8 Days in Paris

Kathy + Amanda

Helpful Information

• WIFI: 

• Network: Livebox-60A1

• Key (password): 77AF 771F 6C04 C699 F254 0F46 19
  0 is zero (not the letter O)

• Internet box is in the electric cupboard located above the toilet.

• Laundry: The laundromat is located two doors down from you at 26 rue Charlot, open daily.

• Emergency Numbers: 

  • Medical: 15

  • Fireman: 18

  • Police: 17

• Closest Pharmacy: Pharmacie de Bretagne, 10 rue de Bretagne

• Closest grocery store: Franprix, 49 rue de Bretagne

• Closest natural food store and organic grocer: Naturalia, 103 rue de Turenne

• There is more information on the following in the printed user manual in the apartment:

  • In-floor heating system

  • Bathroom towel warmer/heater

  • Instructions for the safe

• Appliance manuals are on the top shelf of the kitchen cupboard.

Important Considerations

I’d like to gently remind you that this is a private apartment, not a hotel. Thank you for your understanding.

• There is a hairdryer in your apartment to make your luggage lighter and avoid a blow out.

• No Smoking:  No smoking is allowed in any of the apartments; none of the apartments are insured for smokers.  Thank you for your understanding.

• Heating and Lights:  In France, utilities are more than 2½ times the rates in the U.S. To that, they add an additional 20% in taxes to each bill—welcome to the Twilight Zone of France.  It is crucial to turn off lights and fans when not in use and every time you go out.

• Fans:  Some apartments have air conditioning; others supply fans for hot summer days. However, fans only make you feel cooler, they do not lower temperature, so leaving them running when you are not in the apartment only adds to the utility bill and does not keep the apartment cooler. Please turn fans off when you are turning off the lights.

• Locking the Door and Latching the Windows: 

• Secure all windows every time you leave the apartment. 

• Kindly turn the handle and give it a little tug to be sure the latching mechanism is engaged. Thieves can come over the rooftops and access apartments through open windows. (and unexpected rain showers do occur—damaging the parquet floors, draperies, and rugs.) 

• Always dead bolt the door when you go out. Thieves are as good as in any city, and the apartment is an easy target if the bolts are unlocked. This means shutting the door and then turning the key in the deadbolt.  If you do not turn the key in the lock, you have not bolted the door; it is only latched and is any easy mark. 

• Avoid locking yourself inside the apartment.

• Keys: 

• The apartment door is steel-reinforced and has the best locks, providing you with excellent security. 

• Never leave the keys in the lock on the inside of the door.  When a key is in the lock on the inside, a key will not work from the outside; and it requires a locksmith to get the door open should you leave the key in the lock. 

• Please be careful and don’t misplace your keys as you could, unfortunately, be charged for a full five sets, as well as a replacement lock.  Keys are very costly in France.  (The most recent lock replacement cost a guest 240€ for the locksmith’s visit, 880€ for a replacement lock, and 425€ for five new keys—a staggering bill of 1,545€.  The keys must be specially ordered and cost a minimum of 85€, each, to replace.)    

• Don’t allow strangers in:  As in any large city, there are stories of cons being played by thieves to gain access to an apartment.  One guest in a high-end apartment vacation rental reported that a man knocked on the door, presented himself with credentials, saying he was checking something in the apartment for the building, a ‘control.’  He showed an official-looking badge and the guest let him in. He distracted her; while she was in another room, he stole some heirloom rings—never to be seen again. 

• If a stranger rings the bell and says he needs to check something, even if he says he is an official or policeman, don’t let him in.  Call your apartment contact person immediately and let them take care of it. 

• Do not allow anyone, other than your known apartment host, your guide Karen, or a fellow traveler in our group, into your apartment.

• Building + apartment etiquette:  The residents in the building are generally quiet and respectful of each other’s privacy, and they ask the same of us, as guests. Please do as the French do in their apartment residence:

• Keep voices to a minimum on the stairways, landings, and common spaces. 

• Please bring slippers or an extra pair of socks to walk around in while you’re in the apartment. If you saw the movie Amélie, the nasty vegetable merchant put on slippers every evening after he came home; Amélie switched them for a smaller size as part of her campaign to take revenge on him.  Slippers are what the French usually wear when they walk in the door at night to keep the noise down. 

• Greet your neighbors: An important difference between French and Anglo cultures is greeting people.

• The French always say hello. They will arrive at a business meeting or a dinner party and shake every person’s hand, one by one, and say hello. The same goes with greeting your Parisian neighbors.

• They really do appreciate it when you make the effort to say ‘Bonjour’ or ‘Bonsoir’ when you see them at the elevator or in the entryway. 

• Following the Bonjour/Bonsoir with Monsieur/Madame is considered especially respectful and is always appreciated.

• Your Check-Out. Thank you in advance for doing the following before you check-out:

  • Leave the apartment in a generally neat condition.

  • Place all trash in receptacles.

  • Leave all dishes clean (please start the dishwasher, if using).

  • Place all bath & kitchen towels in a pile in the bathtub or shower (not left in the bedroom).

  • Leave all keys on the dining room table or telephone table, or per instructions from your contact person.

  • Close the door firmly behind you.

Thank you for your look kind consideration. I look forward to the pleasure of hosting you in Paris.