Paris - First time traveller need advice on Paris apartments
 

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum and so far really like this site as I have found it very informative. My DH and I will be travelling to Paris for 3 nights and thought renting a studio or small apartment would suit our budget more than a fancier hotel.

I found several of them on VRBO, however, do you think all the apartments are trustworthy? We inquired about one studio apartment in the 5th district and I contacted the owner who wanted 40% via Paypal + 4 % transaction fees for deposit. He didn't say we needed to sign a contract and I'm not sure if that usually happens so I just wanted to make sure here first.

Also, he said there will be a keycode to get into the apartment on the first day and then the keys will be inside when we arrive. So I am assuming he will not meet us there. We were just reading about how a lot of the owners meet their tenants and give them the keys.

Any insight or help whether this apartment or owner seems legit would be great.

Thanks so much!

There are many sites for you to look at www.vrbo.com is one that is often used. I happen to stay in the www.parisperfect.com apartments. I will beleaving in less than two weeks for a month stay in one of theirs. Give the sites a look and see what they are like. Many places do not rent for short periods, less than a week. Paris Perfect will, if available. They have some lovely studios.

Enjoy looking,

Joan

Skittles - No, not all apartments are trustworthy. VRBO is a reputable site and many here use it - but it may vary since you deal with the individual apartment owner.

My advice - especially first time - Try Vacation in Paris or Parisaddress. They both get good marks here (I used parisaddress and most recently there was a thread that was very complimentary of vacationinparis.) These are professional agencies. Parisperfect is also highly recommended on this site - they are expensive though.

Also - post the actual VRBO apartment number and detail - you may find that someone on this site stayed there and has first hand information. or post the link.

VRBO is just ads by private owners, so it's like reading the newspaper. Private owners do all kinds of things, that's what you get when you deal with private owners rather than agencies. There's no telling what they will do. Those terms are not unusual, though (the deposit amount and requiring you to pay the markup for the Paypal transaction). Different people have ideas about whether they want someone to meet them or not. I expect they would if it were a private owner. They haven't when I have used French agencies because they had offices in Paris where I went to pick up the key. That arrangement wouldn't necessarily bother me that much, but a private owner probably should be showing you things in the apt. and maybe how to work things. When I rented from a private owner (not exactly thru VRBO, though, but through lodgis.fr who is an agency that sort of has a stable of private owners -- in between an agency and VRBO), he met me at the apt. and showed me things. If I were an owner, I would want to meet and size up the people staying in my place, actually, that seems kind of casual to me for an individually-owned place.

Some of the owners never show up at all. We rented a studio two years ago and never saw anybody. As soon as he got our full payment, the owner sent the codes to the outer gate "Digicode" box, the code to the building code box, and the code for the lockbox that held the key on the door, to us via email. We had a telephone number, and an email address to contact the owner in case we needed anything, but everything went just fine.

It is possible to get ripped off, but dealing with a recommended agency minimizes that risk.

Thanks gracejoan and chicagolori. I will try and check out those agencies :)

Oh I see, thank you Christina and nukesafe for explaining what VRBO is like. It is a little bit scarier dealing with an owner especially for our first time in Paris and we both don't speak French or know anyone there. The apartment i was looking at was : http://www.vrbo.com/58626

Please let me know if anyone has stayed here or has any thoughts or input to whether it looks okay or not.

Thank you.

We used Rent Paris (rentparis.com) last summer and were met at the apartment for a thorough tour and chance to ask all of our questions. We stayed at #17 in the Marais with 2 teenagers, and every one of us really loved the neighborhood and the apartment. I did pay 50% down (I did this a few weeks after booking), then the remainder before we arrived based on many positive reviews. Everything was perfect!

Hi, I am a dedicated apartment-renter, but with three nights I'd probably just find a hotel within my budget. It would just be easier to do that for such a short trip. If you search this board, you'll find lots of recs.

On the other hand, that apartment looks cute enough. I've never stayed by rue Mouffetard, so cannot help you there.

Have a wonderful trip, whatever you decide.

Hi Skittles, We recently rented an apartment in Washington D.C. via VRBO and it went very well. The owners were helpful, answering all e-mails and returning calls promptly, but just as in nukesafe's case we never met the couple. There was simply a lockbox with the keys inside. So, if you don't require the "touchy-feely" comfort of an agency, VRBO is fine. As with anything, do your homework and check for good reviews/feedback from others who have experience with the owner.

