mouboston

Went to http://www.vacationinparis.com and found an apartment we liked. The problem is that we have to pay the entire amount up front plus $300 deposit for key.

Never been to Paris or stayed in an apartment on vacation. Is this normal? Do you normally have to pay up-front the entire amount? This is not pocket change. Suppose something goes wrong, how would you go about recovering the rent? Any suggestions would be welcome.

LAwoman

Our deal was 30% deposit, balance due 10 weeks before arrival. Can't remember the security deposit but $300 sound about right. Only deal with reliable agencies, ask questions about the apt. and buy cancellation insurance for the rental, which should be pretty cheap.

dln

mouboston, I think you may have misread. The $300 is for the deposit and the full amount is due 60 days prior to renting, not when you make your reservation. That's fairly standard procedure.

Patrick

I think the shortest requirement I've ever seen was balance due 30 days before arrival -- 60 days or even 90 days seems to be more standard.
On the other hand we paid on arrival this summer in Venice, Montepulciano, and Rome, having booked months and months ahead with no deposit at all for those apartments. Italy seems to be much different from Paris!!

Christina

yes, it's normal. I've never heard of a single agency that will let you stay in an apartment without paying upfront, the complete amount (there are slight variations on when the parts of it are due--usually a significant amount on booking and the rest about 30 days before is typical. They all will require it before you stay there. That deposit sounds pretty normal, although I doubt if it is just for the key. Some deposits are higher than that, although that depends how long you stay.

What if something goes wrong and how to recover rent? I assume you mean what if you don't like the place and don't want to stay there? Well, if you don't want to risk that, you should stay in a hotel. Same with return of the deposits, that's always a problem with landlords. Your second choice would be to at least book through an American company and then you probably could sue them, at least.

mouboston

I was actually more worried about keys not being sent or the landlord moving us to a different apartment or just disappering with the money. I am trusting a complete stranger with a lot of money.

Folks have good experience with http://www.vacationinparis.com company?

StCirq

<<I am trusting a complete stranger with a lot of money.>>

And in return the landlord is trusting you with a valuable piece of real estate.

It's very normal to ask for the full rental fee 60 or more days in advance. Why would a landlord, wait until you showed up to take payment? The landlord needs a commitment, and that commitment is evidenced by your payment. Once you've plunked down the payment, the landlord can assume you're serious and won't back out unless there's a real emergency. And any decent landlord would give you at least a partial refund if you did have a real emergency.

SAnParis

I don't recall the exact numbers but we paid a hefty deposit, the remainder 60 days in advance. They actually just held our credit card number for $500. We didn't actually have to pay it.

Kelbert

I rented through VRBO and the owner I dealt with charged my VISA for $500...this is the deposit returnable two weeks after I vacate the apartment. I am renting the first week of April. The full amount for the apartment will be charged to my VISA two weeks before I arrive.

Anyone else there the first week of April???

LAwoman

mouboston, put "vacationinparis.com" in the "search this forum" box above, and you should find lots of previous comments about this agency.
Unless you are hard to please, you shouldn't have any problems so long as you deal with an established agency.

Suzanne2

We rented from vacationinparis.com in October. If you are nervous call and speak to them. They are in New Jersey and are more than happy to answer your questions. I was more worried about having enough towels so I called them. I called again two weeks before we left to ask if the keys had been mailed. She told me they had, and I got them the next day. I did take a few extra towels and no hotel or apartment has washcloths so take your own. The apartment was fine. We were given a phone number to call for a contact person in Paris if we needed anything. We didn't. They never charged my credit card for the $300.00 deposit and I think, didn't charge the rent until thy mailed the keys. Read the cancelation policy to be sure. I did pay for the trip cancelation policy.

Scarlett

I tried to get an apt from vacationinparis and it was taken for when we wanted it. They are very nice, in NJ and they have a lot of apts!
We ended up renting our apt for March from parisperfect.com.
We have paid in full plus deposit.
If something goes wrong-
that is why they recommend Travel Insurance.
the deposit is returned within the month of your return. As in any rental, you take that chance. We were told if we broke a glass, no big deal.
It is the big things that they are protecting themselves from .. like serious breakage or huge utility costs.
Enjoy Paris!

francophile03

Someone I know was required to pay a $500 deposit only-not the entire amount in full plus deposit. But that was at a different site and thru the apartment's owner directly.

mvor

Last week, I tried to book an apartment w/vacationinparis but, unfortunately, it was booked. The two women that I dealt with were very professional and helpful.

Luckily, we secured an apartment w/Parisperfect and paid them in full due to the proximity of our trip. In this instance, they waived the security deposit since we will be there in a couple of days. Since each situation can be different, I'd take Suzanne's advce and call them so you feel better about your transaction.

Have a great time in Paris!

Laidback

Dear MVOR, Which apartment did you rent? We have dealt with them for over three years and we love all their apartments. Have a great trip. We will be there at the end of March for six weeks. Can't wait! Relax at Cafe Constant in the afternoon with a glass of wine or a hot chocolate or express. Great value for the neighborhood.

mouboston

Everyone has been so helpful. Thanks so much.............

mvor

Hi Laidback, we rented Romaneé. We usually stay in the 6th so it will be nice to learn a new neighborhood. Thanks for the Cafe Constant rec. Madelyn and Philippe are a joy to work with--I can see why you have rented from them for so long. Enjoy your six weeks in the spring. MVOR

Dave_in_Paris

Well, I may be in the minority (which is where a contrarian LIKES to be). We do short-term rentals, and we ask for a 10 percent deposit, with the balance due on arrival. All payment is usually by personal check, though we accept cash if the renter prefers. There never has been a problem. Trust builds trust, just like it does with individually arranged home exchanges.

alilafnyc

It's fine. We did it and they never charged us a penny more.

McBetsy

I'm staying in a "Vacation in Paris" apartment for the first time next week. I got the keys just like they said. They were helpful on the phone. The pictures of the place look OK. We'll see but it is an apartment and I was grateful to pay in dollars! I'll let you know when I get back what I thought. We're staying in a 1 bedroom in the 7th. It came well recommended on this forum. When they sent the keys they also sent a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. I get the deposit back when they get the keys back.