Paris apartment rentals, Paris vacation rentals, Cooper Paris Flats

My parents came to Paris for the first time in 1963. They could survive on $5 a day, as the famous book suggests.
Many Americans who first discovered the joys of traveling to the City of Light, the magical French countryside, and the many resorts in France, tried to stick to their budgets. This often meant staying in hotels below American standards. It was not unheard of for tourists to bring their own toilet paper and often hotel guests had to pay extra to take a hot shower.

Things have changed dramatically since then. Certainly you can still find some very inexpensive hotels where you have showers and toilets on the hallways, but most hotels have changed with the times and have improved their comfort levels to meet the expectations of today’s travelers. Now bathrooms are often in the room and hot water is almost always included. If you are the type of person who likes to go on vacation and stay in a hotel where you will have access to room service, and hotel restaurants, you can find that in Paris. Just be prepared because you will find that you pay a premium for a very simple room, and just the room, with no extras.

Hotel rooms in the better areas of Paris, well located in the heart of the city near the tourist attractions cost between $75 and $300 per night for a room. This is the price for a basic 2-star or 3-start hotel room in any of the central locations. Although the amenities have certainly improved over time, the size of the rooms has remained fairly unchanged. When you rent a hotel room in a Paris hotel, expect a small to middle size room with no extras. Entering into a room with a bed that takes most of the physical space you’ll be staying in, is not uncommon.

If you rent a room in one of the more sought after locations in Paris, either on the left bank, or in the Marais, the rooms are often very small, and I have even heard of one couple who could not sit up in bed without hitting their heads on the slanting ceiling. Until recently, visitors to the city of lights who wanted to take part of the ambiance of the historic areas of Paris had to accept staying in this type of hotel room unless they were prepared to pay exorbitant prices for the more upscale hotels. Things have evolved in Paris, and another option has opened up; the Paris Vacation Rental.

The concept of vacation rentals has been in existence in the US for a number of years. People who put their vacation properties, or even their main residences up for rental when they will be away for extended periods of time is a good way for people to cover their costs of property ownership, and can even make them some money when managed well. The idea has caught on this side of the Atlantic as well.

The growing demand for places to stay in Paris has been constantly increasing and Paris is now the number one tourist location in the world. Many visitors to Paris have been led to finding other accommodations when hotels are all booked. In addition, the number of visitors to Paris who have chosen to rent an apartment, either because of the perceived higher comfort level, better value for money, or just the desire to take part in the daily rituals inherent in Parisian living, have further increased the demand for Paris vacation rentals.

On the supply side, there are a growing number of Parisian apartment owners who like the idea of renting them to short-term renters, such as tourists or short-term business travelers. This includes French apartment owners as well as foreign owners who buy real estate in Paris as an investment. Based on their calculations it is probably more lucrative to rent on a short-term basis, than to rent on a longer term basis.

When doing the research to find that perfect Parisian apartment, the easiest way today is via the Internet. Most rental agencies, and a number of individual owners have created their sites complete with property photographs, and detailed descriptions. Just going onto any major search engine and typing in ‘Paris apartment rentals’ will result in hundreds of possible choices. It is then up to you to go through a number of them to see what they offer. Keep in mind what criteria you are looking for. The principal items should be 1) location, 2) number of people that will be in your group, 3) price range (ask what the price does and does not include), 4) which floor the apartment is on, and if there is an elevator and 5) what appliances are included.

These perceived benefits from renting to tourists and business travelers has led to a greater supply of Parisian apartments available for short term rentals. They are always furnished, and it is up to the renter to make sure that the furnishings will be suitable for him/her before accepting to sign any rental contract issued either by the apartment owner, or by a company representing the owner. As a rule, the client can always ask to see photographs of the apartment, and the owner should not have any problem in producing them before asking the renter to pay any money for the apartment rental.

Based on personal experience most furnished apartments available for short-term rentals will be furnished with comfortable clean furniture, but nothing too exotic or expensive. Some agencies specialize in very upscale rentals where the entire apartment will be furnished with antiques. For clients who look for this, they can find what they are looking for. There is also a large market of available apartments for middle price range rentals, in very good Parisian neighborhoods, in good buildings, with nice furnishings.

Prices vary in accordance with location, the specific apartment’s layout, and the furnishings of the given apartment. For a studio in the prime Paris locations, you should expect to pay between $500 to $1,000 per week, for a one bedroom apartment between $700 and $1,200 per week. For a two-bedroom, prices range between $1,000 and $1,500 per week. There is also an evolution in rates during the year with respect to high/low season. Typically in Paris, May-October and December are considered high season, with the late winter/early spring months considered low season.

Always verify what is included in the rental price before signing a contract and sending a deposit. Some agencies add electricity and telephone service on top of the rental fees, and some agencies increase the prices in accordance with the number of people staying in the apartment. There are no official rules governing vacation rentals and each owner or agency can specify the rules they want. Payment methods vary from agency to agency, as well as the required up-front deposit for the apartment. Also, find out what the cancellation policy is to avoid any bad surprises in case a problem arises before your trip. It is up to the client to verify that the agreement is what he/she expects before signing on the dotted line.

Verify that communications are clear between you and the person renting the apartment to you and don’t be shy when asking questions. An apartment located on the 5th floor of a building does not necessarily have an elevator. Washing machines don’t always come equipped with dryers, and owners don’t have to provide a renter with converters for American hair dryers. Don’t assume anything and ask all questions clearly, and you will have no surprises.

Renting a furnished vacation apartment in Paris is not for everyone. Some people prefer the perceived benefits of being in a hotel, and do not like the independence of apartment living. However, for people who appreciate the idea of shopping at the local Parisian market, experimenting with some French cooking, or just trying to take part of the true Parisian day-to-day living experience, a vacation rental is a natural choice. The more comfortable surroundings and true Parisian ambiance will definitely provide you with an authentic Paris vacation experience that you will remember forever.

Glenn Cooper has been living in Paris for the past 10 years. Cooper Paris Flats, his Paris based apartment rental agency (www.paris-flats.com) works closely with their US affiliate Rentals in Paris, LLC (www.rentals-paris.com) to provide visitors to Paris with a number of well located furnished apartments in the heart of Paris. He has spent a great deal of time learning the ins and outs of Parisian living and shares his experience with his guests while they prepare their trips and during their stay in the City of Lights. As an American living in Paris, he has learned to transfer the good aspects of the Parisian lifestyle to newcomers who are not yet familiar with all that Paris has to offer them.