Single ------------------ 39 x 75 inches.
Double ----------------- 54 x 75 inches.
Queen ------------------ 60 x 80 inches.
King -------------------- 76 x 80 inches.
French Standard Bed Sizes:
Single (sm) -- (090 x 190 cm) 35 x 75 inches.
Single (lg) --- (100 x 190 cm) 39 x 75 inches.
Double (sm)-- (120 x 190 cm) 47 x 75 inches.
Double (lg) -- (140 x 190 cm) 55 x 75 inches.
Queen -------- (160 x 200 cm) 63 x 79 inches.
King ---------- (180 x 200 cm) 79 x 79 inches.
If you are very tall make sure you do not choose a bed that has a footboard!
No - there is no weekly pass that’s financially worthwhile to us (the monthly pass is barely worthwhile even if you are a commuter).
You just go to any "Tabac" store or to the metro ticket office when you go underground and ask for a “carnet” (or several). Each “carnet” is a little packet of 10 tickets good on any bus and any metro ride in Paris. They are also good for the RER fast trains within the Paris City limits. When a ticket is used on the bus it can be used again to transfer to another bus line within 90 minutes of its first use.
We usually get several carnet at a time as sometimes the ticket window can be closed when you need it.
While you are at the Metro ticket window you should ask for a free Metro & Bus map. Be sure to ask for the BUS map as it includes the Metro lines but the reverse is not true.
To make a telephone call from the airport you can buy a pre-paid phone card, “Carte Prepayee”, at the airport at a “tabac” (where they sell cigarettes). This phone card will also be useful for outgoing calls from anywhere the phone line is restricted.
The easiest way, however, is simply to ask your taxi driver to make the call on his cell phone for you (they all have a cell phone). Then you can give him a tip for the extra service.
The standard policy is that two sets of keys are available for each apartment. It is unlikely that more can be made available so if you have a large group please plan on some coordination.
There is no separate cleaning deposit. All apartments include final cleaning but it is expected that you reside as you would when a guest in someone’s home (which you are). It’s appreciated when the apartment is left tidy, the trash is emptied, and the dishes are clean (or at least left in the dishwasher when there is one). On rare exceptions a demand for additional cleaning costs can be deducted from the Security Deposit if the apartment is left in a real mess and disarray.
The main point about noise is the size of the street. A large main street with a lot of traffic has more noise than a smaller local street that is only one or two blocks long. The second important determinant is if the apartment is located with the bedroom windows facing the street or facing an interior courtyard (quieter). The third consideration is the floor level. The higher up the floor level then less noise. The fourth point is about double glazed windows (quieter). Finally, your personal perspective determines a lot. We do not consider church bells or the sound of children playing in a schoolyard to be noise. We also cannot assure you will not hear the occasional party noise, people talking or moving around, a siren, or the sound of workers who are allowed to start making noise at 7 AM on weekdays.
French law requires that no loud residential noise is permitted after 10 PM and before 7 AM.
Every apartment is different. There are no “free” local phone calls in France. Each apartment can have a different system in place for telephone charges. Many apartments have free unrestricted local calls and require a calling card for long distance calls.
1. If the phone is locked you will need a calling card to call out.
2. If the phone is metered it’s usually unrestricted but you have to pay the charges.
3. If the phone is "local line" then calls to Paris land line numbers with a 01 prefix are free and you will need a calling card for calls outside Paris and for calls with an "06" prefix (French cell phone numbers).
4. Increasingly some apartments have Cable broadband Internet service and inexpensive Internet based phone systems. In some of these (the apartment phone number has prefix code of 09) there is free phone usage, sometimes including overseas call to some countries.
Always check the phone charge requirements in the "Price Details" and in our apartment quote.
Every Paris By Heart vacation rental apartment has a "Price Details" section following the detailed description. Under the "Price Details" section you will find specific details regarding what is included and what is excluded in the rental price for the specific apartment.
Every Paris By Heart apartment has a “Minimum Nights” requirement (usually 7, 6, or 5 nights) and occasionally two weeks. If an apartment allows stays of less than a week the cost is usually 5 or 6 times the rate/night. Some apartments that allow stays of less than 1 week have a surcharge for short stays. Always check the "Price Details" section for specifics.
All apartments are equipped for cooking and food preparation. They are equipped with the basics like refrigerator, cook-top, a conventional oven (occasionally only a microwave oven and sometimes a combination microwave and convection oven). Kitchen utensils, dishes, silverware, glassware, and cooking pots & pans are always for the maximum capacity and often for more.
Many apartments will have a “starter kit” consisting of a small amount of the basic kitchen supplies – salt, pepper, sugar, oil, coffee, tea, and sometimes juice, milk, etc. You can also expect expect to find a basic supply of bathroom and kitchen paper goods and cleaning supplies and should expect to purchase more depending upon your usage.
In most cases Paris By Heart will provide you with detailed arrival instructions for the reservation after final payment and any required Security Deposit has been received. We usually send you these details about one month before arrival but can do it earlier if needed. If you intend to travel and are not going to be available for the 30 days before arrival please let us know in advance!
