Context: 204 euros. In September, average price of the standard double bedroom in Paris crossed the symbolic threshold of 200 euros, a 26% increase compared to 2010 figures. According to the Trivago index, this makes Paris the third most expensive European city after Geneva (298 euros) and London (220 euros).
Here is a link to the famous www.airbnb.com.
If you are planning to visit Paris, I highly recommend Roch’s apartment for your next visit: Paris St Michel – Latin Quarter for Lovers. The place is cozy, functional, bright and ideally located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, one of Paris’ most charming and beautiful neighborhoods. A truly caring host, Roch will do his best to make your stay in Paris a wonderful and unique experience !!
You’ve already heard about Couchsurfing, Craigslist and Hostelworld: welcome to Airbnb, a new way of traveling based on « owner to owner » direct rentals.
As off today, the site covers more than 8 000 cities around the world in more than 170 cities: private rooms, full apartments comparable to hotel suites, caravans, boats, castles, towers… all dreams and budgets should find the perfect match.
Let’s imagine that for your holidays or professional reasons, you are planning to spend 1 week in Paris. You already picture yourself in the city of lights, strolling down the banks of the Seine. You would like to make to most of your stay, choosing a place that is located in the very heart of the city, in the historical district and two steps away from boutiques with Paris fashion and treasure deals. You can already smell the comforting odors from fresh baked croissants and breads..
You would like to avoid paying the highest prices for everyday services such as drinks, Internet connection, local and international phone calls and are looking for a competitive alternative to impersonal hotel atmospheres. Maybe would you like to rely on habits and recommendations of a real Parisian living in the Latin Quarter or in Saint Germain des Prés, few minutes for the Sorbonne University for a genuine immersion ? How could you find the gem you are looking for ?
Airbnb will be the perfect partner in preparing your stay ! The research platform will allow you to filter using many criteria to find the perfect spot: from the country, city, district as well as details such as the language of the host. And you will have a lot of choice: with more than 1500 rental offers in 2011, Paris became the second most popular city on Airbnb after New-York… Not surprising for the first touristic destination in the world !
How does it work? Whether you are the guest or the host, subscription is very easy and can be made through a 1-click button if you have a Facebook account.
Once you are logged in, you can:
> navigate through the rental offers in the city you will be visiting and contact the owners for any questions you might have. Do not hesitate to use the small map to find the best spots if you target a specific district. Each host will have a description of the place, sometimes recommendations from previous Travelers, and a « Guidebook » logo if he took the time to prepare your arrival with few tips about his neighborhood (visites, shopping etc.).
> Describe your apartment, add some pictures and set up your pricing strategy (minimum number of nights required, price per night, week, month, cleaning fees, deposit, etc.). You will be able to adjust prices depending on the time of the year as well.
My own experience with Airbnb services is extremely positive: they put at my disposal a professional photographer for free, and the customer support is very reactive.
How much does it cost? Airbnb has a commission-based business model: 6-12% will be paid by the Traveler and 3% will be paid by the Host. The Traveler pays full amount of the reservation on its confirmation. The Host gets paid full amount for the upcoming month the day following the checking-in.
Do not hesitate to contact me (paris.odeon@gmail.com) should you have any question about the article or the rental offer Paris St Michel – Latin Quarter for Lovers
Ressources:
Here is a link to Airbnb FAQ and security measures : Airbnb safety
Finally, here a the video called « How to Airbnb »..
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