Paris apartment rentals still going strong

I have just read the article commenting on the slowdown of the French Tourism industry and it was very striking. However, as the owner of Rentals in Paris LLC (www.rentals-paris.com) and 17 year resident of Paris, I can assure you that there are still hoards of tourists coming into the city each day, even now in November, which is historically a very quiet month for us.

I receive many requests from potential guests looking to come for shorter stays (4 or 5 nights, instead of a week) but they are still comming. This weekend Paris was PACKED with tourists from all countries around the world. Many new Asian and Russian influences, as well as a variety of middle, Eastern Europeans, as well as Americans, Canadians, Australians which have always been big fans of this beautiful city.

It can't hurt to ask for discounts in the calmer months, and at Rentals in Paris, we always do our best to offer them when he have availability in the slower seasons.... For people who love Paris or dream of coming here for the first time, it is definitely a great time to enjoy the City of Light.

Glenn Cooper
http://www.rentals-paris.com

Paris apartments for Business Travelers

Any frequent traveller knows the stress and fatigue of constant air travel. The sensation of always being on the go, and the feeling that beautiful cities start to look all the same. For most business professionals it becomes a nonstop routine of plane; hotel, work, hotel, etc.. With the world always constantly moving and fast pace of business many hotels have opted for the deco of the familiar.

The fast food concept that comfort exists is always being able to depend on having the same product given to you in the same way no matter where in the world you are. The Hyatt in Miami looking awfully familiar to the Hilton in Madrid, to the Sofitel in Paris. The same style of floral wallpaper, and the same carpet, with the same style of chairs placed usually in a similar fashion.

However, for the frequent traveller this can become a daze of single serving cups of coffee, and a haze of single serving shampoo bottles. The result ending in people waking up and not being sure which town they are in, Tokyo, or Berlin. In an effort to combat this voyaging fatigue, many hotels are turning to personal decorators in an attempt to personalise their executive suits. Passing this cost on to the customer as a luxury hotel suite, or premier class executive suites as they are sometimes known. But there is hope for the weary professional, here in Paris.

Many business are often seeking to cut costs in these economically turbulent times without cutting away at the quality. Rentals in Paris, www.rentals-paris.com, offers a great alternative for just this kind of occasion. An apartment located in the heart of the city with everything needed to ensure a successful and relaxing trip. With hi speed Internet access, fully furnished apartments, and fully equipped kitchens, renting an apartment is a great alternative to the same old same old. Gone are the extra costs of the minibar and room service, Internet service charges, and expensive international calls. This provides the businessmen with a comfortable, quiet, and personal experience, guaranteed to castaway those travelling blues. All the apartments are hand picked and decorated to ensure comfort and accessibility to not only the business districts but the sites as well. With many apartments offering free international calling as well as wifi, and even a washer dryer and iron it has everything a business professional would need. If by any chance there is something lacking, the staff, headed by owner Glenn Cooper, is just a quick phone call away and are happy to do everything they can to provide for any special needs that might arise.

For more information please consult the website at http://www.rentals-paris.com or email Glenn Cooper at coopergl@gmail.com .

Paris Ice Cream at Berthillon's

BERTHILLON GLACIER -- Where to find great ice cream in the heart of Paris


There are few things as refreshing as a great scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day. At Berthillion Glacier, you will find some of the world's best ice cream to satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth. Along with ice cream, Berthillon specializes in scrumptious sorbets that come in a plethora of flavors. Some of the more popular flavors are fraise de bois (wild strawberries), and not to be missed is the chocolate-chocolate for the chocolate affectionado.

They have existed for well over 50 years and have a world famous reputation as being one of the best producers in Europe. They use only natural products and traditional recipes with no added chemicals or flavors. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Without a doubt Berthillon is a must for any discerning gourmet.

Berthillion Glacier is located right on the Ils St.Louis on that beautiful island in the middle of the Seine River. To top it off there is nothing like a stroll along the Seine to the tip of Ile Saint Louis for a great view of the city with a great scoop of sorbet on a hot day. Hands down the best ice cream in the city.

BERTHILLON GLACIER
31, rue Saint-Louis en l'Ile 75004
PARIS Métro :
Pont Marie, Cite, or Hotel de Ville

Rentals in Paris is proud to provide this information to our guests as one of the wonderful Paris establishments that we can highly recommend.

Neill Porteous
For
Rentals in Paris
www.rentals-paris.com

Paris apartments are always Excellent value

The Paris Tourism Office recently published their annual statistics relating to the tourism industry. This report includes the average price per night for a hotel room. In France you can rent an (average) room for 121 Euros/night. In Paris the same quality room (2 star category for two people) rents for 144 euros/night. It's important to keep in mind that an average hotel room does not meet standards expected by most American, Canadian or Australian travellers, in terms of size or comfort level. An average 2 star hotel probably won't have elevators, air conditioning or queen size beds. The room size is probably less than 10 square meters small and might be very noisy as many Paris hotels are.