All apartments are quoted for a specific number of guests who need to be named on the Paris By Heart Booking Form. Many apartments charge extra depending upon the exact number of resident guests. And many apartment only provide bedding for the exact guest count.
It's really best to always check with us first.
All apartments are furnished with a hair dryer. If you bring your own hair dryer you will need a power converter (European 220 volts) with a European plug.
Yes, you can expect to find a clothes iron and ironing board in the apartment. Do not bring your own clothes iron unless it is certified for 220 volts and has a European plug.
Most apartments, if they have a DVD reader for the TV, will not have a Multi-Zone function that allows playing non European (Zone 2) DVDs. Unless you bought your DVDs in Europe do not expect to play them on a European DVD machine.
All Christmas and New Years rentals are a minimum of one week and can occassionally be two weeks depending upon the individual apartment. In addition, many apartments charge an additional premium for the holiday periods. The most important thing is to plan and reserve early! Early in June and July are the best times to reserve apartments for the end of year holidays. By August and September there begins to be very limited availability for the end of the year period.
Most apartments (but not all) now have ADSL broadband Internet access with Wi-Fi (802.11) service in the apartment. You must check the individual apartment description to see if it has broadband Internet access. If Internet access is important to you during your stay please make sure you learn the apartment Network Name and Password and test the connection while the welcome person is present. The codes can usually be found on the bottom of the Network Access Router in the apartment or in the welcome book in the apartment. In France it is common to display the router password in groups of four characters separated by spaces but you must enter the code with NO spaces in your computer.
You will not need a power converter as your notebook should automatically sense the 220 line and adjust automatically. However, you will need a plug adapter if your local country plugs don’t match the European configuration.
The contract says after 4 PM but our quote says 10 AM to 6 PM? The “contract” has to cover an extremely wide variety of different owners with an enormous variety of different individual conditions. The quote we send you is for a particular apartment, owner, and local manager and takes precedence over the general T’s & C’s in the contract. You will be expected to go directly from the airport to the apartment where you will be met. The "Official" time of access is between 4PM and 6PM on the day of arrival. The "actual" arrival/access time is between 9AM and 6PM, about 2 hours after you land at CDG airport or 45 minutes after your train arrives. If there are no departing guests on the day of your arrival then the access is usually immediate.
The standard departure time is 10 AM so you will be able to see the apartment, get the keys, and drop your luggage starting at 10:30 AM. However, you will need to go out for awhile so the local cleaning crew can finish the cleaning and properly prepare the apartment for your stay.
This will vary with the individual apartment. Many apartments will accommodate a late arrival with an additional cash late arrival fee paid when you meet the welcome person. If you expect to arrive after 6 PM you must check with us first.
Most, but not all, apartments will welcome a Sunday arrival. When planning for maximum availability it's best not to arrive on a Sunday. For apartments that do welcome a Sunday arrival there is often an extra Sunday arrival fee payable in cash to the welcome person when you meet them at the apartment. It's best to always check with us first.
The standard departure time is 10 AM on your last day and must be strictly honored. You cannot assume access after 10 AM on your last day and cannot assume that you can leave luggage in the apartment and return later to pick it up. If you need a late departure this is sometimes possible if there is no incoming client on the same day but you will not know this until the last minute and absolutely must get approval from the local key-holder in advance. If you have a very late departure from Paris and need the apartment for the final day it is important to reserve it and turn your late departure into an early departure.
If you are arriving in Paris early (before 10:30 AM) and need immediate access then the best course is to reserve the preceding night to assure that there is no prior client conflict. Please be aware that some apartments cannot support an early arrival or charge extra fees to schedule an early arrival. Please ask us for specifics about your individual apartment.
It is important to discuss this early with us as we can help planning to accommodate many of your requirements. If you have had hip replacement surgery you may have difficulty stepping into the standard French bathtub with a high side. If this is your case you will need a walk-in shower. If you have limited mobility it is important know how many stairs you can manage and select an apartment with few stairs. Remember that very few Paris apartments have disability access and even these can have a few stairs. Clients who use a wheel chair must be able to take at least a few stairs and must not assume that an elevator will accommodate a wheelchair. Please ask us for help and we will do our best to guide you to the safest and most comfortable apartment rental available.
Client cancellations must be made in writing and will be calculated from the date of receipt by Paris By Heart. Cancellation charges for rentals up to one week will be the full rental amount. Cancellation charges for rentals of more than one week will be as follows: 50 % of total price if cancellation happens more than 90 days prior to the beginning of the rental period, or full rental amount if cancellation happens less than 90 days prior to beginning of rental period.
Cancelled reservation payments not refunded will be returned if the specific apartment is re-rented later for your cancelled dates to another client.
Client Travel Insurance is essential and recommended for all reservations.
Paris By Heart does not sell travel insurance. However, we strongly recommend that our clients purchase travel insurance for their planned trip to Paris. Travel insurance can cover reimbursement for airfares, apartment reservations, and many other incurred expenses. The claim basis can be medical or other family related difficulties that prevent you from traveling after you have made plans. If you are unable to use your apartment reservation and have purchased travel insurance we will help you with your claims process with supporting documentation.
