FAQ - Paris Holiday Apartments
Taxis are available and cost between 45 and 50 Euros to central Paris. There is an extra charge of 1 Euro for every luggage piece placed in the trunk. Tips are generally 10% to 15% above the meter rate. You can also take a bus service into town (ROISSYBUS takes you to Opera; Air France Bus can take you to Arc de Triomphe). Signs for the buses are readily visible in the Airports. Charles de Gaulle airport has two distinct Terminals (1 and 2) so note from which terminal you leave. Orly also has two terminals: Sud (South) and Ouest (West). Shuttlebus services are a good alternative to taxis, as they take you directly to the apartment and cost around 15 Euros per person.
These are mailed to you at time of confirmation, along with the
apartment address, details and telephone number. There is a second set
of keys in the apartment. We have found this is the most
convenient method for our guests, as they arrive with keys
in hand, and thus no worry about trying to meet someone upon
arrival. Also, you simply leave both sets of keys behind in the
apartment on departure date -- it could not be easier.
All of the apartments are very centrally located and in
safe areas. Apartments are all within easy walking distance
of local market streets, metro stations, and many sites can be
visited on foot from all the apartments.
Paris has evolved over the past 15 years; the city no longer
closes down in August as Parisians stagger their summer
holidays. Indeed many people enjoy Paris in August as there is
less traffic and the pace is calmer. All apartments are equipped
with electric fans and Paris is not as humid nor as hot as many places
in the USA, for example. It generally cools down in the
evenings and at night, as humidity is not a major problem.
Babysitting services with bonded sitters who speak English
can be reserved for a day or for an evening. BabyChou is a service with direct telephone (001-33) 1.43.13.33.22 for reservation (they speak English). Another service is called KidService (Tel. 33-1-42619000; from Paris dial 0142619000). Guests who have used
have been very satisfied with both - costs are around 8 to 9 Euros/hour plus a flat handling fee for agency per booking.
See
Bateaux Parisiens
for site on cruises and dinner cruises. The web site has
English and French versions.
To book an apartment, or inquiry as to its availability,
click here:
Booking Form. To confirm a booking, a 25% deposit of the total rental charge is required, payable in check, postal/money order or with credit card on secured payment site paypal.com, in USD or Euros.
The apartments are all very popular, and often we have to turn people away due to exisiting bookings. Thus last minute cancellations mean lost revenues.
Cancellations received 3 months prior to your first rental date receive the full refund of any booking deposit less 30 dollars fee. Cancellations received within the period of 3 months to 8 weeks prior to your first rental date forfeit 25 percent of the total cost of the stay. For all cancellations received within 8 weeks of the scheduled arrival date there is no refund and full payment is kept. We will however attempt to re- rent the apartment and we will refund to you for the specific number of nights we are able to re- rent.
Also see
Deposit paragraph below.
There are underground parking lots within 1 to 3 blocks of
all the apartments. Parking can be located by following
signs with a large blue ‘P’ when driving.
Check in : 11am onwards
The rental includes the initial cleaning just prior to
arrival. If you would like cleaning(s) during your stay,
this can be arranged in advance for an additional fee. During your
stay cleaning includes complete change of towels and sheets
and generally costs USD 50.
All apartments include electric fans and of course have heat
in winter months. Most apartments have individually regulated
electric heaters.
We do not require a security deposit. A down payment
deposit of usually 40 percent of the rental total (either sent by check, bank transfer, or by credit card via the secured internet payment site Paypal, either by opening a Paypal account yourselves or sending us the credit card details, by email or phone, to complete the transaction. All credit card details are then destroyed once downpayment deposit is completed.)
Downpayment deposit is to be received by us within 15 calendar days of your confirmed booking date.
All bookings without a downpayment deposit received by us within 15 calendar days will be cancelled, and you will be notified by email as such. The remainder of the rental payment is due within the six to eight weeks prior to
your first rental day unless otherwise agreed to by email.
If you have pets, please specify as such on the booking
form, with breed of dog noted. In general pets are not allowed,
but exceptions may be made to this rule.
All apartments are on either the 1st or 2nd European floor
(i.e., either up one or two flights of stairs – no more), except the Louvre One Bedroom, which is on the sixth floor with elevator.
The Parc Monceau One Bedroom, the Louvre One Bedroom and the Place des Victoires Two Bedroom apartments have elevators.
There are internet cafes in essentially every
neighbourhood. One of the biggest and most popular is
called EasyEverything, open 24 hours a day everyday,
located at 37 Blvd. Sebastapol in the 1st Arrondissement.
