maxneust Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Hello everybody! First of all, I want to give my thanks to the creators of this forum for helping all of us with the bids.Now, here's the thing: I'm getting married in March (the 8th) and our honeymoon will be in Europe, we'll be there two weeks and we think we'll be going to Rome, Venice, Prague and Paris in that order. We are in some kind of a budget (I'm from Argentina, she's from Mexico... so currency is not on our side :)), but at least in Paris I'd like to find a 3.5 or 4* hotel in a good location. I'll see how that goes and may ask for help for the other cities aswell.I've seen some successful bids on the forum for $90-$100 for 4* on high season, so maybe I can find some nice and well located hotels for that price, right? I'd love to stay below $100.What are your suggestions? Do you need any extra info?Thanks a bunch!Max Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 Welcome to BetterBidding!Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.What are the dates of your Paris stay and which zone(s) are you willing to accept? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
maxneust Posted December 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 Hi, thanks! :)I think dates will be from March 19th to Marth 24th, and zones, I really don't know. From the research I've done on the net I guess everything but La Defense would be fine. If there's any particular zone you'd like to recommend, go ahead :) If not, any other zone is fine.Thanks in advance! Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 I think dates will be from March 19th to Marth 24th, and zones, I really don't knowRates are date specific, and are in a constant state of flux, and bidding strategies/amounts change accordingly.Let us know once your plans are firm and we'll take a look at current rates for the dates of your stay at that time. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
maxneust Posted December 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 Hi. Ok, I have re-checked our schedule and those will be the dates we'll be staying in Paris - 19th to 24th :)Thanks! Link to comment
maxneust Posted December 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Guys, will u be able to help me out with a strategy for this? I'd really really really appreciate it! (And of course buy any stuff tru this forum's links :))Thanks Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Which zones, by priceline name, are you willing to accept?Are you ready to begin bidding for 3/19-3/24 now? 4* with a maximum bid of $100? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
maxneust Posted December 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Hi! Yep, 3/19-3/24, 4* max bid $100.Zones are:Bastille - Bercy Batignolles - Montmartre - RepubliqueChamps Elysees - Opera Quarter WestEiffel Tower - Grenelle - MontparnasseOpera Quarter East - Les HallesSt. Germain - Latin Quarter - MontparnasseThat is, all but La Defense. I have checked and all of these zones seem to be ok for me, however if you consider any of these may not be suitable for honeymooners, please exclude, you surely have more knowledge than me :) If not, I'm fine with all of those.Thanks a lot!Maxi Link to comment
WillTravel Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 The zones that have 4* are always subject to change. But take a look again at the Batignolles - Montmartre - Republique zone. Right now, it only allows up to 3* bidding. The 4* zone that I would worry about is Eiffel Tower - Grenelle - Montparnasse. There are several good hotels that are well-located in this zone, but there's also one that is poorly located (just outside Paris boundaries) and poorly reviewed - the Sofitel Porte de Sevres. (Actually that is its old name - now it's the Pullman Paris Rive Gauche as of December 5). So if you include it, keep in mind the risk you are taking. Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Based upon WillTravel's comments do you still want to bid all the zones above?I'll also add that i think it is likely you will need to go higher than $100 for a 4* property. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
maxneust Posted December 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Hi guys,I didn't see the small part of Eiffel Tower - Grenelle - Montparnasse that was out of city boundaries :) Thanks for the heads up.thereuare, then please exclude that zone; and about the max bid, since I saw some others getting some 4* hotels for 90-100 here on the board even on high season, I thought $100 would be a good number. What's your suggested max bid?Thanks! Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 You can set your budget at whatever level you feel comfortable, i just wouldn't be surprised if it took more than $100/nite.You're bidding enough zones that we can suggest a strategy that starts well below $100 and gradually increases, making sure you don't overbid, but i can't say how high you're willing to go at this point in time.Let us know and we'll advise accordingly. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
