The ParisSharing Blog

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After boasting a million stays, Airbnb.com recently ran up against a major issue. One of its hosts was robbed and her apartment sacked. We at ParisSharing would like to express our support both to the unfortunate host as well as to the management team and employees of Airbnb. There has been, as can be expected, enormous buzz around this freakish event that has caused unnecessary damage to what we believe is a well-intentioned company. Since the probability of such an event happening seems to be about the same as an airplane crash, we should keep in mind that all positive actions we take in life (meeting people, driving from one place to another, using our credit card, walking down the street….) do involve risks. No risk, no reward!

At the same time, the event has revealed certain security issues that could have been better addressed. This purpose of this blog entry is to explain how ParisSharing has already addressed these issues through its existing policy and practice, as well as some of the improvements we will be making in the future.

Like Airbnb, ParisSharing is founded on the belief that the vast majority of international travelers are well-intentioned and respectful of other people’s homes when they are not acting anonymously. This is why we have gone to great lengths to make ParisSharing a community-based website, meaning that both hosts and guests provide information about themselves as real people. We encourage our hosts not to accept guests who refuse to provide sufficient information about themselves.

The Airbnb robbery was an instance where the host made no identity control whatsoever of the guest (who happened to live in the same area), and there was never any person-to-person meeting between the host or her representative and the guest. The keys were sent through the mail.

This is where ParisSharing takes a distinctively different approach. We maintain that having someone welcome each guest is an extremely important aspect of the accommodation experience. Even though guest satisfaction is our key motivating factor, it just so happens that this is also a practice that both deters and helps to detect crooks and weird people.

At ParisSharing, we don’t send keys though the mail. We meet people, both hosts and guests for that matter. As a matter of fact, we have a clearly set out check-in and check-out process, with standard documents and a standard contract that is always signed in person.

Although we are not liable (like Airbnb) for controlling traveller identity and do not in fact have the authority to do so, we do take steps (unlike Airbnb) to verify identity. After travellers book on ParisSharing, they must provide their home address as it will appear on a contract that they sign upon arrival.

Starting next month, we will also ask for a copy of the guest’s airline or train ticket after booking, and will reserve the right to verify and/or record an image of their passport upon arrival. We will also reserve the right to cancel and reimburse a reservation in the case where a future guest does not provide requested profile and travel information.

The above measures being preventative, we also offer protective measures in case anything unfortunate happens. Unlike Airbnb, we provide an escrow service allowing guests to authorize a security deposit, without having to leave a check or cash. The amount of this deposit represents four times the price per night of the accommodation. Our premium members are also entitled to an additional indemnity up to the same amount, if ever the security deposit as well as homeowner insurance does not cover the cost of damages.

ParisSharing does not deal in the same volume of transactions as Airbnb, but so far we have never encountered a fraud or ill-intentioned guest. The worst we’ve had to deal with is a stained towel. We will continue to adapt our policy and practices to keep it that way.

After visiting the awe-inspiring Hall of Mirrors and relaxing around the Grand Canal, make sure to walk over to the Grand Trianon to visit the current fashion-related exposition, “Le 18eme le Gôut du Jour/The 18^th Century Back in Fashion,” an exhibition dedicated to how 18^th century fashion influences today’s haute couture.

The expo features 50 dresses designed by today’s leading high fashion designers including Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix, Olivier Theyskens for Rochas, Martin Margiela, Azzedine Alaïa, Alexander McQueen for Givenchy, Yohji Yamamoto, and Thierry Mugler.  The fifty pieces reflect how these designers have integrated the designs from the 18th century into their own designs of today. The dresses and accessories on exhibit are on loan from the archives of the couture houses and the Fashion and Costume Museum collection.

The Grand Trianon was built in 1687 by Louis XIV as a place for him to escape court life.  The Grand Trianon is an elegantly proportioned, single-story palace that was designed as a “cozy” hideaway, which is in sharp contrast to the grandeur of Versailles’ main building.  Italian design heavily influences the architecture of the building, which stands between a courtyard and garden.  The exhibition is housed throughout the rooms of this elegant building.

Exhibition Details

July 18 – October 9, 2011

Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 noon to 6:30 pm (last admission to the Grand Trianon is 6:00 pm)

Rates

18€ with Passport ticket or

10€ with ticket for the Trianon Palaces and Marie-Antoinette’s Estate

Tickets are available online.

Access

Access the Grand Trianon by walking across the Park (see the access map), or by entering through the Queen’s gate or the Saint Anthony gate.

Photo courtesy of ParisSharing

Most people, when they come to Paris, want to see as many sights as possible in the shortest amount of time.  How can you possibly see 70 major museums and monuments in just 5 days?!   The Musée du Louvre is the largest museum in the world and houses 35,000 works of art displayed in over 60,000 square meters of exhibition space, you could spend days at the Louvre alone!  Here are a couple of timesaving tips when visiting Paris:

Buy Eiffel Tower Tickets in Advance

Buy your Eiffel Tower tickets in advance online .  Having your tickets in advance will save you time from waiting in the long line to go up the elevator to the top floors.

Get a Museum Pass

The museum pass provides access to 70 museums and monuments in and around Paris.  You’ll save time by not having to buy tickets at each museum. Don’t forget, kids are free at most national museums in France so don’t bother buying passes for children under 18.

Eat Breakfast at Home and Sandwiches for Lunch

One of the great things about renting an apartment from ParisSharing is that all of our properties offer a full kitchen.  You can save a considerable amount of time having breakfast at your home before heading out to visit the City.  Also, the French are known for their long lunches and, while it’s a wonderful experience, you can miss out on a lot of visiting while enjoying a 4-course meal.  Our advice is to skip the cafes or restaurants at lunch and stop off at a boulangerie (bakery).  All boulangeries now offer low-cost, fresh sandwiches that are great to take on the go.