Another is Webbar at 32, rue de Picardie, in the
3rd Arrondissement, open until after midnight.
There are internet cafes in essentially every
neighbourhood. One of the biggest and most popular is
called EasyEverything, open 24 hours a day everyday,
located at 37 Blvd. Sebastapol in the 1st Arrondissement.
Another is Webbar at 32, rue de Picardie, in the
3rd Arrondissement, open until after midnight.
These are mailed to you at time of confirmation, along with
apartment address, details and apartment telephone number. There is a second set
of keys in the apartment. Both sets of keys are to be left
in the apartment upon departure.
All of the apartments are very centrally located and in
safe areas. Apartments are all within easy walking distance
of local market streets, metro stations, and many sites can be
visited on foot from all the apartments.
Naturally, we'd love to have everyone visit Paris and stay at our
apartments! And we'll make every effort to accomodate each guest.
However, each apartment can only hold a certain amount of occupants.
By check, bank transfer, or with credit card through the online secured payment site paypal.com, in USD or Euro equivalent. Payments through Paypal can be completed by clients or credit card details can be provided to us via email or telephone to complete the downpayment on paypal. We do not keep credit card infirmation on file once the downpayment is completed. See
information above under
Deposit.
All the apartments are in safe areas of central Paris.
Generally Paris is a safe city, especially by American
standards! (The crime rate is well below that of major US
cities, and most areas of the city remain lively even in the
evenings).
Taxis can be flagged on the street (they are available
if the Taxi light on the cap roof is on). There are taxi
stands near most Metro stops as well (look for blue ‘Taxi’ sign)
and taxis can be ordered in advance to pick you up at
the apartment (on, for example, your departure date).
All apartments have telephones, which accept all incoming calls
and all LOCAL outgoing calls. The apartment phones also have answering services to record messages when you are out. If you plan to make long distance
calls, you will need to have an ATT or MCI telephone card and have
their local Paris telephone access number (currently the local
number is 0800990011 for ATT and 0800990019 for MCI). Phone booths
take telephone cards, which can be purchased at local TABAC shops.
Generally tips are included in all meals. Parisians
tend, however, to leave an additional a Euro or less on
the table for drinks, or up to maximum 2 Euros for
dinner (unless you are at a very fancy restaurant in
which case people leave generally 6 to 10 Euros). For all other
(hairdressers/taxis) 10 to 15% is the standard.
Airport Transportation
Check out Paris Airport Service or Airport Shuttle. If you go to the shuttle sites, pls. be sure to then click BACK to get back to this page from these websites.
Finally there are the RER trains. Follow signs saying "Paris by Train/RER." The cost is approximately 9 Euros per person and takes around 40 minutes to arrive at the Chatelet/Les Halles Station. Note trains are easier to get from Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle as the station is at the terminal. If you arrive at the old Terminal 1, then you have to first take a bus (no charge) to the train station.
By far the easiest is to take a taxi; next best is the shuttlebus services. The least expensive is the train.Apartments Keys
Note: For a last minute booking (i.e., three weeks or less prior to
arrival date), there may not be time to mail keys, in which case
you will be met in Paris.Apartment Locations Overview
August in Paris
Babysitting
Boat Cruise on Seine/h3>
Booking Inquiry on Apartment(s)
Cancellations
Car Parking
Check In/Check Out Times
Check out: 9.30am
As many guests arrive from the USA, and flights arrive in Paris
in the morning, we give preference to arrivals, allowing guests
to be in the apartments by 11am. Thus, we request check out
by 9.30 am to allow us time to clean. If you are not leaving Paris
before noon, then we will make every effort to help you keep your
luggage stored until your afternoon/eve departure from Paris.
Likewise if you arrive prior to 11am, you are welcome to come and
drop off your belongings in the apartment. We may, however, have
cleaner in the apartment at the same time if guests depart the
same morning as you arrive. We try to be flexible on
arrivals/departures, with the understanding that as a rule
preference is given to arrivals.Cleaning
Cooling/Heating Elements in Apts
Deposit
Note: These deposit and payment terms are very
flexible when compared to other rental agencies requiring
significant payment well in advance and with high cancellation fees. Dogs
Elevator
Internet Access
Babysitting
Keys (Apartment)
Locations Overview (Apartment)
Maximum Occupancy
Payment
Personal Security
Taxis
Taxi telephone numbers are noted in all apartments on the Apartment
Info sheets.Telephone
Tipping
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