Hi. We're going to be in Paris for 3 weeks in late April and early May. We were
thinking about renting an apartment to give us a little more space, like a chair and
table, and the ability to have a little food, not that we plan on cooking, you
understand. Anyway, has anyone used an apartment rental service at
http://www.servissimo.com ? They have some places we'd be interested in, but I'm
wondering how to check their bona fides. Is there a "better business bureau" type of
site on the web or is there a similar organization in Paris that is accessible from
the internet?

Thanks in advance, Jean

Have you considered an apartment hotel, like Citadines? Bedroom, dining room,
fully-equipped kitchen, bath, in a wide variety of locations in Paris. More
consistent and predictable than renting an apartment from an unknown party. And they
have a Web site: http://www.citadines.com.

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I would check what kind of guarantee they give. If you don't like the place, or there
is a problem, will they let you out of your rental? Supply another apartment? Is
there somebody available to toubleshoot problems? I don't know this group, but you
could also check out the Citadines Apart-Hotel chain, www.citadines.com

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Ask them for references--names of people who have stayed with them -who have email
addresses/phones/ etc and contact the references...Roger

Jean Kamps wrote:
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in message

[usenetquote2]> > Hi. We're going to be in Paris for 3 weeks in late April and early May.[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > were thinking about renting an apartment to give us a little more[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > like a chair and table, and the ability to have a little food, not[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > we plan on cooking, you understand. Anyway, has anyone used an apartment rental[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > service at http://www.servissimo.com ? They have some places we'd be interested[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > in, but I'm wondering how to check their bona fides. Is there a[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > business bureau" type of site on the web or is there a similar organization in[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Paris that is accessible from the internet?[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Thanks in advance, Jean[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]

The apartment hotels seem to provide less for more money than just renting a real
apartment. For example they often have beds that are fold out couches. You have to be
very careful in renting an apartment in Paris --
e.g. we found quite a few 'two bedroom' places where the bedrooms were on lofts or
mezzanines or alcoves and afforded no privacy [just what our party of son and
girlfriend, husband and wife, daughter and boyfriend were NOT looking for]
They are also liberal in their interpretation of how many can be accomodated
e.g. a portable bed in the entry way doesn't really meet our description of
bedroom space.

BUT if you are careful you can do well for much less than the hotels --

We used locaflat and had a great apartment for a reasonable price for two weeks over
christmas and would use them again.

I would also choose apartments where there are floor plans and pictures. We have
rented all over Europe and in the Caribbean and have yet to be disappointed with a
place we had good photos of.

For 3 weeks, you should be able to get a monthly rental price which is MUCH less than
renting by the week. Often the weekly price is fairly close to the montly price.
Renting for 3 weeks you should be able to get a very good deal compared to any hotel
or hotel apartment and it is great to have your own space.

While you may not want to 'cook' you may change your mind when yu see all the great
Parisian shops filled with wonderful food -- and there are many places where you can
buy food that is prepared and requires only a little heating.

It is worth having your own place just to hit the bakery every morning and start the
day with bread and pastry you have selected and purchased --

Thanks for the responses. We went ahead and booked a studio apartment on the Ile de
la Cite for our stay, using Servissimo. I had looked at the Citadines website, but
their rooms seemed smallish and sort of institutional looking. On the other hand, we
will supposedly be in a 17th-century building, and my husband says, "Great, I don't
think they had running water or electricity in the 17th century, how picturesque."
But, the location is great. (And the website has pictures and floorplans, and has
been remodeled in the not-too-distant past.)(By the way, Locaflats looked good too,
but somehow I decided I wanted to be in the middle of the Seine.) So, we shall see.
We are very excited about this adventure and will report back afterwards. I have been
brushing up on my college French, (with tapes and books and everything) and my goal
is to walk all over Paris from our nice, central location, nattering inanely in
terrible French, I'm sure, as we look for outdoor markets, art museums, fabric and
quilting shops, (for me) old churches, outdoor artists, Jim Morrison's grave, music
stores,(for him), jazz clubs, (for him) and bakeries, not necessarily in that order.
Unfortunately, we will miss the French Open at Roland Garros, but c'est la vie. Sorry
I took so long with my thank-you note. I've been researching digital cameras and I
can only find so much time for lengthy newsgroup threads in any given day,
entertaining as it all may be.

Thanks again for the collective expertise of this group.

Jean

hamilton wrote:
    >
    > In article <[email protected] .com>, "Mxsmanic"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > Have you considered an apartment hotel, like Citadines? Bedroom, dining room,
    > > fully-equipped kitchen, bath, in a wide variety of locations in Paris. More
    > > consistent and predictable than renting an apartment from an unknown party. And
    > > they have a Web site: http://www.citadines.com.
    > >
    > > "Jean Kamps" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > > > Hi. We're going to be in Paris for 3 weeks in late April and early May.
    > > We
    > > > were thinking about renting an apartment to give us a little more
    > > space,
    > > > like a chair and table, and the ability to have a little food, not
    > > that
    > > > we plan on cooking, you understand. Anyway, has anyone used an apartment rental
    > > > service at http://www.servissimo.com ? They have some places we'd be interested
    > > > in, but I'm wondering how to check their bona fides. Is there a
    > > "better
    > > > business bureau" type of site on the web or is there a similar organization in
    > > > Paris that is accessible from the internet?
    > > >
    > > > Thanks in advance, Jean
    > > >
    > > >
    >
    > The apartment hotels seem to provide less for more money than just renting a real
    > apartment. For example they often have beds that are fold out couches. You have to
    > be very careful in renting an apartment in Paris --
    > e.g. we found quite a few 'two bedroom' places where the bedrooms were on lofts or
    > mezzanines or alcoves and afforded no privacy [just what our party of son and
    > girlfriend, husband and wife, daughter and boyfriend were NOT looking for]
    > They are also liberal in their interpretation of how many can be accomodated
    > e.g. a portable bed in the entry way doesn't really meet our description of
    > bedroom space.
    >
    > BUT if you are careful you can do well for much less than the hotels --
    >
    > We used locaflat and had a great apartment for a reasonable price for two weeks
    > over christmas and would use them again.
    >
    > I would also choose apartments where there are floor plans and pictures. We have
    > rented all over Europe and in the Caribbean and have yet to be disappointed with a
    > place we had good photos of.
    >
    > For 3 weeks, you should be able to get a monthly rental price which is MUCH less
    > than renting by the week. Often the weekly price is fairly close to the montly
    > price. Renting for 3 weeks you should be able to get a very good deal compared to
    > any hotel or hotel apartment and it is great to have your own space.
    >
    > While you may not want to 'cook' you may change your mind when yu see all the great
    > Parisian shops filled with wonderful food -- and there are many places where you
    > can buy food that is prepared and requires only a little heating.
    >
    > It is worth having your own place just to hit the bakery every morning and start
    > the day with bread and pastry you have selected and purchased --

Dear Jean,

I would like to go Paris, with my wife, in November.
I want to book an apartament in www.servissimo.com
(SERVISSIMO, 33 Quai de la tournelle 75005 PARIS ).
Is this tourist office reliable??

I have never before using internet to book something (it isn't in Poland - I am from Poland - so popular) and I am afraid a little.

You used this office, so I will be very gratefull if you send me your opinion.

Best regards,
Przemek.

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