Frette linens, central air conditioning, fluffy bathrobes and high end artwork on the walls
are traditionally found in first rate hotels but now savvy Paris apartment owners are
offering these extras to the guests of luxury Paris vacation apartments.
As the euro increases, the number of Paris vacation apartments on the market rises
since guests are considering other options. The growing competition for guests is
driving out the worn furniture, tacky décor and unfashionable details. Many home owners
have considered offsetting costs by making their unoccupied vacation apartments or
homes available to short term guests.
Michael and Kathleen Morgan recently rented a 2 bedroom apartment in the Marais from
Paris Luxe Apartments, parisluxeapt.com. They were amazed by the amenities of the
Balthazar apartment which included two thick terry cloth robes, Viking stove in the
kitchen, DVD player, museum quality art on the walls and fine china usually reserved for
newlyweds. The last time they five years ago, the furniture was worn, the kitchen had a
few pots and pan. Everything is so much nicer said Ms. Morgan, an accountant from Des
Moines, Iowa.
To stand out from other Paris vacation rentals, new owners are spending more than
$500,000 on upgrades and new furnishings including Italian leather sofas, plasma
televisions and designer linens. Owners, Jane and Sam Rhodes understand ears that
to attract the right clientele, they need to offer the same quality as a five star hotel. Every
few years serious upgrades, such as a new kitchen, new bathroom or landscaping is
required.
No matter how many perks the owners provide there are always guests who see fit to
complain and want even more. Guests rant about allergies to feather stuff pillows or a
distained for the Italian Nespresso machine. To some the extra pampering in Paris
vacation apartments makes vacation guests spoiled. Some apartments even include a
concierge service that will welcome you into the apartment and ensure that your airport
transfers are prompt, restaurant reservations confirmed and answer any Paris lifestyle
questions.
In June 2006, Victoria and William McCellan paid $2.5 million for a 2 bedroom in the
St.Germain des Pres arrondissement of Paris to use as a family getaway. To help pay
the mortgage they started renting in out through Paris Luxe Apartments when they
weren’t using it. The apartment was well equipped; it came with a washer/dryer and a
sunken Jacuzzi tub. Now when they need to attract affluent guests, the McCellans top
quality cookware, high end bedding with lots of silk pillow. This tactic worked and the
McCellans secure their desired weekly vacation rate.
The McCellans realized that some guests can be sticky fingered especially when they
noticed $100 bathrobes missing fortunately they had taken the guest’s security deposit.
And this year, a guest took a Turkish pillow which Ms. McCellan confronted the guest,
she admitted to taking it and apologized. Ironically the guest never returned the pillow
but once again the security deposit covered the cost of the pillow
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