! I hope you and your girls weren't too crowded in the apartment. Right now, we are studying bus schedules - the last time we were in Paris we did not ride the buses very much. We are determined to stay "above ground" a little more this time.

Laidback:

May I ask if you have stayed at the Rue de Grenelle apartment offered by RentalFrance.com? If so, would you say it is comparable to the ParisPerfect apartments. Any differences worth noting? It looks terrific on the website, as do the ParisPerfect apartments, but nothing beats a first hand report. Thanks so much in advance.

Steveboy,

No I have not stayed at the Grenelle apt. but am familiar with the location; it is above the greengrocer on the corner of r. Cler and I was therefore leery of the early morning noise which can be a problem associated with staying by r. Cler. The agent Pascal has assured me that the modern double glazed windows make it very quiet. I have an appointment to see it in person the end of March and will pass on my observations then if you like. It appears that the main difference(other than price/sq.ft.) between it and the Paris Perfect apts. is the view, it is on the 4th floor(American) while most of the others are on the 6th, and usually have spectacular views of the Tower.