The ParisSharing Blog

Archive for the ‘Personal, from the founder’ Category

This is a big hit from Google, as far as I’m concerned. I never imagined we would be adverstising for Google Adwords, when it is Google we need to advertise Paris-Sharing! Still, their personalized video is really worth a watch. Very funny and unbeatably creative. Congratulations to whoever thought up such a plan, and who obviously enjoyed themselves while doing it.

Click here (or on the image) to watch the video, which displays Paris-Sharing in the sky with the help of “B to B robotic bees”, and on the ground with millions of dominoes. The moonbeam display is the grand finale.

Chez Diane, for a cosy stay in historical Paris

I just love customer satisfaction, enough to lick it cold off a plate! There’s nothing more encouraging during the start-up phase of a business, and that’s where we are at Paris-Sharing.com today…at the start of the start-up. Here is a success story I’m delighted to share.

Just a few weeks ago we added a lovely apartment to Paris-Sharing.com, on rue Tiquetonne in the 2nd arrondissement. This is really one of my favorite spots in Paris, with its incredible offering of local restaurants and shops on old cobble-stone streets. Along with the great location, the apartment has all it takes to delight a guest: antique charm from the old wooden beams along with sleek modern furnishing. The essence of Paris.

To super-satisfy a customer requires getting a series of things right, and it can’t be done without the dedication of all parties invovled: in this case Paris-Sharing.com and the owner of the apartment, Diane, who personally took good care of her guests.

This is what the first guest, Anne and her party of three, had to say about her Paris-Sharing experience :

“We THOROUGHLY enjoyed our stay and loved the apartment that we stayed in.  Diane was a fantastic host and really helped us get settled, and warmly greeted us with croissants and a good overview of the area.  We were so impressed that we would highly recommend your services to our friends etc.  My friend Carole works for Delta Airlines part time and has developed a great network there and she will be recommending Diane’s place to Delta employees traveling to Paris.  Additionally we met a couple from Virginia (US state) during our site seeing of Paris, who really wanted to rent an apartment in Paris, but could not find an organization that was reasonable to deal with to complete it.  I recommended that they visit the Paris-Sharing website and explained what a great experience I had.  Thank you for all of your help to help me secure a place to stay.  It was truly a memorable experience!!”

And this is exactly what we continually work for at Paris-Sharing.com. Nothing else. For Anne, Paris will always remain a bright place in her heart. We want it to be the same for you, and will go out of our way to make it happen!

Many have written to me in alarm over the recent New York Times article about the apartment rental crack-down in Paris.  Paris-Sharing.com is not directly concerned by these measures, and this is a good opportunity to explain why.

The price of real estate in Paris has skyrocketed over the past decade, making it increasingly difficult for Paris residents to live in the city. One of the many causes of this price inflation is the influx of foreign buyers, many of whom use their property only as a pied à terre that is employed most of the year to generate vacation rental income. This practice reduces the supply of available housing for Parisians, and that is the problem that the city of Paris is trying to address.

Paris-Sharing.com is focused on a different clientèle. Our approach is to allow Parisians to rent or exchange their primary home while they are away. With six weeks of legal vacation, higher than average incomes, and an incessant need to seek out the southern sunshine, more than 10% of Paris home owners are away on any given day in the year, with more than half leaving during the month of August.

Offering Paris residents the opportunity to rent/exchange their primary homes has no negative effect whatsoever on the market for available housing.  As stated in the NY Times article “The main target…is owners who are making these rentals into a permanent activity, diverting residential property from its essential function as housing for Parisians. Someone who rents occasionally will not be prosecuted.”

Renting or exchanging one’s primary home is a practice that benefits all. The tourist gains access to a real home with all of its amenities at a low cost. The owner earns addition income that helps offset the cost of travel, and in some cases serves as means to make ends meet.  Beyond these practical considerations, I am a believer in the value of the human and cultural experience that renting or exchanging one’s home can bring. It is that belief that underlies our philosophy at Paris-Sharing.com.

So, don’t let these measures get you down! You will always be able to travel to Paris and stay in a furnished apartment. While you’re at it, why not experience a real Parisian home thanks to Paris-Sharing.com? Whatever your choice, you may want to have a look at some guidelines for avoiding bad surprises with rental agencies.

A real home, available for vacation rental on Paris-Sharing.com

One of the benefits of staying in a furnished apartment is that you are sure to have all the gadgets necessary to enjoy what needs to be enjoyed. Opening a wine bottle, for example. French bottles come in different shapes and sizes, but the same principle applies whether it be a Bordeaux, a Burgundy, a Côte de Rhone, a St. Nicolas de Borgeuil, or an Alsace wine. Have you ever witnessed any method significantly different from twisting some metalic helix into the cork and exerting force? Neither had I, until….

Now, in the unfortunate case where you are trapped in some clausterphobic hotel room with a cork screw, dispair not. There is another astonishing way,  as you’ll see in this video. You did bring shoes, didn’t you?

As for all the other things you will have missed out on by not staying in a Paris-Sharing accommodation, let’s just hope you come back soon!

« When will Paris-Sharing.com officially open? » I have been asked by impatient friends, fans, and curious visitors.

The official answer : « It’s now ! Why now ? Because now there’s a blog to announce it! »

No need for journalists to rush for the story, Paris-Sharing will remain a fresh concept for many months ahead.

As the founder Paris-Sharing.com, I’d like to welcome you to our new website and this our new blog. With the blog, my intent is to involve you in the adventure of a start-up that is “of the people, for the people, and by the people.”

The real idea behind Paris-Sharing is about coming to understand someone else’s culture, and taking pleasure in sharing one’s own culture with others.  As an American having adopted French culture, I hold this to be one of the most enriching experiences we can enjoy.

The other idea behind Paris-Sharing is that you don’t have to be rich to enrich your lives through travel. You can come to Paris and stay in a real Parisian home (either a private apartment or a guest room) for significantly less that you would pay for a smaller hotel room or a furnished apartment on other websites. How is this possible ? Because the French who offer their accommodations on our site are not just out to get a return on investment. The are willing to open their homes in order for you to have an authentic Paris experience.

If that’s the kind of experience you’re after, our website is meant for you. Read our blog for original ideas about what to see and do in Paris,  occasional commentary about French culture, and news concerning the website and the company.

With the exception of the later, the blog’s content is in part offered by members of the Paris-Sharing community. Would you like to contribute ? Let us know ! Do you already have a blog about Paris ? Take advantage of our blog to widen your reach. All of our contributors are credited for their work.

We hope you will enjoy !

à très bientôt,

Carsten Sprotte, Founder