maxneust Posted December 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Ok, let's go up to $110, if there's no success then I'll just lower a star and bid accordingly :)Thanks!Max Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 At the 4* level you have on re-bid zone available. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.Select 4* Bastille...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Champs...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Opera Quarter East...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* St Germain...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Bastille and Champs...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* OQE and St Germain...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Bastille and OQE...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Champs and St Germain...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Bastille and St Germain...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* OQE and Champs...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* OQE and Champs and St Germain...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* OQE and Champs and Bastille...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously....and if you get this far and want to go one more round:Select 4* St Germain and Bastille and Champs...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* St Germain and Bastille and OQE...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120.Any questions feel free to ask.Good Luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
maxneust Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Thank you thereuare!I have just followed the strategy to no avail. I went all the way up to $120 and did all the rebids as indicated, and didn't have any luck.What do you suggest now? Should I wait and try again, or just lower prices and stars?Thank you so much! Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Should I wait and try again, or just lower prices and stars?It depends...Is $120 your maximum budget and what do you expect from your hotel stays?I was disappointed in the hotel i chose for my own Paris trip. It was a solid 3*, but in Europe a 3* is very different than a 3* here in the US, and i would be hesistant to book a 3* in Europe again. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
maxneust Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 I guess it is, I may stretch up to $130 but not a dollar more, it is already a little out of our budget. I'd really like to stay in a nice hotel in Paris, it is the city we look forward to meet the most, and it is our honeymoon!!! Do you think increasing $10 in each one of the bids you recommended me for the next strategy would be a good approach?Thank you soooo much!Oh, by the way, it may be useful info for you: when making the bids I got a couple of counteroffers for $158 and $163. Link to comment
WillTravel Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 I'd suggest looking for a backup (non-Priceline), cancellable hotel to book that meets your budget. Then at least you'll have the peace of mind so that you know you will get something somewhere that is in your price range, because this seems to be a relatively expensive time (although that seems to be most of the time in Paris, lately). Basically you are allowing about 90-95 Euros per night (considering the USD/Euro exchange rate, taxes, and fees) and that does not go very far in Paris, even for a 2* hotel, if booking conventionally. Link to comment
maxneust Posted December 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Thanks for your suggestions WillTravel, I guess I will end up doing that and keep trying with priceline. I went all the way up to $135 thru savingsbarn.com link and nothing came up :)If anyone has any idea that may increase the chances of winning (other than willing to pay more :)), please pitch in your two cents.Thanks!Max Link to comment
WillTravel Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 One thing that I notice for the Marriott Rive Gauche (which is the 4* hotel that has been reported here with some ~$90 bids lately) is that its regular rate is 295 Euros per night for March 19-21, and 175 Euros per night for March 21-24 (which is a weekend).This suggests to me that if you are willing to split your bid, you have a chance of winning with a lower amount on March 21-24. March 19-21 might be very hard to win at any sort of reasonable price. Anything could happen, but I would suggest checking the rates on other popular 4* hotels and see if this pattern holds up. Some people hate switching, and some don't mind - so it's up to you whether you would want to take this risk. Link to comment
mcremata Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thought I'd post this for those struggling to find a good hotel in Paris at a good price. I have found it tough to bid through Priceline for a quality/luxury hotel since the elimination of the 4*+ category in Paris. With so many not-so-hot 4* hotels, it makes bidding risky. Hotel rates through conventional means are extremely high during March, but I found this deal: Hotel Francois 1er & Keppler, both owned or managed by the same company are offereing "free night" when you purchase 2. You cannot get the deal through the hotel website, but you can get it on Otel.com, GTA Hotels.com & Skoosh.com. FYI, GTA Hotels.com offers the deal for their Executive Rooms too, which are a bit larger. 3 nights will average for a standard room $190 or for executive $214 (with tax, my executive came to $252.00 per night and includes breakfast). Both hotels are reviewed extremely well on TripAdvisor.com. Hope this helps someone! Link to comment
Chris26WI Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 I wouldn't exclude La D Link to comment
WillTravel Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Hoping to hear an update from the original poster! This would only work for some nights of the original poster's stay, but it's a pretty good deal for a 4* hotel:http://ca.deals.travelzoo.com/worldwide/361413We are going to be in Paris from March 21-24, and I booked this hotel on www.hrs.de for 80 Euros per night including breakfast: http://www.parishotelmarciano.comIt appears you can get a 70 Euro rate without breakfast for a 3-night stay. It's definitely not a 4* hotel. I'd say a mediocre 3* hotel, although recently refurbished. However, the location works well for us on this trip. Hotwire lists a higher rate for a 3* hotel in this area, and from reviews of what I think the hotel is, I don't think the Hotwire hotel is any better. Link to comment
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