|
Post by holger on Feb 13, 2008 15:16:30 GMT -5
Hi,
As some of you know from other posts, we are planning on being in Paris last two weeks of March 2009. I have found an apartment with a great location on Rue St Honore that has two beds,( king that can be separated), and a walk in shower. Both real requirements. It is managed by Welcome 2 France and they are very good in replying to e-mails, etc. But I am a bit concerned that they supply one set of towels for each person per week. A large bath towel, a medium one and a small one. Is this standard? Apt. does have a washer and dryer and I can pack an extra towel or two.
I have written them to inquire about number and quality of bed pillows and blankets or duvets.
Have looked at many of the sites others have posted here and other apartments are either much more money or have other bed and bath arrangements. The alternative would be the Chez Vous Bouquinistes apartment but the beds are smaller as they reflect a queen divided instead of a king. For more money could do Palais Royal.
Any advice will be appreciated. Really need to decide this week as places are booking.
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by luvparee on Feb 13, 2008 15:45:46 GMT -5
Holger - When I was last in Paris, there were 5 of us in one apartment. We also had a washer and dryer, but who wants to be saddled with lots of laundry on vacation?!? I can certainly use a bath towel 2 or 3 times (or more -- you're squeaky clean when you get out of the shower, right?!), but I need 2 washcloths everyday! On my Saturday trip to the Saxe-Breteuil market, I picked up a package of 8 wash mitts (which I love) and also had packed several knowing how many I go through. If the apartment meets your needs, I don't think the towel issue would be a deal breaker. Perhaps you can ask them for more? I certainly don't think they can expect people to shower once in 2 weeks!!!
Let us know what happens ........
|
|
|
Post by gracejoan on Feb 13, 2008 16:00:49 GMT -5
Holger,
I looked at their websit and they seem to have nice places. I don't know which one you are looking at.
You can always tell them that you would like to have more than the one "set" per week. There will be an extra charge, I'm sure.
One of my upcoming rentals for a month, I have made arrangements to have fresh towels and bed linens on a weekly basis. I am not doing laundry! There will be a minimal charge for this.
If you use wash cloths, I would take them with you, as many places do not even have them. Not something that they use. I don't use them. I use the puff things. Take with me. I know when I have house guests, I ask which they want..wash cloth or puff....I have both..or they can have both!!
Hope this was a bit helpful..
Enjoy.......
Joan
|
|
|
Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Feb 13, 2008 16:01:28 GMT -5
I agree with Joy - just ask them whether they can supply more linens (the worst that could happen would be a small additional charge). It would take up a lot of luggage space to bring your own and who wants to do laundry??
|
|
|
Post by holger on Feb 13, 2008 16:17:35 GMT -5
Gosh, you are quick. I did ask and the charge is 15 euros a set or 30 euros for the two of us . For that I will either pack two or buy a couple of cheap ones at Monoprix. It is the apt on Louvre St. Honore. This is not a deal breaker but I am also re-looking at a couple of other apartments. I hhave also asked them about number of pillows, etc. as I don't want to find we don't have enough to sleep well.
Merci.
|
|
|
Post by suzanne on Feb 13, 2008 16:50:50 GMT -5
Holger, I don't mind reusing towels but my hubby refuses. I have noticed that the apartments we've rented were a little stingy with the towels and had no washcloths at all. So I bring a couple of the oldest towels and washcloths I can find in my Linen cupboard and I just leave them behind in the apartmant. This last apartment we had, I washed the towels and hung them up on the towel warmer every night. They were a bit stif,f but hey, we had clean towels. All of the places we've stayed had extra pillows and blankets in the closet. I got my husband a memory foam travel pillow from Sharper Image and he uses that on the plane and in the apartment.
|
|
|
Post by annettecinca on Feb 13, 2008 18:09:56 GMT -5
Holger, I'm glad you're zeroing in on an apartment! I sure don't remember which rental place it was, but I did see one that gave each person 2 sets of towels for the week. All the others I looked at, if mentioned, only said one set per person. Sounds like those towel warmers might really come in handy!
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Feb 14, 2008 4:30:59 GMT -5
Gitte - Are you suggesting that Holger leave those machines working while she is away from the apt. In my book that's a definite no-no. Holger - I think a better solution is to take along some old towels and trash them at the end of your trip.
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Feb 14, 2008 5:03:00 GMT -5
I know about those safety valves, but even if the water from the machine were to spill out, that would be quite a mess. In addition, I just don't think it's ever wise (for whatever reason - a fire?) to have appliances working when there is no one home. Furthermore, I don't think the owner of an apt. should have to list every no-no that exists because there are certain things that he might not even think of. For example, in a rental contract is it written that the tenant must lock the door when he leaves the apt. so that it doesn't get vandalized?
|
|
|
Post by Jody on Feb 14, 2008 6:08:25 GMT -5
I'm with you, Shoesy. I've seen what damage it can do. I unplug the washer, turn off the water valves and even shut off the water supply to the house when we are going to be away.2 of my neighbors had disasters. One had overhead water pipes burst while they were on vacation...ceilings collapsed, walls collapsed, furniture ruined. Their house had over 200,000 dollars worth of damage!
