Still in Le Marais - apparently across the street from a street market. Couple pics for the curious..
On April 9th, you'll get one of me sitting in that living room.
Now Reading: Lonely Planet's Walking in the Alps, Let's Go London City Guide.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
No Longer Homeless
As expected, I managed to come up with an apartment in Paris that I'm more excited about than the last.
Still in Le Marais - apparently across the street from a street market. Couple pics for the curious..
On April 9th, you'll get one of me sitting in that living room.
Now Reading: Lonely Planet's Walking in the Alps, Let's Go London City Guide.
Still in Le Marais - apparently across the street from a street market. Couple pics for the curious..
On April 9th, you'll get one of me sitting in that living room.
Now Reading: Lonely Planet's Walking in the Alps, Let's Go London City Guide.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Bad News, Good News
First, the bad. URGENT e-mail comes from Paris Attitude to tell me that the apartment I was supposed to rent has been sold by the owner and I can no longer rent it. Strangely, the agency knew it was for sale but had taken the owner's word that it would not be an issue and had never disclosed this to me. Negligence or Greed? You be the judge.
The good, at least it was 2 weeks before my trip - not the day of. Ok, that hardly qualifies as good news - but every problem is a lesson, and I've certainly learned mine. End of the day, I've found some apartments I'm more excited about - so hopefully one of those will come through.... and FAST.
My advice to anyone trying to work with a Paris rental/vacation agency - start early, ask every question you can possibly think of, despite it seeming silly (now including "is the unit for sale?") and get signed paperwork immediately... oh, and it would help if you have a very large budget and can communicate en francais.
The good, at least it was 2 weeks before my trip - not the day of. Ok, that hardly qualifies as good news - but every problem is a lesson, and I've certainly learned mine. End of the day, I've found some apartments I'm more excited about - so hopefully one of those will come through.... and FAST.
My advice to anyone trying to work with a Paris rental/vacation agency - start early, ask every question you can possibly think of, despite it seeming silly (now including "is the unit for sale?") and get signed paperwork immediately... oh, and it would help if you have a very large budget and can communicate en francais.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Vous Aiment des Pommes Frites Avec Cela?
At first glance through a Google search, you'd think booking an apartment in Paris for a few months would be easy. There are many agencies, all specializing in short-term furnished rentals in one form or another. In fact, their sites are even quite good - Paris Attitude, Paristay and Lodgis in particular. The first name may give you a chuckle but, truthfully, it was a pretty accurate sign of what was to come.
The problem is that in this business, as in most others, a good website does not make up for poor process and customer service. The sites were extremely helpful in getting a feel for what was out there, what I could get on my budget, what I should expect in each neighborhood, etc. I browsed pictures, I searched different price ranges, I compared areas, I sent links to friends for opinions, and ultimately I sent in request forms with a few places that fit my needs.... and then, I waited. And waited. Got a cold. Waited. Sent a follow-up e-mail. Waited. Gave notice on my current apartment. Waited s'more.
6 days later - no response from Paris Attitude, so I decide to try Paristay and my second choice unit. Next day, there it is - responses from both. The note from Paris Attitude begins...
Merci pour votre demande et pour l’intérêt que vous portez à Paris Attitude.
Err. Hmm. No, it did not turn to english later on... despite their site being targeted at english speakers and all my correspondence being in english, they decided the best course of action was to respond en francais. Long story short, I speak enough french that I responded to their questions, found out that this gentleman only handled 1-6 week rentals (though I clearly requested 3 months) and was handed to his colleague. What happens next? I wait.
Meanwhile, Paristay is reporting that I likely can not have the unit I requested because it's currently open, and they ask for my second choice among a few other suggestions - none of which match what I want. I ask them to check with the owner on the first, because I'm not clear why he'd give up a 3 month rental starting in April instead of March, but I also sent a new second choice. Here's the full, helpful, clearly customer-oriented response:
Neither can work. Please advise.
Maybe I expect too much, but I advised that I would not be working with them anymore.
Anyways, in the end - Paris Attitude has come through 2 weeks later with a reasonable unit that I am about to complete the paperwork on. Here's a pic of the place and the street in Le Marias, which is home to the oldest/most historic parts of Paris:
It's tempting to believe the French stereotype is true based on this experience. Then, I think back to trying to deal with cable and phone companies here and I realize no single country holds the patent on incompetence and rudeness - it's an equal opportunity affliction.
Next!
The problem is that in this business, as in most others, a good website does not make up for poor process and customer service. The sites were extremely helpful in getting a feel for what was out there, what I could get on my budget, what I should expect in each neighborhood, etc. I browsed pictures, I searched different price ranges, I compared areas, I sent links to friends for opinions, and ultimately I sent in request forms with a few places that fit my needs.... and then, I waited. And waited. Got a cold. Waited. Sent a follow-up e-mail. Waited. Gave notice on my current apartment. Waited s'more.
6 days later - no response from Paris Attitude, so I decide to try Paristay and my second choice unit. Next day, there it is - responses from both. The note from Paris Attitude begins...
Merci pour votre demande et pour l’intérêt que vous portez à Paris Attitude.
Err. Hmm. No, it did not turn to english later on... despite their site being targeted at english speakers and all my correspondence being in english, they decided the best course of action was to respond en francais. Long story short, I speak enough french that I responded to their questions, found out that this gentleman only handled 1-6 week rentals (though I clearly requested 3 months) and was handed to his colleague. What happens next? I wait.
Meanwhile, Paristay is reporting that I likely can not have the unit I requested because it's currently open, and they ask for my second choice among a few other suggestions - none of which match what I want. I ask them to check with the owner on the first, because I'm not clear why he'd give up a 3 month rental starting in April instead of March, but I also sent a new second choice. Here's the full, helpful, clearly customer-oriented response:
Neither can work. Please advise.
Anyways, in the end - Paris Attitude has come through 2 weeks later with a reasonable unit that I am about to complete the paperwork on. Here's a pic of the place and the street in Le Marias, which is home to the oldest/most historic parts of Paris:
It's tempting to believe the French stereotype is true based on this experience. Then, I think back to trying to deal with cable and phone companies here and I realize no single country holds the patent on incompetence and rudeness - it's an equal opportunity affliction.Next!
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