These average rates are also far below the rates charged by most hotels in the central Paris neighborhoods where rates can range from 150-500 euros/night for a double room. The average rate is closer to 250 euros/night. These rates don't include breakfast, taxes, internet access, telephone calls, laundry facilities or kitchen access. A couple is therefore looking at spending between 1000-1500 Euros for 4 or 5 nights in a well located, but average comfort level hotel for 2 people. If your family includes more than 2 people, expect to pay much more than this.

The apartment rental option is therefore a very very cost effective choice. As a rule there is a one week minimum for most rentals in most agencies since the work involved has a number of fixed costs that can't be reduced. That's why many companies stick to the weekly minimum, even when guests reserve for 4 or 5 nights. In all cases, the weekly rates are a real bargain by Paris standards, and when you find a beautiful apartment which is located in one of the most central areas (the first, fourth, sixth or seventh districts) the weekly rates are usually 50% less than what an equally well located Paris hotel would charge you for 3 or 4 nights.

Even when going to Paris for less than a week, the Paris apartment rental option is a very good option for you and the extremely good value for money you will have will make your trip one of your best ones yet. For your next trip to Paris for 4 or 5 nights, don't hesitate to rent an apartment and you will certainly be satisfied with your decision.

Glenn Cooper
www.rentals-paris.com

The Grace Kelly Years: Paris Exposition

EXPOSITION FEATURING GREACE KELLY
Les années Grace Kelly, princesse de Monaco.
The Grace Kelly Years, Princess of Monaco.

With the summer in Paris well under way, there is no lack of cultural events to see that in grandeur, style and grace are equal to that of the beauty of the city itself. This summers exposition at the Hotel de Ville is certainly no exception. The retrospective called « Les années Grace Kelly, princesse de Monaco » The years of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, details the life of the Hollywood film star turned princess. It includes a photo album with some of her closest friends including Alfred Hitchcock, Carey Grant, and Bing Crosby to name a few. Also included are her wedding dress and other items from her wedding ceremony as well as home movies with her children and scenes from some her best known films.

The exhibit is open until the 16th of August at the Hotel de Ville, Paris and is free of charge. For more information concerning this and other expositions and events in and around Paris, go to www.culture.fr.

When: 10th June - 16th August 2008Where: Hôtel de Ville, Salle Saint-Jean, 5 rue Lobau, Paris 4th arrondissement. Métro Hôtel de Ville (lines 4 & 11)
Opening hours: open every day except Sundays and public holidays from 10am - 7pm (last entrance at 6.15pm)
Price of admission: adults 0 euros, children 0 euros, students 0 euros, princesses 0 euros. Expect to queue a little...

Rentals in Paris Team
www.rentals-paris.com

Paris Cinema en Plein Air

With activities ranging from canoeing on the seine to free salsa classes at the villette, the summer in Paris has lots to offer even the most finiky of travellers.

This week kicks off the 18th annual Cinema en Plein Air. It is a free outdoor film festival held in the Parc de la Villette in the 19th arrondisment of Paris. Starting on Tuesday the 15th of July, it runs until the 17th of august, showing films projected on a big screen every night for free. All the films are shown in their original format with french subtitles for the English movies.

This year's theme is Ava, Rita, Gina...les étoiles ne meurent jamais ( the stars that never die.) This years selections include Lost in Translation, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, O'Brother Where Art Thou, Who's Affraid of Virginia Wolf, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, to name a few. There are also films by directors Akira Kurasowa, and Pedro Almodovar.

For a full listing you can go to the official site at www.villette.com, or www.cinema.arbo.com. So bring a blanket, prepare a picnic, and enjoy the show.

Posted by Neill for Rentals in Paris
www.rentals-paris.com

The Crystal Skull in Paris?

Known for great food, romantic atmosphere and a wealth of cultural activity, Paris can also be quite an adventurous place! The Quai Branly Museum is exposing the Crystal Skull for the opening of the latest episode of the Indiana Jones saga: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!
From May the 20th to September the 14th, this museum, specialized in primitive art, is unveiling this ancient artefact, whose origins and conception’s are still surrounded by the greatest mysteries!
The Crystal Skull, a 5 inch high clear quartz ‘skull-pture’, was discovered in the 19th century on the land of the Aztec civilization and never stopped fascinating people ever since it first integrated the Trocadero Ethnology Museum in 1878, as a gift from the explorer Alphonse Pinart.
It was long considered a masterpiece representing Mictlantecuhtli, the ruler of Mictlan, the world of the dead. Its secrets are now yours to discover…

http://www.quaibranly.fr
http://www.rentals-paris.com