I am thinking of renting an apartment for an upcoming Paris vacation. A friend mentioned to me that she had heard that many properties are robbed just a day or so after checkin. In one case the renters drank the "welcome" wine and did not wake up for 2 days. The were also robbed. I find this hard to believe and wanted to confirm this is just "urban legend".

Thanks!

Undoubtedly, your friend heard this from someone who heard it from their neighbor, who heard it from their brother-in-law who heard it from their kid's teacher's mother's sister?

OMG! We have had some other odd "I've heard xyz . . .. Is it true?" threads - but this one ranks right up there.

Two days w/ a drunk robber sleeping on the floor of a holiday flat?

(Um - no apartment owner leaves enough "welcome wine" to make someone comatose . . . . .)

No, it isn't true. And you might want to question any other "advice" that friend offer . . . . .

<i>Is it true?</i>

Not true!


Enjoy your trip!

OMG! I think I just choked on my baguette!

Maybe they are thinking of incidents like these (note this is about Spain):
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/ma...1/wcosta11.xml

ROTFLMAF Now the French are not only rude but they are guilty of drugging the welcome wine!!!

I guess I got lucky - I didn't get any welcome wine - I had to buy my own!

I felt very secure in the apartment I rented. There were 2 security doors plus the door to the apartment. I had a friend staying one week and one day we both walked away without closing the apartment door. It was wide open when we returned. Don't ask me how we did that - duh. But nothing was missing. I had a laptop sitting on the table and it was still there.

&gt;&gt;&gt;the renters drank the &quot;welcome&quot; wine and did not wake up for 2 days. The were also robbed&lt;&lt;&lt;

What were they robbed of? Their kidneys?

Are you sure these people didn't just go on a particularly bad bender, and then invented this excuse to cover up to their spouses?

(It was the Welcome Wine, honey, I swear)

No, it is not true. Don't worry and have a great time in Paris.

I have some doubts about the gassing of residents in the Spanish crime spree. Without more information, I would assume that it is not taking place and that the victims are just heavy sleepers.

I have stayed in several Paris apartment rentals and I have never ever had a problem. You should be fine.

&quot;What were they robbed of? Their kidneys?&quot;

Apres_Londee, do not be so quick to dismiss kidney theft as urban legend, it's a real problem and I have proof!!

Paris is safe, but Fodor's GTGs are not. At more than one Fodor's GTG there has been an attempt to steal my kidneys. The second occurrence was caught on a surveillance camera, manned by our Fodorite rkkwan. Here's the evidence, all I can say is to beware of AnnMarie_C. If she owns that Paris apartment, you are in big trouble!!

You have been warned....

http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p29372305...5939#h3fccd6ef

P_M: Is that the same Gruene Hall where Jerry Jeff Walker plays??? It is my dream to go there some day! Loved the pictures!

P.S. To the OP - totally an urban legend. Do your homework and rent a place that has good reviews and you'll be fine.

I've stayed in Paris apartments in many different arrondisements and I've never, ever felt unsafe--from anything (well, the guy pissing right outside our doorway was a bit disconcerting, but only because we had to wait a moment for him to finish before we entered).

I've had apartment owners provide wine for New Year's eve, but I've never been left welcome wine. Oranges, yes. Condiments, yes. Coffee, yes. But never wine. I must be staying in the wrong joints

If for whatever (unfounded) reason you are nervous, why not stay in a hotel?

As for the kidney thing, that really did happen to the daughter of a friend of my mom. But, it happened here in the States. This was some years ago.

As for the wine thing, I've never heard of such and have had no problems with theft. Happy Travels!

<i>As for the kidney thing, that really did happen to the daughter of a friend of my mom. But, it happened here in the States. This was some years ago.</i>

Sorry, I still don't believe it. I suppose there is some proof - a newspaper article about it perhaps?

I thought the kidney thing happened in India?

I thought the kidney thing happened in a dressing room at Dillard's ...
As far as a rental apartment being robbed, of course that's possible. Apartments are robbed, after all.

Terrible things happen sometimes to visitors to the US, too. We have to keep it in perspective. And, yes, rent a place that has good reviews (believable ones) and/or is connected to a reputable renting agency.

Bon Voyage.

I just googled &quot;vacation drugged wine apartment rental&quot; and came up with nothing but vacation apartments that have drugstores nearby. So ... doesn't sound like a widely known rumor ... yet.