129 VIP looks great. It won't do for us though because hubby has to have an overhead shower.

In 2003 we rented a 1 bedroom apartment through www.timeandplace.com and had a horrible experience! This company rents higher end apartments in Paris. The experience was a complete disaster from start to finish. It's just too long a fiasco to detail in this thread but, if you see one you like there are certinly other companies that likely represent the same apartment.

On a good note --back in 2005 we rented an apartment through www.guestapartment.com. Unfortunately the apartment we rented is no longer available in their portfolio. It was very nice! The location of these apartments are simply unbelievable! I think most of their apartments have river views?? Honestly, to stand outside on our little balcony at night and watch the boats go by was simply magical. The 2 men who run this company are top notch--no issues what-so-ever! If you have your heart set on staying on Ile St Louis--there's no better company to rent through!

I just had a very unpleasant experience with VIP (Vacation in Paris) and wouldn't rent through them again because of how they handled the whole situation. All the dirty details of the saga are here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...er-lookout.cfm

Guenmai and Suzanne2-Thanks for your input! I went ahead and booked the apartment. I will be sure to report back after our trip!

book mark

Dexters....Good for you. PLEASE let me know how that apartment is as I may be booking it one day in the future. I almost booked it for this August, but my Parisian friend is letting me have the apartment that he owns for a week. And then in spring 2010, I have already paid for an apartment through homeaway.com....on rue de Seine, north of Blvd. St.Germain. Have a great trip. Happy Travels!

Dexters-There's a restaurant near the apartment that's supposedly very good. I haven't tried it yet though. It's La Boussole at 12, rue Guisarde. The website is www.la-boussole.com. Happy Travels!

Correction: "I've already paid (a deposit) for an apartment through homeaway.com". Happy Travels!

There are many things that you learn along the way with apartment rentals. It is more than just paying for and thinking that all will go well! It might, and then again you might have the nightmare that plafield had.

I have had many years experience with rentals and have found "must have" items. Local office. They have full management control over ALL properties, rather than you having to deal with a 2nd party, local owner. ALL services, laundry, maintenance and repair people are company employeees, not outside service people. Let's
face it, the buildings are old, and beautiful, but they can have leaks, elevator outages, building renovations and numerous other things can happen. What is the company policy for re-locating when/if this happens? For me, they have a great many apartments. You could rent a studio and end up in a 3 bedroom, luxury! If nothing available, they would put me up in a hotel, temporarily, with many, many apologies for a happening that was not under their control. They would not just shrug their shoulders and say "too bad"!

Yes, you will pay more. It is up to you whether or not worth the extra cost. Some people go through life without any kind of insurance, and nothing ever happens. Others, it would be a nightmare! Some travel without any medical/medical evacuation insurance. To me, that is living dangerously!

It is all what you feel comfortable with. If you make the wrong choice, you can only wish that you had made a different choice. For me, I know that I am most comfortable when I know that I have everything covered, to ensure that I don't have problems of any kind! So far, so good.

Enjoy your planning, that is at least half the fun...

Joan

If folks could all afford to go with agencies that provide to put some one up in a hotel or move someone to another apartment if something isn't up to par, that would be nice. But, it's not possible for everyone. Everyone doesn't have the same budget to work from. And since most people probably rent for 5-7 days, most things are tolerable. It's apartment living and stuff happens. I do apartment living at home. Happy Travels!

Guenmai--I will absolutely report back. I was a bit nervous about booking it without any reviews, but we really did not have any other options. I waited to the last minute, and I am traveling with wee ones, so my needs were specific. But the VIP agent said "the manager thinks it is one of the nicer apartments", and the majority of VIP reviews were positive in general, so I'm making a leap of faith.

You definitely recommended a restaurant to the right person. The main reason I am accompanying my parents on their first trip to Paris is just to eat my way around the city. I think I'll ask them to watch the bambinos and head out for some alone time. The menu looks divine-and very reasonably priced too. Thanks again.

Dexters- Have a wonderful trip and I hope it all turns out positive for you all. Happy Travels!

I just booked Vacation in Paris #149. Anyone stay there?

Guenmai,

I tried to search for your Guenmai's Paris Apartment Rental Experience. Couldn't pull anything up. What am I doing wrong?

Would appreciate any available feedback on these apartments. I've been tearing my hair out because, not only do I need 2BR/2BA, but my sister's husband is 6'5"'; large queen or king bed is a must. And---if that weren't hard enough---we're not staying a full week, just 4 nights. Our budget is up to 400 eu/night. I love the Paris Perfects (and their reputation) but it looks like they're only for full week rental.

I'm considering these:
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_217.htm
http://www.guestapartment.com/proper...rooms/lys.html
http://www.guestapartment.com/proper.../nympheas.html
http://www.vrbo.com/192292
http://www.vrbo.com/224018
http://www.vrbo.com/218078

Darn. I just noticed the two guestapartment.com apartments require 7 night stay. So now I'm down to 4.

JeanneB

Paris Perfect does rent for less than a week, if they have available for you time periods. Check with them and you might be plesantly surprised.

Joan

Guenmai,

It is the short stay people that I would feel the saddest about, in having their 5-7 days spoiled by not being well taken care of. Hard for me to believe that all would think it is just normal apartment living!

Joan

grace: Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

I've never looked at all these apartments with the to-die-for views. Now we're thinking we may stay in Paris the whole 9 days rather than go to Provence for 5.

That would open up our possibilities immensely.

JeanneB

Let me know when/if interested in them. I am very familiar with a great many of them and can answer some pre questions that you might have. Also, there maight be some discounts that you do not see on the website, as they are hard to keep up with.

Enjoy your planning...

Joan