How to scope out the perfect apartment for you
A picture speaks a thousand words -- or it says nothing at all
Don't rent sights unseen. Pictures can do a pretty good job of intriguing you or causing you to click to the next rental. "I have a professional photographer take the pictures of each apartment," says Fay. "The user can click on each photo to see each one in larger and better detail." If the site you're on doesn't display pictures, ask the owner to provide some photos via e-mail.
To book or not to book...
Ultimately it's a bit of a risk booking any type of vacation accommodation online, whether it's a hotel, apartment or hostel. But that's part of the adventure. If you're really concerned about booking online, Fay recommends looking on vacation forums or searching for reviews of the site you're booking with. Ah Paris includes a page for each rental where former renters can comment on their stay. "Each tenant also rates the apartment from one to five," says Fay. A Comments section also gives the owner an opportunity to improve the quality of the client's stay by correcting problems or by following suggestions.
"When I finally narrowed it down, I asked to have the person renting the apartment call me so I could ask her any final questions before I made my decision," says Padykula. "She was able to describe the neighbourhood and what was nearby."
So, how long can you stay?
Apartment rental terms can range from three days to three months. Some sites offer calendars that show chunks of available time that reveal when units are not reserved. And remember, it's typically cheaper to fly out during the week rather than on a weekend.
Price check!
My fiancé and I compared the rent of our Latin Quarter dream home -- er, studio -- to what we would have paid for a two- to three-star hotel in the same neighbourhood. It was cheaper to go the rental route. Our posh-looking London apartment also happened to cost less than all the hotels that had been recommended to us by friends. If you're planning to stay a little longer, check to see if the landlord offers a discount.
Click to continue...
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Don't rent sights unseen. Pictures can do a pretty good job of intriguing you or causing you to click to the next rental. "I have a professional photographer take the pictures of each apartment," says Fay. "The user can click on each photo to see each one in larger and better detail." If the site you're on doesn't display pictures, ask the owner to provide some photos via e-mail.
To book or not to book...
Ultimately it's a bit of a risk booking any type of vacation accommodation online, whether it's a hotel, apartment or hostel. But that's part of the adventure. If you're really concerned about booking online, Fay recommends looking on vacation forums or searching for reviews of the site you're booking with. Ah Paris includes a page for each rental where former renters can comment on their stay. "Each tenant also rates the apartment from one to five," says Fay. A Comments section also gives the owner an opportunity to improve the quality of the client's stay by correcting problems or by following suggestions.
"When I finally narrowed it down, I asked to have the person renting the apartment call me so I could ask her any final questions before I made my decision," says Padykula. "She was able to describe the neighbourhood and what was nearby."
So, how long can you stay?
Apartment rental terms can range from three days to three months. Some sites offer calendars that show chunks of available time that reveal when units are not reserved. And remember, it's typically cheaper to fly out during the week rather than on a weekend.
Price check!
My fiancé and I compared the rent of our Latin Quarter dream home -- er, studio -- to what we would have paid for a two- to three-star hotel in the same neighbourhood. It was cheaper to go the rental route. Our posh-looking London apartment also happened to cost less than all the hotels that had been recommended to us by friends. If you're planning to stay a little longer, check to see if the landlord offers a discount.
Click to continue...
Page 2 of 3
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