Pass on the Bell Tower

Don’t waste time waiting in line to go up to the bell tower at Notre Dame.  Visit the inside of the church and save the walk up the stairs for another trip.

Louvre Entrance

Enter the Louvre from the “Carrousel du Louvre” entrance on Rue de Rivoli.  Go ahead and take pictures of the pyramid, but don’t wait in the line to get into the Louvre from that level.  Walk over to Rue de Rivoli and use the Carrousel du Louvre entrance,  go downstairs and follow the signs for the museum.

What about you?  Post any timesaving ideas that you learned from your visit to Paris on our Facebook page.

Some people think that France, or especially Paris, is a destination that isn’t too kid-friendly.  We even have a friend who passed on a trip to Paris as she didn’t know what she was going do with her young daughter.  Well, we’re here to tell you that Paris is just as much fun for children as for adults – especially if you know where to take them!

Here are 10 fun things to do with your kids while in Paris.  And these are just the tip of the iceberg.

1. Bateau Mouche

-       Boat tour of the Seine, catch boat in front of Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower – the guided tours are offered in multiple languages, and are also available as lunch or dinner cruises

2. Eiffel Tower

-       Beat the lines by buying your tickets in advance online. The Eiffel Tower is open from 9 am until midnight in the summer – there’s also a restaurant on the first floor and a self-guided children’s tour

3. Notre Dame

-       Climb the 380 steps to the top of the bell tower to see the Emmanuel bell and then get an ice cream at Berthillon on the Ile St. Louis

4. Luxembourg Garden

-       Features an enclosed play area for kids ages 2-12 years old  (tickets are aprox. 2€) and a Guignol Theatre, which is a typical French marionette show – take the Metro to RER B Luxembourg

5. Jardins des Plantes

-       Includes not only beautiful gardens and recently renovated Art Décor greenhouses, and for the kids there’s a small zoo and the Natural History Museum

6. Discovery Museum

-       This science discovery museum regularily features hands-on exhibits with explanations in English  and also houses a planetarium

7. Cite de la Science et L’industrie

-       A wonderful kids science museum with a special kids’ discovery section  (must reserve in advance), plus an IMAX/Geode movie theatre

8. Parc d’acclimatation

-       Located in the Bois de Boulogne, the park features a small amusement park and a Guignol Theatre – every inch is filled with activities for kids including shows, farm animals and workshops

9. Bois de Boulogne

-       This lovely forest on the western edge of Paris with row boats, playgrounds and cafes is two and a half times larger than New York’s Central Park

10. Disneyland Paris

-       You may have visited Disney in the US but the Paris version is worth the trip – there’s something familiar yet uniquely French about DisneylandParis that makes it worth the trip

Not only can you enjoy these fun activities with your kids, but you can rent a ParisSharing apartment and feel at home in Paris while doing them.  What are your top things to do with kids in Paris? Let us know on our Facebook page.

The sales in Paris are going into their second week and great deals can be had for all types of  kids clothes.  Buying clothes for your kids in Paris is a fun experience – finding that perfect t-shirt or dress that you just know none of their friends will have when they go back to school is strangely satisfying.  However, it can also be really expensive, even basics are considerably more expensive than in the US (especially with the exchange rate).  If you are interested in getting some really cute and original kids clothes without spending your entire vacation budget, here are a few suggestions of children’s clothes store chains that are located throughout Paris:

Petit Bateau

The obvious choice and one that all Parisians – big and small go to for true Parisian classic style.  Clothing sizes range from newborn to 12 years old, but t-shirts, underwear and pajamas are available in sizes up to 18 years old. The newborn and infant line cannot be match in quality and fit; Petit Bateau makes the best onesies around! The entire line of ever cool, comfortable and durable cotton basics is timeless.  This season Petit Bateau has launched a line of polo shirts and dresses available in 9 colors.  Even though, Petit Bateau is available throughout the US, it is worth a visit to one of the Paris stores for the selection and the prices.

Obaibi/Okaidi

With a couple of stores on the East Coast and an online store that ships to the US, you can now find this brand in the US.  But, if you’re not in NYC or do not want to spend the extra money on shipping (15 $ with UPS international), you definitely should visit the stores in France.  Obaibi is the line for 0- 5 year olds and Okaidi is for 5 – 14 year olds.  Both stores feature hip styles that are well designed in a color-palate that tends to be on the muted side, but are styled in original and colorful combinations and patterns.  The denim line is great fitting and they also have an affordable shoe line.

Monoprix

Yes, it is a supermarket, but a FRENCH supermarket owned by the Groupe Galleries Lafayette, with a great line of clothes for men, women and especially children.  Each season, Monoprix has a guest designer (usually from an up and coming label) who creates a micro collection. Most recently,  les cerises sur le gateau designed a flowery, whimsical collection of skirts and dresses for girls.  In addition, you’ll find stylish, well made and excellent fitting denim and t-shirts for both girls and boys.  The girls collection features a wide selection of skirts and fashionable dresses that always have an extra bit of detail that ext .  Monoprix also has an organic, fair trade cotton line that includes t-shirts and underwear.

Look out for a future post on higher end brands and concept stores for kids. Do you have a favorite affordable kids store in Paris? Join the conversation on our Facebook page and send in your recommendations for shopping for kids in Paris!  Also take a look at some of our wonderful apartments for your Parisian stay.