Travel Agent - September 1, 2008 - (Page 19)

agents, so it’s necessary to add your own fee for a client booking. Pad-à-Terre (www.pad-a-terre.com) is unique on the Paris apartment rental scene because founder James Burgess, a British ex-pat who’s lived in Paris for more than 10 years, personally owns all eight apartments on offer. As explained to Travel Agent, Burgess’ goal is to create comfortable accommodations, on par with elegant boutique hotels, in enviable locations, that offer excellent value for money. “I hunt down apartments (ideally in poor condition) in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th [and] 6th arrondissements, knock them down to the ground and with an architect/designer team, complete the renovation,” he says. Established in 2003, Pad-à-Terre offers competitive rates and helpful service; it is committed to ensuring that guests enjoy Paris the way the locals do and also provides a booklet of information with insider tips for each apartment. Case in point: For the three-bedroom St Honoré apartment, situated on the fashionable rue St Honoré, just a stone’s throw from the Louvre, the Apartment Guide is peppered with recommendations for groceries, lesser-known galleries and restos, and even tips on accessing Velib’—the city’s self-service bicycle lending program. Like all the Pad-à-Terre apartments, St Honoré is bright, well appointed and fully equipped with all the modern comforts like wireless Internet and a contemporary kitchen. Your clients will love the Philippe Starck bathrooms and bed and bath linens by London’s White Company. Many of the Pad-à-Terre apartments are housed in historic hotels particuliers (the homes of 17th-century aristocrats), and thus showcase wooden beams, traditional oak floors and charming historic touches. It is unusual to find air conditioning and modern amenities in the city’s historic heart, but all these apartments—ranging from one-, two- and three-bedroom—are endowed with all the contemporary conveniences. Local trivia: Molière lived just a few doors down from the prestigious address of the St Honoré apartment. For bookings, e-mail Burgess (contact@pada-terre.com), and he will follow up by phone to help determine the perfect apartment match for your client. Generally Saturday to Saturday bookings afford the best rates. The “Archives” apartment is the largest of the bunch, at nearly a whopping 1,300 square feet. Ideal for six people, the apartment is quite a find in the vacation rental market—just adjacent to the Archives, a grand mansion in the Marais neighborhood. Romantic Options For a romantic apartment in the bohemian Montmartre neighborhood, high on the hill above the white roofs of Paris, book the Swell Apartments (www.swell-apartments. co.uk/paris/apartment). Owned by Amanda Swanwick-Aharoni and Brendan Kirwan, the 420-square-foot apartment is located in an Art Nouveau building at 11 rue Duhesme. This quiet, one-bedroom hideaway is perfect for a couple. Your clients can make like Audrey Tatou’s Amélie and discover all the artsy delights and whimsical café culture in the neighborhood. For all the best addresses, an information pack is provided in the apartment with the owner’s recommendations. The apartment is cozy and oozes indulgence; the bedroom boasts an original fireplace, CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 ON THE LEFT: A view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background BOTTOM: A bedroom in the Swell Apartments September 1, 2008 TravelAgent | 19 http://www.pad-a-terre.com http://www.swell-apartmentsco.uk/paris/apartment http://www.swell-apartmentsco.uk/paris/apartment

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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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