On another note, we will be traveling to Paris soon and have been blessed to secure a three-night stay with an agency that typically rents only by the week. So, you may take a look at such agencies to see if they have a 'whole' to fill in their calendar. The apt we're renting is through www.parisvacationapartments In addition to the ones chicagolori and gracejoan mentioned, pva gets great reviews and their apartments seem to have wonderful locations.

You might search for the Paris apartment thread for more information. Also, these agencies offer less than one-week rentals: www.perfectlyparis.com
and www.feelslikehomeinparis.com

Sorry. That should have been a 'hole' and the entire link is: www.parisvacationapartments.com

Venere.com is another great website. Mostly hotels and some apartments - they have good service, one stop shopping for deals, user reviews maps.

Coincidentally, the apartment I mentioned earlier was on Rue Brocha, which is only one block away from your Rue Pascal apartment. We found the area a nice residential district, with excellent bus and Metro connections. Only about ten minutes by bus to the Seine at Notre Dame. You would only be a block or so to the Rue Moff and the Sunday morning street dancing.

:-)

vacationinparis.com. Very easy to deal with, low deposits, and located in N.J., so payment is in U.S. dollars. Happy Travels!

I would probably deal with an agency if it were my first time. I wouldn't say the main advantage is that it is more "touchy feely", in fact, I would say less so. The advantage is that things are more standardized, they should have business licenses and are more liable and traceable, and they should be more business-like in many cases and know what they are doing, including contracts, etc. Also, they are more likely to accept credit cards (not all do, but they will have standardized payment systems), etc. Also, you have someone to call in case of problems or complaints. If you deal with a US agency (which I have not, but I speak and read French), you could even sue them, I suppose, or at least threaten to, if they didn't return your deposit or you had some other problem.

This year I visited Paris, and we rent with www.apartmentparis.fr .they ask 50 % via paypal, but no deposit on arrival. Absolutely perfect!
It was just as it described...except bigger. We were 5 adults and we never felt cramped for space. We weren't sure if our American wireless would work with the one in Paris...but it worked fine. The subway was minutes away and we were close to everything so absolutely no need for a vehicle. In fact, I don't recommend it. The street is tiny and Paris driving is a sport that only few have mastered! The apartment was very clean and had pretty much everything you could need. The owner is really nice...we accidently locked ourselves out of the apartment...didn't realize it until midnight and he was still up and provided us with a key ! Take it from me, a highly critical person, you will not be disappointed with this place. we rent this specific apartment, rue des blancs Manteaux, in LE MARAIS : http://www.myapartmentparis.com/aparteng-59.html . Bon voyage !

Because we like to travel frequently, we go on a pretty tight budget. I have found that rentparis.com has comfortable apartments in our price range. We've stayed with them twice and would again. Most of their apartments are in the 3rd and 4th.

I will add that for only three nights, I would probably want a hotel. But at the price of the vrbo apartment you gave, I don't think you can do much better in a hotel.

Cute apartment.

I am renting in Paris through VRBO in April, and all has been good so far; of course, the proof of the pudding will be when we get there and see how that goes! The owners asked for 25% at the time we reserved, and they accepted my check in dollars and cashed it. The remainder is due upon arrival; no deposit was mentioned on the website or in our correspondence. The owners have been prompt about answering emails and have said that we can take over the apt. as soon as we get to Paris since it is not rented for the couple of days before our arrival. They live in an apt. in the same building. So, we are optimistic that this will be a good experience.

Good luck with your finding a place that meets your needs; you've gotten lots of good advice here. Have fun in Paris!

Wow, thanks so much for everyone's great advice and responses. I really appreciate it. We have thought about a hotel but we haven't been able to find one below 100 EUR around the 5th or 6th district with decent reviews. We also thought it would be handy to have access to a fridge and microwave and possibly even a washer/dryer as we are coming from a week in London so may have to do laundry. I will definitely try to check out everyone's suggestions and see if we can find something from there within our budget.

I also stumbled across this site: http://www.franceresa.com/ just wondering if anyone has dealt with them? He seemed very friendly and is asking for 50% deposit via Mastercard or VISA and will meet us there and give us all his contact information to reach him should there be any problems.
In the meantime, I will check out the rest of the agencies, thanks so much everyone! It's been a huge help and greatly appreciated :)

Were renting a apartment in the 4th Arrondissment through VRBO#159394. Has anyone stayed at 17 Rue des Rosiers?