cheffip

Any advice on this one: June 18 - 22. 4.5* Oceanfront Collins. Amenities: Beachfront, restaurant, tennis, fitness, high speed, spa, pool golf. Your list of ID'd hotels doesn't show a 4.5* for that area so I wondered if one of the 4* had been upgraded? Thanks!

Just to close this thread for now, I have a cancellable reservation at a small boutique hotel made through their own website. I like the sound of it but will revisit PRICELINE / HOTWIRE in a few months just in case.

OK the suspense is over. It was the Sheraton. I used your BB link to HOTWIRE and booked in Cdn dollars so: October 4, 2012 1 night Sheraton Paris Aiport Hotel Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, High Speed Internet Rate $94.73 Cdn Taxes etc. $14.11 Total $108.84 Cdn I am really pleased because this allows me to spend the evening in Paris, make my own way to the airport using the RER and have a less stressful morning before my 7:00 am flight to Venice. Plus, today's Expedia and Sheraton websites are showing the least expensive room to be about $400. Thanks again for your help on this one!

That's a very reasonable theory. Does Hotwire always display the lowest priced hotel in a given zone/amenities? I was wondering why both hotels wouldn't show up if they are both available? I checked the websites of both the Sheraton and the Hilton. Sheraton is not set up for kids (the latest TA review complains loudly about this) nor is the Hilton though it offers a very high end suite (about $800 pn) with a second bedroom for kids but no reference to kitchenette facilities. Is the lack of a restaurant icon amenity further proof that the 4* "suite/kitchenette" is a different hotel or could that rather important information be hidden by Hotwire? Having an on-site restaurant is a pretty important feature to a lot of people. Thanks for your ongoing help on this...and Merry Christmas! (PS I am doing my PRICELINE and HOTWIRE searches through your links.)

That was my hunch but I did a random check on various dates through 2012 with the same result: the "95% property" with 2 adults that morphed into the "suites/kitchenette" property when 2 children were added in. That might be too much of a concidence to suggest that there are two different properties available on all the same dates.

I'm still at the research stage for decidng what I want for the Oct 1-3 dates and am finding BB very helpful and am using your links to Hotwire and PL for part of my my research. I'll get back with more specific questions. However, I would appreciate your reply to my most recent question related to this trip on the Hotwire board. (CDG Oct 4). Thanks.

Thanks...what's your view of the new result for the same day that I got by adding in the two children (a trick I learned from this forum). If it is the same hotel that I found with no children it would likely rule out the Sheraton and maybe the Hilton (suites with kitchenettes). On the other hand are there any hotels other than Hilton/Sheraton that feature the 95% approval rating?

Firmed up plans. Now looking via BB searches to HOTWIRE and PRICELINE for Oct 1-4 but also on individual websites of smaller boutique hotels. However, for Oct 4/5 I am planning on staying at CDG because of an early morning flight to Venice and I have posted a separate hotwire thread on BB about that one. Thanks.

After staying three nights in Paris, I'm seriously considering spending the night of Oct 4 at CDG airport because of an early morning flight to Venice on October 5. A Hotwire search for October 4 shows a 4* for $88 with amenities: Fitness, Restaurant, Business Centre, High Speed, 95% Hotwire recommend. Searching on the wins reported and your list, it appears this would be the Sheraton or Hilton. The Sheraton has been reported on BB recently several times with these amenities, the Hilton I believe only once. While it's a good deal for either hotel, I would prefer the Sheraton. Interestingly, on some dates around Oct 4, a hotel with the same price/amenities shows up but Hotwire indicates (with a strike-out line) that the list price is $196 - $216. (It doesn't show the list price for Oct 4) That concerns me because a check of Hotels.com shows a list price for the Sheraton for that date of more than $400. Do you think it's a fairly safe bet or are there other 4* hotels at CDG that are likely to pop out of the woodwork? Edit: I just noticed if I add in two children, the only 4* that shows up costs $199 with suite, shuttle, and kitchenette. Not sure if that is still a match for the Sheraton?? :(

Done...thanks!

In the end I took a pass on this trip but reviews for the Edgewater have been good so I would consider staying there in future.