Can't you throw the stuff in the washer as soon as you get up, it would be finished by the time you dressed and had some breakfast.
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Feb 14, 2008 8:06:52 GMT -5
I don't think so, demarais. The washers I've used in Europe take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours just for the wash cycle.
I always bring along one or two of those super-absorbent dish-cloth size towels. Though they're quite small, they really can serve as a bath towel; they are THAT absorbent. (I start using it as soon as I think the bath towel has had it.) I wash them by hand and then hang them on the towel warmer where they dry very quickly. It's not as luxurious as having a bath towel, but it's the price I'm willing to pay not to have to do laundry while on vacation.
They're inexpensive enough that I throw them away rather than bring them home.
|
|
|
Post by Anne on Feb 14, 2008 8:31:28 GMT -5
ALL recent enough washers in France will take 2 hours + for a standard cotton 40° washing : since the norm for the machines are now quite strict in terms of electricity + water + washing powder consumption, well, washings have to last longer so that the clothes get as clean as before with less "environment-unfriendly" supplies . However, all machines that I know of also have a "lavage rapide" button that you can push after you have selected your cycle if the clothes are hardly dirty . Washing time in this case will be around 1 hour . And I am with Chouchou and Demarais here : I hate to leave home when the washer or anything similar is on, there could be some electrical defect in the machine, and then who knows ?
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Feb 14, 2008 8:36:56 GMT -5
My machine is European, and I always press the button that cuts down the time. The longest cycle I use (for towels and men's underwear) takes 74 minutes. When I wash regular clothes, I use a cycle that takes one hour. (61 minutes to be exact ;D)
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Feb 14, 2008 9:28:11 GMT -5
That would drive this impatient American insane
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Feb 14, 2008 10:02:40 GMT -5
I have to go to a Laundromat across the street a bit....cycle to wash is 35 mins. I don't dry all the way because I don't want to spend any more time! By the way, the washer is $2.00..dryers 7 mins for 25 cents...wondering how much they cost elsewhere if anyone knows???
I prefer to do it myself....but when I was at my former job I had gotten to dropping it off because the Laundromats in the area are small and they all have more washers than dryers and it can get ugly! But I find things , like anything with elastic, last longer when I do it myself..I think they dry things to death!!
|
|
|
Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Feb 14, 2008 10:46:09 GMT -5
Well, just to make it clear for those of you who are not in the US, a "long" cycle here might take 30 minutes to wash! And I don't think there is anything I could do by way of programming my washing machine that would take even 45 minutes, much less an hour. (Dryers can take a lot longer, because it depends on how much and how heavy - e.g., five pairs of jeans takes a lot longer than two sheets.) I realize that the combination wash/dry machines in Europe probably were developed mainly because of space issues, but they really make me nuts (plus the ones I've encountered just don't do a very good job).
I like the idea of taking a small super-absorbent towel as an extra (I have a hair drying turban type thing like that - they sell packs of them at Bed, Bath & Beyond, and I use them at home and also when traveling).
|
|
|
Post by suzanne on Feb 14, 2008 10:47:59 GMT -5
The apartment we had this year had one of the washer drier combos. It was in the bathroom. I did get into the habit of throwing everything into the washer in the morning and turning it on as we were leaving. We never had any problems. The laundry was always still damp though. So I hung things on the towel warmer when we got home at night. I discovered that by having the ability to do laundry I could have packed alot lighter. It is definately a big plus in an apartment. The apartment had a book of rules. One was "Do not run the washer after 9 P.M."
|
|
|
Post by andi on Feb 14, 2008 11:57:20 GMT -5
See what you have done now .........you will have me sitting infront of my washing machine, timing the blooming thing! I never really thought about it before, I am thinking it seems longer than 30 minutes though. On our last camping trip to Cornwall we used the laundry room, compared to USA prices...we were ripped off! it was the equivallent to $5.80 for the wash and 40 cents for 5 minutes drying...ouch! Afterthought.......AND the wash ran for about 15 mins LOL
|
|
|
Post by Anne on Feb 14, 2008 11:57:33 GMT -5
And I cannot understand how your sour tennissocks, undies, towels, teatowels, dishing cloths etc. can get clean in 30 minutes !! That's exactly how I feel, and so when coming back from the US last time, I just felt compelled to wash again at home ALL the clothes, even those that I had already washed in Laundromats but that we hadn't wore since then . And Becky, the combination wash/dry machine is notorious for performing poorly in drying, that's why it isn't popular at all . I don't know anyone who owns one, but then maybe it is more popular in Paris because of the lack of space in appartments ? Or maybe it is more an appartment-for-tourists stuff ? Anyway, most French people still don't even own a dryer, these are supposed to damage clothes . I only use mine for towels and bed linen, and that is only when the weather is not good enough to have them dry in the garden ...
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Feb 14, 2008 12:11:43 GMT -5
What I've always found strange in the U.S. is laundry instructions on so many items that specifies washing in cold water. Here the coldest cycle is 30 degrees C., which is by no means "cold". I believe that the best results are obtained by using the warmest water that will not ruin your clothes.
|
|