the journey of planning continues . . .PARIS APARTMENT
Apr 4th, 2013, 07:08 AM
#61
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Ask your travel consultant. After MONTHS of relying on advice here, she is now apparently the Paris apartment expert. You have booked the 7th floor of a building with no A/C, in July, not sure about fans, not sure if windows open. And are now moving 3 times in as many days. I understand EuroDisney on one level, but your kids are 2&4, this is not really about them. Again, wishing you the best but my head hurts.
Apr 4th, 2013, 07:08 AM
#62
"hubby and me are in the other room"
Excuse me? I thought your husband wasn't arriving until after your mother left.
"mum and the kids are in one room"
Hope those beds are bigger than they look.
"I assumed you could open the windows"
You probably can, but what you need for air movement is another window more or less opposite the first.
Excuse me? I thought your husband wasn't arriving until after your mother left.
"mum and the kids are in one room"
Hope those beds are bigger than they look.
"I assumed you could open the windows"
You probably can, but what you need for air movement is another window more or less opposite the first.
Apr 4th, 2013, 01:15 PM
#64
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I agree will Millie, it's not perfect, and it will probably be very hot, but at least something is booked. Definitely ask for a couple of floor fans now, not when you get there.
I do think Claire needs to be realistic about how much a 2 year old and a 4 year old are going to love a theme park. Personally, I think that part of the trip is for Claire, not for the kids and that's fine. She has 9 weeks, not 9 days, if she loses a couple of days to a dumb idea it's not the end of the world.
Now Claire, hurry up and book London. There is literally no time to lose.
I do think Claire needs to be realistic about how much a 2 year old and a 4 year old are going to love a theme park. Personally, I think that part of the trip is for Claire, not for the kids and that's fine. She has 9 weeks, not 9 days, if she loses a couple of days to a dumb idea it's not the end of the world.
Now Claire, hurry up and book London. There is literally no time to lose.
Apr 4th, 2013, 04:15 PM
#65
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Goodmorning, I raised the concerns with the apartment and they said that yes windows open and yes there are fans . .so that is good news!
Due to the date changes hubby and mum cross over for a few days . .mum leaves the 11th hubby arrives on the 7th.
I am happy with it. It's clean and modern and where my mum wanted to be. Keep in mind we live in australia . .it's autumn here atm and we are having 30deg plus days and we don't use an aircon so I am sure we will be fine.
Not being near a supermarket is a bother though . . .Disney is going to be AWESOME! and thankyou cathie for reminding them this is a 9weeks holiday.
The travel consultant came on board after someone said I should invest in one last month. She is helping with flights and private transfers and things like that. She is no way near as knowledgable as you all are!
Anyway must be off . .i really am happy about my choices and I thank you all for your support on this journey.
Due to the date changes hubby and mum cross over for a few days . .mum leaves the 11th hubby arrives on the 7th.
I am happy with it. It's clean and modern and where my mum wanted to be. Keep in mind we live in australia . .it's autumn here atm and we are having 30deg plus days and we don't use an aircon so I am sure we will be fine.
Not being near a supermarket is a bother though . . .Disney is going to be AWESOME! and thankyou cathie for reminding them this is a 9weeks holiday.
The travel consultant came on board after someone said I should invest in one last month. She is helping with flights and private transfers and things like that. She is no way near as knowledgable as you all are!
Anyway must be off . .i really am happy about my choices and I thank you all for your support on this journey.
Apr 12th, 2013, 03:54 AM
#71
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Nope!!! All you guys scared me off! So . . .we are spending a fortune using a 5 star hotel suite instead through a travel agent . .it just got too hard and having to pay upfront just made me really uncomfortable. However I am sure this thread is going to be very useful to someone who is willing to stay in apartments and is more organised and doesn't leave things to the last minute.
Apr 12th, 2013, 05:10 AM
#73
<However I am sure this thread is going to be very useful to someone> Bingo. I am taking my GD'S to Paris for my 80th in 2015.
While I have book marked many apartments [3 bedroom] already, I have found perhaps seven more scanning this thread.
Our budget is $2000US and we will stay three or four nights.
So, thanks for starting this thread.
While I have book marked many apartments [3 bedroom] already, I have found perhaps seven more scanning this thread.
Our budget is $2000US and we will stay three or four nights.
So, thanks for starting this thread.
Apr 12th, 2013, 06:02 AM
#74
Why a five star? I'm sure you are paying a fortune if you're staying in a five star, but a three or four star would probably suit you just as well. I've stayed happily in two stars, but you probably need three or four. The extra stars buy you a bigger room and bigger reception area, and in five star things like valet parking and room service, not necessarily a better experience. See: http://www.hotrec.eu/hotel-stars-in-europe/france.aspx
Apr 12th, 2013, 07:11 AM
#75
>>it just got too hard and having to pay upfront just made me really uncomfortable. However I am sure this thread is going to be very useful to someone who is willing to stay in apartments and is more organised and doesn't leave things to the last minute.Which '5 star' did you book - or are you still deciding on that?
Apr 12th, 2013, 07:53 AM
#77
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crazyfamily... I understand the angst of pulling the trigger. Really, I do. I am really bad about that and procrastination and train tickets from London-Paris - and we've had the result of not all sitting together (pairs of twos). Was it a big deal? Not really, but would have been more fun to be together.
You've gotten great advice. In reality, no apartment is perfect. If you expect perfection, you will not get it. It is just like your house -you know how there are little quirks that you know how to deal with? You just have to figure out those quirks.