Thanks...in the end I gave this trip a pass.

I have pretty firm plans in place for a European trip in October that would have me in Paris from October 2-5. Quite shocked at the Hotels.com etc prices of 4* hotels so I think Priceline would be the way to go. However my dates are also "Fashion Week" which seemed to cause problems for people bidding through this board in October 2011. How early on do you think I should start the bidding process? I would want a 4* in a central neighbourbood. If I got something like the Marriott Rive Gauche at the prices being reported here I would be very pleased ;) Advice svp?

Would appreciate assistance with these two South Beach Central hotels with very similar icons. March 28 - April 1. 2 1/2 * $60 recommended in 80% of Hotwire reviews Boutique, Near Beach, Shuttle, Pool, Restaurant, High Speed, Golf, Tennis 3 * $71 recommended in 45% of Hotwire reviews Boutique, Near Beach, Shuttle, Restaurant, High Speed, Golf, Tennis (only difference is no pool) I wonder if the 2 1/2* is a downgraded rating of the Catalina? Another question...how do I find your calendar of wins...found it once by chance and can't seem to find the link now. Thanks.

Thanks...looks like a really good choice for SoBe.

Interesting...I would be very satisfied with the Edgewater. It's new and has good early reviews. But I don't see your hotel on HOTWIRE for April 5-6. Did it have all the same icons that I listed?

Used your HOTWIRE link to check on zone...it's SoBe Ocean Drive. Given results from your awards calendar, if this one checked out I would take it over an unknown Priceline (unless I could get a Priceline 4* in this price range which is unlikely in high season). I notice Hotwire is labeliing this a "Super savings" price. Is that significant? Thanks.

Any idea on the following for March 27, 1 night @ $127?? 3 1/2 * Boutique, Beachfront, smoke free, comp breakfast, laundry,high speed I need a SoBe room for one night and am discouraged by the prices I see on Hotels.com etc. Wondered about this Hotwire option or whether I should try my luck on Priceline. If so is there a SoBe Priceline strategy? I have some experience with South Beach hotels and have found the star ratings aren't a good guide to what you end up with.

No problem...I stayed at "the House". I paid 90 euros but you may get for significantly less depending on the room you choose and dates. It has a top floor terrace with stunning views over Lisbon and it's very close to the #28 tram which goes everywhere you would want to be in Lisbon. Good breakfast. Very nice owner. Check out the Tripadvisor reviews.

Amenities shown: Smokefree, fitness, restaurant, business and highspeed I will keep you posted on April 29 and 30. I might just avoid London altogether on Friday... lot of other great destinations in England for a night or two.

Here's what I did as a first step. I used your HOTWIRE link and booked the Holiday Inn Camden Lock for May 1 and 2 because I wanted to try out the neighbourhood and the hotel has good reviews. So for your records...May 1-3 Holiday Inn Camden Lock $129 per night X 2 plus $54.46 service charges = $312.46. For comparison, the hotel's website non-refundable rate would be $473 and Expedia non-refundable would be $484 so I am pleased. I'll reserve something in another neighbourhood through Expedia for April 29-30 as you suggest and try my luck on PRICELINE.

Looks like the Camden Lock hotel has disappeared. I checked out some recommended B&Bs and they have disappeared as well. Is Priceline much of an option during these big international events or should I just try to find something decent via Expedia etc?

OK I've clicked on your HOTWIRE link and the results are the same. So any advice on the two hotels I described above? Also want to confirm that a $174 4* Regents Park - Camden lock with Smokefree, fitness, restaurant, business and highspeed is in all probability the Holiday Inn Camden Lock. (interestingly the hotel website says smoking rooms are available despite the Hotwire icon)

I will be in London from April 29- May 3. I was going to wait closer to the date to book a hotel but William and Kate's wedding date is making me plan ahead. Two Hotwire deals caught my eye but I don't see them in your pinned list...any thoughts? Kensington 4* - smokefree, fitness, restaurant, laundry highspeed - 85% recommend London Docklands 4* - fitness, pool, restaurant, business, highspeed - 100% recommend

In the end I booked a B&B that is highly regarded in Tripadvisor reviews. But thanks for the help, as always.