1. How do I make and confirm my reservation?
To hold the studio for you, we ask you to sign a short-term rental agreement. We ask you to send us your snail mail address and telephone number(s), plus the name of any other person who would occupy the studio with you. The apartment can accommodate two persons.
2. How do I get to the apartment from the airport ?
Getting to the apartment from Charles de Gaulle Roissy or Orly airports is straightforward. You would take the commuter train (RER) from either airport, change to the metro and get off at Lamarck Caulaincourt metro station. The cost would be about €9 per person. If you decide to rent from us we'll give you more detailed instructions. From Charles De Gaulle airport you could also take a taxi for around €45. If you are going to be sharing the cab with someone else this might be a good choice. I do not recommend using a cab from Orly, unless you've got quite a lot of cash to burn. There is also a shuttle bus: http://www.parisshuttle.com and you must make reservations in advance.
3. Is the apartment convenient to public transportation ?
Very much so! A walk of 7 minutes or less will take you to metro Lamarck-Caulaincourt (line 12) or metro Guy Moquet (line 13). In addition, five major bus lines run withing a 5-10 minute walk of the apartment, including line 95, which takes you right by Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, St Germain des Pres, and the Alliance Francaise.
4. Do you have airconditioning ? Is it hot in the Summer ?
Paris has a mild climate; Winters are never very cold and Summers are never very hot. Very few homes have air conditioning and ours is no exception. However, being on the top floor and with three sets of windows there is good air flow through the apartment to keep it cool during the Summer, and the double glazed windows and central heating keep it warm in the Winter. Summers are pleasant and Winters are cosy. In addition we do have an electric fan.
5. Is there a telephone for my use in the apartment ?
Yes. The telephone is there for your use. When you sign your reservation agreement, we will provide you with the phone number so friends can contact you at the apartment. Also, phone calls to FIXED phone lines throughout Western Europe are free; calls to mobile phones will be charged to you at the going rate. All phone calls to North America, including fixed and mobile phones , are free.
6. Is there internet service in the apartment ?
Yes. We have high-speed internet service. It can be accessed with an ethernet cable - there is a cable in the apartment. The internet is also accessible through the apartment's wireless WiFi. The password is posted in the apartment. You must provide your own laptop computer.
7. Do you have a washing machine ?
We do not have a washing machine in the apartment. There are two coin laundrettes and a dry cleaner within one and one and a half blocks of the studio. In the apartment we also have a clothes rack, ironing board and iron for handwashing of clothes.
8. Is it safe to book online ?
We understand the nervousness of booking accomodation online. It is for this reason that, we only take 25% reservation money, the balance to be paid on arrival. The reservation money will be billed to you through Paypal which has buyer protection and anti fraud prevention.
9. How big is 30 square meters ?
It may be difficult to visualize what 30 square meters represents. We like to compare it in size to a large American hotel room with a separate kitchen. The space is quite a bit more than a typical three star Paris hotel room, plus of course, we have a separate bath and kitchen.
10. Is there a separate bedroom ?
There is not a separate bedroom in our apartment. We do not think 30 square meters justifies a separate bedroom and prefer a more open plan studio set up. However, you may see ads with one bedroom at or smaller than 30 square meters. Be careful, for the "bedroom" is often only slightly larger than the mattress and the living room will consequently be smaller.
11. Is it safe ?
The neighbourhood is very safe. We have had a number of women travelling alone from all age groups who have stayed and never had a problem. The building itself is safe, and there is a concierge.
12. Are there food markets and market streets close by ?
There are two excellent shopping streets. Rue Damremont is about 5 minutes from the studio. It is very convenient for buying bread, cheese, wine and other food items on the way home from metro Lamarch-Caulaincourt station. The award winning bakery, Delmontel, is on rue Damremont.
The other major street is a very large shopping street, rue du Poteau, about a 10 minute walk from the apartment. There are vegetable and fruit stands, butchers, poultry shops, fish mongers, cheese and wine stands, and more. Rue du Poteau is a traditional Paris shopping street, busy every day but busiest on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
