FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS ABOUT LE MARAIS, PARIS & OUR ACCOMMODATION
SERVICE.
Who
runs it?
Paris - marais is a unique concept: holiday rentals
direct from property owners who have lived in Le Marais for over 20 years and
know it by heart. We all speak English fluently and let our flats to
international visitors who love Paris and like the idea of being welcomed to
Paris like long-time friends!
Why
aren’t prices mentioned on the site?
Each flat is independent and each owner defines his own
price. Prices vary depending on the season, the number of people staying, the
length of your stay, and of course the type of flat.
Do
your flats have lifts or handicapped access?
Unfortunately most of them don’t… Le Marais is an historical
district where by law nothing can be changed. Our flats are located in buildings
built in the 18th century, some of them even earlier… so there is
no room to install an elevator in their staircases. Most flats are on the
second, third, or fourth floor, which is not so far to climb. We can always help
you with luggage if you need a hand.
Are
the flats non smoking flats?
All the flats are owned by non smoking residents. We
request our guests refrain from smoking in the flats as well as in the
staircases and lobbies for security reasons. You will find smoking areas in
restaurants and cafés, but please don’t forget smoking in many public places
is forbidden by law in France.
Can
we get a discount?
We are not a big rental company but private owners. Our
prices are already very competitive. However, we are willing to give discounts
in specific cases, such as:
-
Over two weeks stays
-
For singles during the low
season
-
Last minute bookings upon
availability
Why
do we need to send a deposit check?
Would you give the key to your own property without a
minimum guarantee to get it back in good condition? We consider that trusting
our guests for their honesty is the best way to have them respect us and our
properties. That is why we only ask you for a small deposit equivalent to one or
two week’s rental. This is little compared with the value of the flat’s
content … In our recent rental experience we have always had very well behaved
guests and never have needed to cash the deposit...
Do
we have our own telephone line?
Yes, each line is equipped with a meter: a single call
to France Telecom on your departure day allows us to establish exactly how much
you’ve spent since you’ve arrived. We will charge you only your own
consumption at cost. If you wish to bring your laptop with you, you will be able
to plug it and surf on internet in our flats.
Is
telephone expensive in France?
Telephone service in France is one of the cheapest in
the world. Indicative prices are: 20 €cents per minute to the United States,
between 15 and 25 €cents per minute to other European countries, 10 €cents
for 3 minute local calls. Calling cell phones (numbers starting with 06) is more
expensive: around 40 €cents per minute. Of course you can always use your
personal phone card if it offers you a better deal.
What
to do when we arrive at the airport?
Do not take the RER Train or airport bus if you have
lots of luggage. Do not buy your train ticket from anyone other than at the
official counter of the Métro with an
RATP sign, which is the Métro company. If you take the bus,
you can buy a ticket form the driver. If you have several pieces of luggage
you’re better off taking an official cab with a Taxi sign on its roof- avoid
the private limos that will overcharge you. A regular cab will cost you around
50€ from Roissy Charles de Gaulle, 35€ from
Orly.
How
do we meet to get the keys and do the check in?
The owner of your flat or one of us will welcome you
personally. Normal check-in time is 14.00 (2pm). It can be earlier if your flat
is available. For late arrivals, we kindly ask you to do your best to arrive
before 22.00 (10pm) in order to respect the privacy of your neighbors. Once your booking is confirmed, you’ll be given an appointment to
rendezvous at your flat. Please do your best to be on time as there is no
reception desk, we meet you at the flat. If your plane or train is late, please
call us to fix another time to hand over the keys and welcome you.
What
about checking out?
We are very flexible about check-out times. If you have
a late departure and your flat is not required, we allow you to stay in the flat
later than the normal noon check-out time. We’ll meet you personally on
departure, check out your phone bill and the condition of the flat. If
everything is fine and clean, as it usually is, we’ll give you your deposit
check back with a warm thank you. We can also, with advanced request, arrange
for a reliable taxi company to pick you up at your door and take you to the
airport or train station.
The residents of le Marais are mainly elegant people
called Bobo’s, meaning bohemian bourgeois: they have the best standards of
living, good values, lots of savoir-vivre, and are unconventional and
multicultural. They love American and English visitors and most of them speak
good English… You’ll be welcomed everywhere and realise the French are not
as grumpy as their reputation says they are! Being so open to differences and
respecting them made it possible to have a big Jewish community in this
district, around rue des Rosiers, one of the biggest Gay communities in Europe
around rue Sainte Croix de Bretonnerie, and more artists and creative people
living here than in any other district of Paris.
Is
le Marais a safe district?
In terms of safety, Paris is very unlike many other
major cities in the world. Despite an increase in crime levels of some suburbs,
crime in the historical center of Paris is very low. Due to strong gun and
personal weapons control laws, crime in the city is virtually non-violent.
