Travel Agent - September 1, 2008 - (Page 18)

DESTINATIONS EUROPE AFFORDABLE PARIS Alluring apartment rentals in the French capital DUE TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, YOUR CLIENTS MAY BE RELUCTANT TO HEAD ACROSS THE POND FOR A EUROPEAN SOJOURN. But clients looking to experience the City of Light should not be deterred by the plummeting value of the dollar; there are still ways to ensure getting the best bang for the buck. Apartment rentals in Paris can be a great value for your clients and provide a distinctly Parisian experience. Not only will your clients be spoiled with more living space than the average Parisian hotel (opulent luxury palaces excluded), but they will also reap the benefits of apartment kitchens. Dining in is cheaper, of course, but it also provides another excuse for exploring the city’s fabulous outdoor produce markets and neighborhood artisanal boutiques, trolling for epicurean riches while slow-shopping the French way. After all, hunting for cheese at the fromagerie, prime cuts of meat at the boucherie and warm baguettes at the boulangerie (and dawdling in front of the perfect window displays) BY ANNE-SOPHIE GUÉRIN is itself a Parisian pastime. Your clients will surely appreciate the chance to live like the locals in authentic neighborhood settings, retreating into quiet, light-filled apartments in central locations after a day at the Louvre or café-hopping on the Left Bank—and getting all the convenient perks of someone else’s home, to boot. Apartments are certainly not for everyone, as some of your clients may prefer the services that hotels provide (like daily room cleaning, a spa and gym and a concierge). But the advantages of renting an apartment are numerous, and you can certainly find the right match for your clients, as each apartment has its own distinct personality. Needless to say, there is a slew of apartment rental agencies in the city, and navigating through all the websites can be a hit-or-miss exercise. We’ve scouted out some fine properties that will charm clients looking for an original, off-thebeaten-path adventure in Paris—without it costing an arm and a leg. Note: Most apartment rentals do not give booking commissions to travel 18 | TravelAgent September 1, 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - September 1, 2008

Travel Agent - September 1, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Europe: Apartment Rentals Offer a Different View of Paris Pacific/Asia: Authentic Sarawak Culture and Longhouse Experiences are Highlights of a Visit to Malaysian Borneo South Pacific: Fiji’s Denarau Island Offers Paradise within a Paradise Las Vegas: As Business Slows, Discounts and Deals are in the Cards at Many Vegas Properties Central & South America: São Paolo, Brazil, is Ideal for Business or Leisure Vacations Caribbean: The Caves in Negril, Jamaica, Offers Quiet Luxury Rosecita Jeffers Takes Over the St. Kitts Tourism Authority Cruises: Crystal Cruises is Making Plans and Changes for the Future Keeping Cruises Affordable with These 12 Tips for Clients Cover Story: Top Supplier Sales Reps Hotels: At Chicago’s Stylish Avenue Hotel, the Kids are all Right Bali is Reinventing Itself as a Family-Friendly Destination Tours: GOGO Worldwide Vacations Renews its Commitment to the Travel Agent Community Agent Profile: Ramesh Kalicharran Looked for His Roots and Helps Others Find Theirs Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Luxury Travel Expo The YTB Controversy Rages On The Latest News From the Caribbean Australia Promotes Australia New Flagship to Relaunch Orient Lines Classified Marketplace Agent Access In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - September 1, 2008

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