Our last apartment in London we had too many lights on and the bathroom one (must have either been last one on or brightest) tripped the circuit. No big deal - we used the iphone flashlight app (handy thing!) and flipped the circuit. Did it ruin our trip? Hell no! I believe there are things that will go wrong and you have to learn to deal with them.
Now having said that, there are deal breakers for me. Location is very important to me. I like to be close to the center of things - maybe not where all the residents live, but where you walk outside and go, 'wow, this is cool'. We've stayed at Palais Royal (loved that apartment), Ile St. Louis (loved that apartment). In London, we stayed in a Mews apartment (so much fun) and at County Hall (loved that location... using up hotel points).
I am hesitant to use vrbo or homeaway for exactly the reasons you profess. I would rather use an agency - I start at slowtrav.com and find reviews - I look for names that come up multiple times. I check to see if there are any apartments that work for us (we are 5 people, so that gets hard sometimes). And then I look for independent other reviews - tripadvisor, etc. I have continually been very impressed with most agencies' service and offerings.
My most recent one we had to change the day by one day - we were lucky that no one was in there the day before, so we moved a day around. I was so appreciative - but I've used that agency before and they are great (vacationlondonapartments.com).
Hotels? I hate the noise factor - the slamming of doors especially. We like the space of an apartment, the ability to spread out ... I find after we've been out and about and in crowds all day, we all find a little corner and retreat for some alone time. My kids played House Hunters International in each apartment and would critique them (it was hysterical). Yes, we had to climb 70+ stairs to our apartment in Paris. So what? It was for 5 days. I love the ability to do laundry... I would rather throw in a load each night than drag extra clothes around. Eating? Loved eating in - there were days that we had such messed up eating (like ice cream at 6pm), that the kids just wanted a baguette and fresh fruit for dinner. Easy to do in an apartment... harder in a hotel. (My kids also love breakfast on the day we leave... they can eat extra ice cream from the freezer for breakfast "to finish it up"... its a tradition!).
So I guess the point of this ramble is... just do it. Trust your gut. Figure out your non-negotiables (sp?) and just pull the trigger. Sounds like you may be too late now... but think about it for the future.
However, if you don't think you'll be happy in an apartment (some people like clean towels every day), then don't even march down that path (I'm full of cliches today). For some people, it just isn't worth it... and just accept that.
good luck on your trip. Read lots of trip reports - many great ideas!
You've gotten great advice. In reality, no apartment is perfect. If you expect perfection, you will not get it. It is just like your house -you know how there are little quirks that you know how to deal with? You just have to figure out those quirks.
Our last apartment in London we had too many lights on and the bathroom one (must have either been last one on or brightest) tripped the circuit. No big deal - we used the iphone flashlight app (handy thing!) and flipped the circuit. Did it ruin our trip? Hell no! I believe there are things that will go wrong and you have to learn to deal with them.
Now having said that, there are deal breakers for me. Location is very important to me. I like to be close to the center of things - maybe not where all the residents live, but where you walk outside and go, 'wow, this is cool'. We've stayed at Palais Royal (loved that apartment), Ile St. Louis (loved that apartment). In London, we stayed in a Mews apartment (so much fun) and at County Hall (loved that location... using up hotel points).
I am hesitant to use vrbo or homeaway for exactly the reasons you profess. I would rather use an agency - I start at slowtrav.com and find reviews - I look for names that come up multiple times. I check to see if there are any apartments that work for us (we are 5 people, so that gets hard sometimes). And then I look for independent other reviews - tripadvisor, etc. I have continually been very impressed with most agencies' service and offerings.
My most recent one we had to change the day by one day - we were lucky that no one was in there the day before, so we moved a day around. I was so appreciative - but I've used that agency before and they are great (vacationlondonapartments.com).
Hotels? I hate the noise factor - the slamming of doors especially. We like the space of an apartment, the ability to spread out ... I find after we've been out and about and in crowds all day, we all find a little corner and retreat for some alone time. My kids played House Hunters International in each apartment and would critique them (it was hysterical). Yes, we had to climb 70+ stairs to our apartment in Paris. So what? It was for 5 days. I love the ability to do laundry... I would rather throw in a load each night than drag extra clothes around. Eating? Loved eating in - there were days that we had such messed up eating (like ice cream at 6pm), that the kids just wanted a baguette and fresh fruit for dinner. Easy to do in an apartment... harder in a hotel. (My kids also love breakfast on the day we leave... they can eat extra ice cream from the freezer for breakfast "to finish it up"... its a tradition!).
So I guess the point of this ramble is... just do it. Trust your gut. Figure out your non-negotiables (sp?) and just pull the trigger. Sounds like you may be too late now... but think about it for the future.
However, if you don't think you'll be happy in an apartment (some people like clean towels every day), then don't even march down that path (I'm full of cliches today). For some people, it just isn't worth it... and just accept that.
good luck on your trip. Read lots of trip reports - many great ideas!
Apr 12th, 2013, 08:31 AM
#79
MmeP: Most of us have been on this ride helping the OP every step of the way (that 25 threads was not an exaggeration)
We have held her hand, given her scores (probably hundreds) of suggestions, some have even contacted agencies on her behalf. So be annoyed all you want but this whole saga is a train wreck.
We have held her hand, given her scores (probably hundreds) of suggestions, some have even contacted agencies on her behalf. So be annoyed all you want but this whole saga is a train wreck.
Apr 12th, 2013, 08:43 AM
#80
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What Janis said. This is really weird, and weirder with not being able to find anything under the price she is quoting--and HAVING to be in the Lux gardens area.
And now an "attic" in July--even with windows that open. Great Travel consultant.
And now an "attic" in July--even with windows that open. Great Travel consultant.
