Has anyone used Parisapartmentsearch.com? I am visiting Paris with my family for two weeks, and we located a nice apartment near the Louvre. The Parisapartmentsearch.com agency seems responsive by email, but sent me a rental agreement with a different price than that quoted. Hopefully, we will work this out. How do you check an agency's reputation?

Thanks,
D

We used nyhabitat.com this summer could never get a response from parisapartmentsearch. Had a great experience.

Nope but I've used www.private-paris.com and always hear quickly from Henri that runs it.

Thanks, I am checking out both websites. What are the things to beware of in an agency?

What do you think of this apartment? About $2628 for 12 nights.

http://www.parisapartmentsearch.com/...?r=3&id=49

These apartments are available for short term leasing llike your family for 2 weeks?

mmmm....

One of the things to be wary of is old or deceptive photographs. I always like to know when how long its been since a unit has been updated. It doesn't take too many months/years of rentals for funriture, carpeting and bedding to become very worn.

Ask the company for a reference from a recent party who stayed there. With email these days communication is quick and cheap. If they are reputable they shouldn't hesitate to provide it. I did the same when I rented an apartment there with my family in 2004. It worked out fine, but I am glad I asked for (and emailed with) the reference.

The apartment looks wonderful in the photos. The rate looks like about the weekly rate plus five nights at the daily rate.

I don't think I would rely on testimonials provided by the agent/owner...you just never know.

It's always best if you can find someone who's stayed there recently. As mentioned above, photos could have been taken years ago, and not every place is well maintained.

There is no mention of an elevator anywhere, if that is important to you, as the second French floor would be the third floor.

If you Google Rue Villedo, you will see this apartment listed by many agencies. Lots of photos and info and I think you have chosen the company with the best price. It can vary quite a bit and I always check for the lowest cost but it now sounds like they are trying to change the terms. I'd do more research and compare all the listings for this apt. Good luck and have a great trip!
Peg

If you have the original quote via email you might be able to get them to honor the quote.

If this apartment is handled by many agencies, it may also be available for rent by owner, often at less than the agencies will quote you.

Here are a few places to look where you can search by property name:

http://www.cyberrentals.com/France/Paris-area/r252.htm

http://www.homeaway.com/France-Renta...on-Rentals.htm

you can try searching for the property by name using the search box.

There's also vrbo.com - but don't think you can search that one yet.

Try to get your quotes via email and let them know you are put off by them sending you a contract with a different price.

Good luck!

I emailed, and received a prompt response and amended rental agreement reflecting the correct price. The manager had calculated the incorrect price based on 14, rather than 12 nights. He also sent me some references and informed me that their office is located in the same building as the apartment, in case there are any issues during our stay.

Thanks for the tip about googling the apartment to compare prices!

Has anyone had Sunday dinner with Jim Haynes? (google him) Is it an appropriate venue for a 13 year old girl and 16 year old boy?

thanks!

bummer, someone booked the apartment through the owner just as I sent my deposit in. I hope it wasn't someone reading the posting.

Well, that is a bummer! I have searched hundreds of two bedroom apartments for my trip next spring and settled on www.vrbo.com/76435. It may be more than you are willing to spend but we also needed two bathrooms. Good luck with your search!
Peg

I didn't think it was anything that special myself. To me, it looks very ordinary, although okay. I think you could easily find something comparable for that price, which wasn't cheap.

There have been a couple recent threads on here about Jim Haynes, just search for that on here. I went in July and commented on it in one of those threads. It would be find for a 13 and 16 year old. There weren't a lot of kids there, it's really for adults, but there were a couple teens. I don't remember seeing any younger children there, and he may not want them for all I know. It isn't really set up for having kids around, it's too crowded, and they would probably want special food, etc. They may be really bored, though, if they have no one to talk to their own age, but might enjoy it for something different.

Thanks Peg, but your beautiful two bedroom VRBO is out of my price range.

Does anyone have an opinon about staying in the 5th ARR on either rue Claude Bernard or Rue Mouffetard during winter (Dec 25-January 6)? I know the metro system is fabulous, but what if there is a strike, or rainy, sleety weather? I figured if we were situated near the Louvre, we could always spend several days there!

I'm starting to panic because other apartments are also being snapped up!

Thanks!

Try this site. The people are really nice and so are the apartments.

http://www.my-apartment-in-paris.com/

We rented an Apt nearby the louvre with another agent: www.paristay.com
www.paristay.com/900

If you go to slowtrav.com & click on France, vacation rentals, vacation rentals reviews, you will find detailed reviews of many 2 bedroom apartments in different price ranges with different companies.

My husband and I booked an apartment through www.lodgis.com for last September. The apartment was just like it's photos and the company was easy to deal with. There was a security deposit but that was later returned without problem. We'd certainly use them again without hesitation.