This district, which is also one of the most
residential and prestigious, is safe at any time of the day. Of course, like
everywhere, you should always be careful and sensible, especially in the metro.
Walking anywhere at night or day in this neighborhood is probably the most
peaceful thing to do.
Tipping
in Paris?
You normally do not tip for services or in restaurants.
By law service and taxes are included in all bills. If your waiter is very nice
and helpful you are welcome to give a little extra but it is not compulsory.
Where
to withdraw cash?
France is the number one country in the world for the
number of cashpoints per capita! ATM’s are everywhere and it’s the most
flexible and reliable way to obtain cash in Euros. There is no need to change
money before you leave home. Almost every shop accepts payment by Visa or Amex.
Prices
in Paris?
Here is a small list of prices to give you an idea of
the cost of living:
- Carnet of 10 metro tickets : 10 euros
- 3 course in average restaurant (lunchtime):12 to 15
euros 3 course menu in good restaurant (evening): 22 to 35 euros
- Opera ticket top category: 105 euros
- Theatre Ticket top category: 50 euros
- CD’s: 20 euros
- Beer of soft drink on a terrace: 3 to 5 euros
- Museum ticket: 4 to 8 euros
- Cinema Ticket: 7 euros
- Disco entrance: from 10 euros
- High speed train ticket to Burgundy: around 100 euros
round-trip
- Taxi from champs Elysées to le Marais at night: around 10 euros
-
3 star hotel room in the center: 110 to 150 euros
-
To buy a nice studio for your vacations: between 100,000 and 200,000 euros! Ask
us for advice!
What
to buy?
Advice on shopping:
What is cheaper in Paris compared with the United
States and other major European cities like London:
- Restaurants
- Museums
- Culture and arts
- Public transport
- Holiday accommodation
- Luxury goods
- Taxis
- Quality food in street markets and grocery shops
- Antiques
Slightly more expensive:
- Drinking out
- Clubbing
- Car rental
- Gym clubs
- Some luxury clothes
- Electronics and CD’s
Cinemas
in Paris
Paris has more cinemas than any other city in the
world, far more than London or New York. Prices are cheap, never over 8 Euros,
and some cinemas offer cards of 5 tickets for around 30 Euros (UGC). The best of
all is the UGC Cite Ciné in Les Halles, near the church of St Eustache: more
than 20 screens with the most terrific sound systems and wide screens. Most
films are shown in their original language version (“vo”) but with French
subtitles.
The most romantic is Le Grand Rex, with 3000 seats and
a star-gliding ceiling that makes you feel as if you are in an open-air cinema.
This place is so beautiful it has been classified as an historical monument. 75002. Métro Bonne Nouvelle.
What
about Nightlife?
Nightlife in Paris is very active. It is changing all
the time, so it is difficult to give particular advice! Apart from the usual and
well established clubs and cabarets, you’ll find day by day recommendations in
papers than you can either buy throughout the city or pick up for free in the
cafés and bars.
The best papers to find out what’s on and where to go
are definitely Pariscope, found at any bookshop with its English section Time
Out Paris.
Buy Nova, the monthly Paris city guide for the
fashionable and alternative young clubbers. And try also Zurban, the new weekly
city magazine (in French).
To go out on the gay scene, pick up the free papers
E-male or illico where you’ll find a lot of addresses in Le Marais district.
For the most elegant options, have a look at the monthly Paris Le Magazine.
What
about transportation in Paris?
Taxis Paris Cabs are reasonably cheap, even if you have
to sometimes cope with an anti-social attitude from the driver... It will cost
you around 8-10 Euros to go from République to Gare du Nord and about 35-40 Euros to go to the airport from République.
One good tip about Paris on Weekends: It will be
virtually impossible to flag a taxi down on the street on a Friday or Saturday
night. Finding a Taxi in the middle of the night is even more of a nightmare.
Before you leave an establishment, ask for the nearest taxi rank as this will
save you some time. Be prepared to wait in a long line.
Métro
Paris has the biggest and probably the best Métro system in the world with over 500 stations! The Métro is cheap, convenient and runs
until 00.45 hrs (12:45 a.m.). The best deal is to buy a carnet of 10 tickets for
around 10 Euros. Be sure to hold on to your ticket until you exit the station as
there is a fine if you don’t have a current one.
Experience the new high tech automatic line 14 to go to
the Great Library François Mitterrand on the south bank and to the charming new
district of Bercy Village, formerly a wine market.
Buses
An excellent service and one of the best ways to see
Paris! But, it will be slower and can be difficult to use when you don’t know
the town so well... You can use Métro
tickets to take them but make sure you punch them in the machine at the door by
the driver.
Parking
your car
Driving and parking in Paris is a nightmare, no
question! That’s why 60% of the Parisians refuse to have a car and use the
efficient and cheap public transportation. If you still decide to come by car,
we’ll recommend safe private parking nearby. Parking in the street can cost
you as much as 2 Euros per hour…