Lack of travel agent commission aside, Airbnb may instill in clients a fear of lumpy beds, indoor smokers and foreign locks (and having to navigate them with jetlag). But Paris Perfect, an apartment rental concept that offers agents 5 percent commission, avoids all of that.
Not only are the spaces vetted by local, multilingual staff, but most have worked for the company for five-plus years and serve as concierges, too. That means that any request — from finding the best local coffee shop to locating a French cooking class for kids — can be accommodated.
Additionally, it’s helpful to have access to the unassuming Paris Perfect office and luggage storage area, located in St. Julien. After a red-eye flight, I was soon led inside to use the washroom and stash my stuff, before heading out for a few hours before the official check-in at 3 p.m.
One of the few drawbacks of using Paris Perfect may be that, unlike a traditional hotel, early check-in can be difficult. Additionally, getting to my third-floor, one-bedroom apartment (with two sleeper couches) required taking a lift that fit just one person and one medium-sized suitcase at a time.
Paris Perfect apartment rentals provide a comfortable and stylish stay.
Credit: 2018 Paris PerfectBut the inconveniences stopped there.
Many hotel guestrooms in the City of Light are the size of a postage stamp, and the same goes for other cities where the Paris Perfect concept is offered, such as London and Rome. This was not the case for my Paris rental, which immediately felt like home.
But, unlike my own home — where clothes were still strewn everywhere from prepping to visit the world’s fashion capital — this apartment welcomed me with gleaming surfaces and natural light shining in from the balcony . If I stood on my tiptoes, I could even see a view of the Eiffel Tower. Cleaning staff are trained not for hotels but for homes and their many hidden crevices, including my Paris rental’s full-sized refrigerator and two bathrooms.
After checking in, my concierge, Virgil, walked me through the apartment patiently and efficiently, pointing out where the three spare sets of linens were and where to find a spare voltage adaptor (there were about a dozen extra adaptors).
In addition, Virgil explained where the corkscrew was for the complimentary bottle of wine, set next to crackers (there was also milk and juice in the full-sized fridge). A spiral-bound guidebook also included everything a client might need to know about local restaurants, the hospital and activities ranging from iconic (Versailles) to underground (private tours of the Catacombs).
While most of Virgil’s afternoon consisted of apartment check-ins, his morning duties included taking queries for Paris Perfect renters once they landed and far in advance.
Though I only stayed for two nights, most clients book five to seven nights, allowing them plenty of time to savor and reflect on their trip.
The Details
Paris Perfect
www.parisperfect.com
