8 days and counting until vacation!! I have a question for those who have used Rentparis or similar. Long ago I sent the 50% deposit via paypal, with the final 50% due on arrival. Choices for payment are cashier's checks, int'l money order, traveler's check or paypal. After searching the board, I see one person just paid in advance before leaving the U.S. How have you found it most convenient to handle this payment?

I'm just trying to book a Paris apt myself so have seen a lot of those kinds of terms (I didn't used Rentparis). But as I recall, you can't do some of those things on arrival, but must do them in advance (like the Paypal thing).

What is an international money order? I didn't think you could buy such a thing in the US to pay continental France. If you go to the USPS website, it says you can't do that for France. I think other nationalities perhaps can.

Maybe people can give better advice if you say about how much money you are talking about needing to pay (that 50%).

I purchased Euro denominated travelers checks before we went. American Express and a number of banks can sell you TC in various currency. No the exchange rate wasn't great but I have an Amex card so there wasn't any additional fee. I felt more safe in travel (it was 1500 Euro) with TC in my purse than cash as you could get refund on TC if lost or stolen.

PayPal - easy, easy, easy. Have used it now a couple times to pay for vacation rentals and wish all owners/agents used it.

Thanks all. Seamus, you went ahead and paid the final payment before you left home? That does seem easiest and hassle-free. I guess I just have to assume that there will be no issues with RentParis. However, I know they are a reputable co. with lots of recommendations on this site.

Hi A,

If paypal is an option, I would use it.

I rented from RentParis last year (loved them!) and paid the final 50% via PayPal once I arrived in Paris. I had a laptop with me, so that made it easier. So you can either wait until you get there or pay now (and don't worry - Fabrice and Jean-Pierre could not be more trustworthy).

Paypal all the way, worse are people that demand cash

Well that settles it. Paypal. And Ira, after Paris we're off to Hostellerie Schwendi - I will let them know that we are there on your glowing recommendation (with your permission, of course).

I'm still working on the Paris itinerary, and you know, as you do your bookmarking here, and pick up bits of information from here and there, trying to somehow assemble it into an itinerary is more difficult than I thought! This topic would make good thread - getting suggestions on how to organize. I could really use it right now!

We used Paypal for the second part of the payment to RentParis, before we left home. No problem.

Actually, our Paypal ID was different than the name on our reservation, because it was the ID that we use for Ebay, but RentParis could not have been nice about it, even though they didn't have the payment in our name.

The cleaning guy they used while we were there was so great, that we left him a big tip.

Which RentParis apt are you going with? I am thinking of going back this winter, and we will need a smaller apartment than we had last time.

Hi Tuscan,

We are renting #17 at Rue Rambuteau. I love the looks of both the apartment and that street!

you could leave your paypal account information with someone in the US and call and tell them to pay the balance once you arrive and check out the apartment.

Paypal sounds good if you can do it. Perhaps it was a different agency, but one of them said you had to do the Paypal in advance, and it was some time in advance. It wasn't just the idea that you couldn't because of a computer, they wanted some time lag to make sure the payment went through okay or something like that. It reminded me of a check.

I was just checking with the agency I'm using, who has the same criteria, but haven't heard yet how they allow it (I think it's really up to the owner). However, my bank said they could write a bankcheck in euro for only $10, but the exchange rate is marked up about 6.5%. They were very coy about telling me the exchange rate and very vague (just some nonsense about it being current rates), until I insisted they tell me the exact rate I'd pay today per euro if writing a bankcheck and then I figured out it was a 6.5% markup. That was actually cheaper than wiring it to someone's account, though, for a few hundred euro amount. Wiring was cheaper for large amounts.

Hi A,

> Ira, after Paris we're off to Hostellerie Schwendi - I will let them know that we are there on your glowing recommendation (with your permission, of course).<

You are hereby granted permission.

The Scwendi has a very good kitchen.

However, if you are in the mood for a splurge,
www.le-maximilien.com/
in Zellenberg is a 1* resto at very, very reasonable prices.

For our next visit, we are planning our first week around a visit to Maximilien.

arewethere

Great location; we really enjoyed the area. We were in the number 10 apartment. I just had some computer trouble, but I wanted to recommend the restaurant off the Impasse Berthaud, right beyond the Doll Museum. Reasonable prices and good food.

I'm afraid to hunt for the name because I keep crashing...