The French Experience Frequently Asked Questions

We have included this question as we are aware that some people are concerned with making bookings online due to internet fraud and scams.

The French Experience is an online marketplace offering short term apartment and hotel rentals from a selection third party accommodation providers.  The French Experience does not own, control or manage the properties and relies on property providers to fairly represent the facilities and standard of the properties they represent. 

The French Experience has no control over the existence, quality, safety, suitability or legality of any listing, and while The French Experience may help facilitate the resolution of disputes, the suppliers alone are responsible for their listings and service provision.

The French Experience is a registered, Australia based online booking agency. ABN 11 624 848 433. The service has been running since 2006.

You can book online by selecting your arrival and departure dates and following the booking process. You will be offered a list of available apartments and their cost for you exact dates and a “book” button will be provided on each accommodation description page.

You can pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard and AMEX) via the secure booking page.  Please note that we are not able to confirm your booking until we receive a receipt of transaction and the supplier has accepted your booking request.

It is important to note that the suppliers are responsible for identifying, understanding and complying with all laws, rules and regulations that apply to their listings and that once a booking is made or accepted, the contractual agreement is between you and the supplier.

Prices are all inclusive, in Australian dollars. All inclusive means credit card fees, local taxes, cleaning, electricity, heating, currency conversion…

We believe doing so makes it clear and avoid any unexpected surprise along the way. When comparing oversees offers we invite you to compare the details of their offer and make sure you add all the relevant conversion fees charged by your financial institution and all booking and payment fees.

Specific extra fees might be required per accommodation for late arrivals, early departure or arrivals and departures on public holidays, all these are clearly presented at the time of booking online under “Specific information for this apartment”.

Some apartments require a security bond often as a credit card pre authorisation, held here in Australia or processed on arrival at the accommodation. Again if a security bond apply to an apartment it will be clearly stated on the online booking page or the booking form.

It is rare, however in the event that The French Experience is unable to provide you with the property originally booked, The French Experience reserve the right to offer you an alternative available property.  If the property is of a lesser value, you can choose to accept with a refund for the difference in price.  If the property is of a greater value and you accept, you will be asked to pay the difference.  You are not obliged to accept any alternative and if the property offered is not suitable or the dates are unavailable for any alternative property, the booking will be cancelled and you will be given a full refund.

Possible reasons for cancellation by The French Experience would include but is not limited to: notification by the supplier of damage to the apartment, flooding, fire, property has been sold and is no longer available for rent, legal instruction, and major construction on the building or environs.

Check in times vary for different apartments, generally between 2pm and 5pm the information for each apartment is specified on the online booking page or on the booking form.

Hotel standard check in time is 4pm.

Guests are asked to vacate apartments by requested check out time on their day of departure in order for the apartments to be made ready for the following guests. Check out times are generally between 10am or 11am.

The local hosts will always do their best to try and accommodate the request for an early check-in where possible, however it is impossible to confirm until the last minute due to guest departures and cleaning schedules.

If you would prefer certainty that the apartment will be ready for you on early arrival after a long flight, we strongly recommend booking the apartment the night before.

The local hosts will try to be as flexible as they can be. Please bear in mind, that the apartment may be booked on the day of your departure and they are simply unable to allow a late check out. If you have a late flight out, we would suggest you consider booking the apartment for an extra night.  That way you can leave in your own time.

Yes all properties have linen and towels supplied.

No, part of the service we offer is to lock the price in Australian dollars at the time of booking. You know exactly what you pay at the time of booking, even booking months ahead of your stay.

The French Experience does not own, control or manage the properties and once a booking is made or accepted the contractual agreement is between you and the supplier. 

From time to time problems will arise and when they do, you should liaise with the local host to resolve any issues.  

The French Experience may try to help facilitate the resolution of disputes, however the suppliers alone are responsible for their listings and service provision.  If the supplier fails to resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you can make a formal complait to the local Tourism Office.