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            Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love,
            live in or have just visited - are what make this guide.
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                <title>Avoid Holiday Velvet</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19536</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[We booked a flat in Paris based on information on the website. When we arrived on a Saturday night the key was not available. With a lot of luck we were able to contact a local agent who was able to get us into the flat that Holiday Velvet had booked with them for us. it was not the flat shown on the web. It was small and cramped and cost two thirds of what we paid. We have been ignored by Holiday Velvet and have not received our deposit refund let alone any refund of the difference in the rental.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Confirm garbage collection times!</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12821</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[I recently rented a great studio for a month in the Marais district. Perfect by all accounts ... but it was ground floor, on the courtyard beside the garbage bins. The bins were emptied around 4am, outside the window of the rental. It was disappointing that this nightly routine was not mentioned by the owners. We lost a lot of sleep ... and energy!]]></description>
                
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                <title>My best Valentine's Day in Paris</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11358</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[James, my husband and I love spending weekends in Paris and each time we have the opportunity, we try to experience different places even if it is sometimes difficult not to book into our favourite hotel in St Germain.<br><br>We decided to take 4 days off to celebrate Valentine's Day and Paul wanted to organise everything which was very romantic! He seemed so excited about it that I guessed it was something very special. After staying in so many charming places in Paris, we have both become very demanding. <br>After I insisted so much he gave me the following clues:<br>He said we would be in the very heart of Paris, with a view from the window of the Place de la Concorde, the Parliament Building and some of the most beautiful bridges on the seine, the Pont Alexandre III. I guessed what it might be but I did not say anything as I did not want to disappoint him.<br><br>In fact, during one of our previous stays, after a long walk we had actually stopped at the Hotel Crillon for a cup of tea and I mentioned that I would love to stay there at least once! On our arrival day after the Eurostar the taxi drove us to the Place de la Concorde where the Crillon is situated but instead of stopping in front of  the Palace we continued on towards the quai where he stopped in the middle of nowhere as there were hardly any buildings let alone  hotel. <br><br>When we walked down the steps to the river with our luggage, I suddenly realised that we were not going to stay in a palace but in a péniche which was situated exactly as Paul mentioned: our accommodation would be in between the Alexandre III bridge, the Parliament building and the Place de la Concorde and at my door the quais that I love so much to wonder along. We had a lovely stay at Alain and Rita’s home who live there all year. Paul found this fabulous place through <a target="_new" href="http://www.paris-apartments-for-rent.com">www.paris-apartments-for-rent.com</a> and we recommend you to experience it just for one day. Rate is 150 € per night including breakfast.]]></description>
                
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