We're going to be staying in apartments in different parts of Provence in July 2015, then had planned to move to an a apartment in/near Nice. It just the 2 of us, and we were trying to keep the price under €100 a night (€700 a week) for an apartment with a full kitchen, washing machine, and hopefully A/C. We also, ideally, wanted to be able to check in on Tuesday, 7/28 and depart Tuesday, 8/4 for our flight home later that day, but most of the places we'd seen thru Homeaway, VRBO, Gites de France, etc. only allowed a Saturday-to-Saturday rental in the summer, not a Tuesday to Tuesday. We found the perfect place up the road a bit in Vence, which appeared to allow flexible dates. We booked the apartment, got an acknowledgement from owner, and paid our deposit, thinking we were all set. Now today we got a reply (all in French), which we can't translate word for word, but it's clear he's saying he's very sorry but the dates don't work and he's having to cancel and refund our money. We could maybe push the contractual agreement we'd signed, but we don't know that we want to stay in a place with an angry owner. Most places in and around Nice are considerably more expensive, and we'd really wanted a few days after our 7/25 checkout in northern Provence to drive and explore the mountains before settling in to the Nice area. Now we'll either need to go straight to Nice on 7/25 and get an apartment until 8/1, then stay in a B&B or hotel for 8/1 thru 8/3, or do a B&B or hotel for the whole week and a half, losing the kitchen and costing a good deal more. Does anyone have other recommendations for finding an affordable apartment in the Nice area, and/or suggestions on dealing with this surprise, one-sided cancellation of our apartment?
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3984 posts
Do you want to be in Nice itself or in the general area? I am surprised that there is nothing available. Here is one in Nice that might fit your needs (if you do not need parking): http://www.vrbo.com/555894. They have a four day minimum unlike most apartment (which tend to have 7) and so I don't think that the changeover day is preset. Good luck.
Posted by
OP
Colorado Mountains, USA
7937 posts
Hi JHK-thanks for your time and efforts to reply! I'd actually looked at that very apartment early in our planning, but (long story) had originally decided it wasn't going to work. We'll look at it again & maybe this was the place to go with from the outset! Merci!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Well.. theres no pushing based on contractual agreement... since you don't live in France and couldn't attend court dates.. plus apartment is likely an illegal rental anyways... so definitely look for Plan B and be happy this owner at least treated you fairly by giving you lots of notice and returning any deposit.. there have been stories of people arriving and finding out then!!!
I would look at the apartment suggested by previous poster.. and I would even consider booking a hotel with a good cancellation policy as back up till you find exactly what you want. I stayed at the Hotel Solara.. that was 2 years ago,, but at that time it was under 100 euros a night. may be more now,, but I am sure there is something out there.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3984 posts
@Cyn: It's funny but I looked at that apartment for a trip to Nice last summer but decided against staying more than one day in Nice. Unlike Paris, I am not sure that vacation rentals are usually illegal in Nice.
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4161 posts
Cyn , I found your post interesting ,and I'd like to go off the deep end a bit : Pat's comments are spot on ,so there is no reason to rehash what she said . Here is my thinking - This is HIGH season on the Riviera ,and the place will really be socked in . I completely understand your desire for the amenities ( mostly the kitchen , to do your own food preparation with locally sourced ingredients ) ,but this may not be practical . The experience you just had may very well repeat itself with another privately owned place . If you make a compromise , and forego an apartment for a decent hotel , you would have a nice place ( with A/C , necessary , in my opinion ) at roughly the same price you are looking for , if you book now . While a lot of travelers look for small Band B style places , I find that chain hotels work very well in certain conditions . Have a look at the Accor Hotels in Nice . A few years ago we stayed in the Mercure Nice Centre Notre Dame and loved it . Centrally located , a ten minute walk to the Promenade Des Anglais ,a five minute walk to the Gare Nice Ville ( fast connection to Monaco ,Antibes , Villefranche , and Cap Ferrat ) it was perfect . You can't do any cooking , it's true , but you WILL have a reliable and GUARANTEED reservation , no insecurity . There are a number of other Accor locations in Nice ,at least , give this a consideration and save yourself a potential headache .http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/booking/hotels-list.shtml Also , you will be able to choose dates that perfectly suit you and there is a Laundromat a few blocks from the hotel we used .
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4161 posts
AND a further thought ,given the time of the year , hot meals are probably not high on the agenda - you are close to the market ( Cours Saleya ) and just down L'Avenue Jean Medecin from the hotel was a Monoprix with the best prepared carry out food I've ever seen ,we bought dinner there a few times and took it back to the hotel .
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10621 posts
Steven and Pat are right. Weekly rentals run Saturday to Saturday everywhere in France, especially in the middle of high season, so it's very unusual the apartment owner agreed to a Tuesday to Tuesday deal in the first place. He'd have a hard time filling the odd days. The spouse, family member, or business partner probably flipped their lids, or maybe the owner didn't realize the days of the week until later. It's disappointing, but as you said, Plan B.
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4161 posts
Cyn ,I just checked Accor - the Nice Adagio Acropolis Aparthotel is just what you are looking for - A/C , kitchen perfect location in Nice - $850 USD for seven night stay - look at the google map and street view - right on the tram line and on the upper edge of the Old town , it's perfect !
Posted by
OP
Colorado Mountains, USA
7937 posts
Thanks, all. Sometimes it's good to have a Plan C and Plan D in reserve!
Posted by
USA (previously India)
145 posts
JHK:
Unlike Paris, I am not sure that vacation rentals are usually illegal
in Nice.
Are you meaning to say that the Airbnb we stayed in when we were in Paris was illegal?!!
Porcupyn
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33820 posts
Many are, as short term lets are illegal. That's OK, people use Uber, too.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3984 posts
@ Porcupyn
"JHK:
Unlike Paris, I am not sure that vacation rentals are usually illegal
in Nice.
Are you meaning to say that the Airbnb we stayed in when we were in Paris was illegal?!!
Porcupyn"
Yes, it probably was, but enforcement of the law is spotty and the fine, if any, for violation of the law is paid by the person renting out the space. I have not rented an apartment in Paris since 2011 after a friend who lives there convinced me not to but many people do either because they do not know the law or know the law but also know of the extremely limited enforcement (sort of like jaywalking). Worst case scenario for the vacationer is cancellation of the rental or a visit from the inspectors and possibly being made to leave. Since AirBnB rentals are usually individuals who do not have another apartment to offer, some people have become leery of using them, but the odds are pretty low that there will be an impact on any given holiday. Take a look at http://www.connexionfrance.com/france-paris-property-tourism-holiday-lets-rental-residential-long-term-short-16066-view-article.html
Posted by
Chicago
8551 posts
holiday renters have no leverage at all to 'enforce contracts.' In many places like Paris they are illegal and in other places the costs would be enormous. It is not uncommon for landlords to drop a rental to rent to someone who will pay more or take the place for longer periods. The usual excuse is 'water damage so sorry, but the place is under repair' -- if the rejected renter is in town and strolls by the place, odds are s/he will find another family happily enjoying the place. Outside Paris rentals are Sat-Sat -- this landlord probably just took the contract in case he didn't get renters -- having obtained them, the OP is toast. The OP's contract basically spoiled two weeks for the landlord; he shouldn't have accepted that but it isn't surprising he abandoned the OP when a better offer came along.