Tournights is recommended in the Paris guidebook. The website seems reputable. I found an apartment that suits my needs. Correspondence with Fred was professional. So I booked an apartment using my credit card via PayPal. The problem is that the balance is due in cash. Credit card is not accepted. My radar is on high alert! Seems odd that the initial deposit is OK with credit card, but not the final payment. Tournights suggested I get the cash from an ATM at the airport (I am arriving by train). We are talking 1731 euro. I am not sure an ATM will dispense such a large amount and I do not like to carry that much cash. Am I being naive or justifiably suspicious?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32736 posts
Won't they take pay pal for the balance?
Or a funds transfer?
Cash is not that unusual - I paid cash for a room yesterday in the Netherlands.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10215 posts
As Nigel said, cash payment is very common in Europe. The Paris apartment I rented in 2011 required a money transfer to his account for the deposit (very expensive and I will never do that again) and cash for the balance on arrival. The Paris apartment I'm renting this year required me to send him a check for $200, which he will hold until I arrive. He will return it to me when I pay him in cash when I arrive. In the event I don't show up he can cash it.
You obviously can't get that much money from an ATM at one time. I don't know where you are coming from by train, but you will need to accumulate the cash over a number of days or get it before you leave home. You can ask your bank to increase the amount you can get from your debit card every day and use cards from two accounts to acquire money faster.
If you really want to pay with a credit card, find a different apartment.
Posted by
OP
Cincinnati
2 posts
I am in discussion with the landlord re: PayPal for the balance so hopefully that will workout.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Many places do prefer cash, since accepting a credit card costs them money, and PayPal must also charge them a fee or percentage. It's not unusual for hotels to guarantee a room with a credit card, but still require cash payment, at least in order to get a Rick Steves' discount or other deal. If you will already be in Europe, you could visit cash machines on three or four successive days to amass that much cash in your moneybelt.
P.S. I hope 1730 euros pays for a month's stay.
Posted by
Chicago
8047 posts
Why would cash be a problem for you since you will be there and be able to check out the apartment? Paying in cash is common -- 'they accepted the deposit' because the agency takes that as their fee; the landlord gets his payment in cash. Likely some tax avoidance involved or perhaps just no capacity to manage credit cards. Most apartments require all the money up front before you even arrive and then if there is no apartment or it is a disaster you have no leverage at all and lose your funds. Since short term rentals are illegal, you are totally at the mercy of the integrity of the landlord.
It is easy to carry cash if you need it on arrival. Have your bank get it and carry it in a money belt under your clothes. I have done this many times with no difficulties. The risk is probably less than getting it from ATMs and carrying home from there since ATMs are sometimes targeted by thieves.
I have never heard of 'Tournights' although I have rented apartments in Paris a dozen times.
Posted by
5 posts
I will be visiting Paris and Italy and I am having this issue too. The Paris apartment mentioned I could pay cash or pay by PayPal as long as I paid the additional 4% fee she is charged. I was also trying to figure out how to get the cash. I increased my daily limit at my bank. The account rep. at the bank said although my daily limit is above the average ATM limit, I could do consecutive transactions from the same ATM up to my bank limit. I haven't tried this yet and not sure if anyone else has, but thought it was interesting and will try it possibly here in the U.S. before I go.