My wife and I are going to France in July and will be spending 4-6 nights in Paris. We'd like to go the cheap/independent route, and we're about 20 years past hostels. Any recommendations for reputable apartment rental firms?

Many thanks.

Hi, and welcome to Fodors.

There are many reputable firms offering more apts. than you can count in all parts of the city, and in every price range. I'm sure you will get several replies to your post besides mine.

The one I can suggest from positive personal experience is vacationinparis.com

Prepare to be overwhelmed, and happy hunting.

P.S. I should have mentioned, if you enter Paris apartment in the search box, you'll come up with scads of threads on this very subject.

I am going with a www.private-paris.com
apt.; it's the one on rue de grenelle in the 7th.

Good luck!

www.vrbo.com is a good site.
We used parisperfect.com but they are on the pricey side.
If you put apartment rental paris in the search box, you will find tons of info.
Good luck..I loved staying in an apt in Paris!

namake, that apt is lovely but a walk up..what floor is it on?

We have rented through vrbo (vacation rental by owner) It's good to browse theier listing by arrondisement and you can see the range of prices.

I've reserved through Paris Best Lodge. Haven't stayed there yet but they have been very prompt in replying (can't say the same thing about vrbo - only 2 out of 5 bothered to reply to an initial request and the one that a second email was sent to requesting further information never bothered to respond...). I've been in touch with someone who has stayed with Paris Best Lodge and upon her recommendation, booked a week mid June, 2006. They have been most helpful thus far.

We too have had a good experience with Vacation in Paris. They are an American company (no trying to translate French contracts); very easy to deal with, lots of apartments to choose from, and no wondering if the person you are sending your money to is legit.

Just got back and can recommend Paris Attitude. Rented http://www.parisattitude.com/apartme...numProduit=796, and was very happy. Some of the finishings were a little on the cheap side, but we were a group of 8 and the price was very right, the location perfect, and the beds comfortable. The kitchen was nice, the internet access worked and there was a washer dryer which was crucial because of my kids. My older son spent every minute that we were in the apartment on the balcony watching the world go by.
it would be too big for you, but from what I saw, they are a good agency.

We rented an apartment on Isle St. Louis through VRBO and had a great experience. It was not inexpensive though, because of its location. We dealt directly with the apartment's owner, through the VRBO listing, which is a bit different than some other services (not bad, just different).

You sound like my kind of travellers. We just rented an apartment in Paris in feb. and went through VRBO. I did tons of research, and you will find VRBO prices to be MUCH more affordable than any you find through an agency.
We liked our place. Search on VRBO for the 12th arrondissment. This place was an affordable 1 bedroom and right off the Place de la Bastille.

As mentioned, there are numerous threads on this topic, but there's one agency I rarely see listed which we've used twice and I can therefore recommend: http://homerental.fr

Their prices are below most I've seen. The apartments are average in quality which accounts, I assume, for much of the price difference, as does their fairly sketchy website. You won't, for the most part, find that they are furnished to American standards, but to French standards. In other words, the apartments are fine unless you need full-size refrigerators and the like.

If you pursue them, which I suggest, narrow your apartment choices down from the website, and then communicate with them by fax for details about each apartment.

I didn't mean to put down any other agency or VRBO, by singling out homerental.fr - I've seen some excellent looking values on VRBO and other sites and would definitely include them in the mix.

Scarlett,
The apt is on the 4th floor and yes w/o a lift. I just decided that with every other positive with the apt, that I will just deal with that 1 neg.
And although it does have its own website, I originally found it on VRBO. but its just easier to go directly to their site. Dealing with them has been super easy which of course has put my mind at ease.

I guess with the amount of time that you are out of the apt, there will not be that many up and down 4 flights trips , but what about your luggage?
Is there a porter in the bldg?

It is a great apt though, I would still consider it

Well lucky for me that I have a tall,athletic husband to help as well as being pretty capable myself. But for those who may be thinking; well, it's just me? Well, the owners or their representatives will be their to help, so no worries!