Short term apartment rental services in Paris and Easter 2011 in Paris

After lots and lots of research myself, for my upcoming trip to Paris, I ended up booking an apartment through airbnb.com. The reason I went with this site over places like vbro.com and the like is that you pay airbnb.com using a credit card, and they don't release the money to the apartment owner until the day (or day after) you check in. That feels to me like incentive for the apartment owner to deliver whey they "advertise" and gives me a little leverage if not. Each owner sets their rental rates, deposit requirement, if any, cleaning fee, if any, and you can see all of those details when browsing the listing. In addition, airbnb.com is an American company operated out of New Jersey, so I know that if there is a problem or an emergency, I will be able to easily communicate it. I leave on Oct. 20 and return on the 29th. I'll be sure to post a review when I get back to let you know if airbnb.com delivers what I expect.

I booked an apartment in 2008 and 2009 with Vacation in Paris. It is a N.J. based company and their service is excellent. You pay in dollars and before you leave for Paris they send you the key to the apartment.

We have used lodgis.com for the last ten years. They too use a credit card to hold the apartment, while the landlord is paid upon arrival, once you've seen the apartment. Some people have posted about paying in advance but being put in an inferior apartment once there. I'd be wary of wiring money in advance. I'd use only a credit card. Weather can be very changeable, from 30 to 70 as the clouds roll in from the Atlantic. Dress in layers and don't forget an umbrella.

There was an article some months back about short-term rentals in Paris (sorry, can't remember the specifics, like article date or where I saw it). Something about Paris having a law that prohibits apartment rentals for less than one year duration. The authorities were making a show of enforcing this law (which I think had been in effect for quite some time), cracking down on some short-term rentals, and I don't know how strongly it is currently being enforced. I would think the Parisian authorities would have better things to do than enforce this law, so I doubt it will be a problem for you and others (I would personally still pursue a short-term rental were I going to Paris), but it is yet one more possible complication to be aware of.

After all my research, I also chose Vacation in Paris. My husband and I rented a 1 bedroom in Rue Cler area. We absolutely loved it! As already mentioned, you deal with people in an office in New Jersey who are happy to answer all your questions, payment is made in $ and you have the key in hand weeks (month)before you go. I had a problem with the phone in my apt. so I emailed VIP to notify the landlord. It was immediately replaced! If you keep the place clean while you're there, all you have to do is empty the garbage & lock the door when you leave. When you return the key by mail, they send you back your security deposit. Also, they sent me references of people who had stayed in each apt I was considering to help me choose. Those people gave lots of good advice about the neighborhood inc. shops, restaurants, etc.

We used Airbnb to rent apartments in Paris and Venice, and a room at a BnB in Rome. Everything went very well and was as advertised. Airbnb does charge a 10% commission on the advertised price.

We've used iloveparisapartments.com a couple of times and really like the apts and locations. Have also used vacationinparis.com. Good ease of use since they are out of New Jersey.