Priceline Hotel: ID Priceline Express - Paris - Aug 23 - 27

[everyedge]

Hello, need help ID'ing these HOTWIRE hotels in Paris, dates: Aug 23 - 27, 2014. I'm primarily focused on St Germain and Louvre. Does anyone have experience staying in other areas that are "better"? We are looking a central location for the Louvre, shopping, walking around and just enjoying the city.

 

Thank you!

5* in Saint Germain des Prés - Jardin du Luxembourg area

90% Recommended

Amenities: Free Internet, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center,  Spa Services

Price $253 CAD

 

4* in Saint Germain des Prés - Jardin du Luxembourg area

85% Recommended

Amenities: Smoke Free Rooms

Price $158 CAD

4.5* in Louvre - Vendome - Concorde area

100% Recommended

Amenities:  Pet friendly, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, Internet access, Spa Services

Price $224 CAD

 

4* in Louvre - Vendome - Concorde area

85% Recommended

Amenities:  Free Internet, Pet friendly, Smoke Free Rooms

Price $183 CAD

[everyedge]

Hello, trying to ID PRICELINE EXPRESS deals in Paris, August 23 - 27, 2014.

 

4* St Germain

Internet, Bed choice

$148/night CAD

Guest rating: 8

 

4* Latin Quarter

Pets, Internet, Bed choice

$168/night CAD

Guest rating: 8

 

Help ID'ing these would be appreciated.

Also, any suggestions on the best location for a 4-day Paris visit would be appreciated. St Germain and Latin Quarter seem quite central. Looking for safe location with good eating options, shopping, sightseeing, strolling, metro.

 

Of the HOTWIRE secret hotels, PRICELINE EXPRESS, and PRICELINE bidding, which usually yields the best results (price/quality)?

 

Thank you for your help!

[thereuare]

Of the HOTWIRE secret hotels, PRICELINE EXPRESS, and PRICELINE bidding, which usually yields the best results (price/quality)?

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Bidding on Price.line is usually the least expensive of the three, but the other two give the advantage of being able to guess the hotel you may receive before your purchase as well as 'know' some of the quality details based upon the user review/percent recommendation information provided (and for some HOTWIRE hotels the TA rating when provided)

What is your target budget for this trip? What is more important to you for this stay... the lowest price or having a guess as to what you may receive before your purchase?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[everyedge]

Thanks for the tip.

 

Our first goal is to stay under $160 for a 4* in the heart of Paris.

 

Now, having said that, I don't know which hotels these might be and if it is revealed that they are not what we are looking for, then we may consider paying more. I don't imagine the 4* will be insufficient though (I hope!).

 

Any help ID'ing the hidden hotels would be great.

 

Thanks

[everyedge]

Sorry missed the 2nd part of your question.

 

More important would be having a decent guess at what we may receive before purchasing.

 

Cheers -

[everyedge]

Thereuare - sorry to be a bother but are these hotels known to you? Hoping to book this weekend, if possible.

 

Cheers

[AaronJB]

"5* in Saint Germain des Prés - Jardin du Luxembourg area

90% Recommended
Amenities: Free Internet, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center,  Spa Services
Price $253 CAD
"

Are you also seeing accessible path of travel when clicking on the listing? Please provide all amenities - including accessible amenities - when posting.

 

This listing has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board - the Hotel Bel Ami or a new amenity set for the Hotel Montelambert would be guesses.

 

---

 

"4* in Saint Germain des Prés - Jardin du Luxembourg area

85% Recommended
Amenities: Smoke Free Rooms
Price $158 CAD"

 

With one relatively common amenity, it's tough to begin to narrow down what this may be.

 

--

4.5* in Louvre - Vendome - Concorde area

100% Recommended
Amenities:  Pet friendly, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, Internet access, Spa Services
Price $224 CAD

 

Not yet ID'd/reported to the board, but an upgraded Westin (which has been previously reported to the board at the 4* level - would be a guess. Additionally, if you click on this listing and go to the detail page, are you seeing any accessible amenities?

 

--

 

"4* in Louvre - Vendome - Concorde area

85% Recommended
Amenities:  Free Internet, Pet friendly, Smoke Free Rooms
Price $183 CAD"

 

This listing has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board, but I'd guess a new amenity set for the Novotel Paris Les Halles would be a possibility in this case.

 

---

4* St Germain

Internet, Bed choice
$148/night CAD
Guest rating: 8

- With only one amenity, this is difficult to begin to narrow down.
 
4* Latin Quarter
Pets, Internet, Bed choice
$168/night CAD
Guest rating: 8
 - Not yet ID'd/reported to the board.

 

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[everyedge]

Yes, accessible path of travel for both.

 

I think I'd like to try the bidding route.

 

If I was to bid on priceline for a 4+ star in either louvre, st germain or latin quarter, am I correct that I might know which hotels I am bidding on? Or is the benefit to bidding strictly lower price?

 

Thanks.

[yellowdog]

am I correct that I might know which hotels I am bidding on? Or is the benefit to bidding strictly lower price?

Paris is a difficult town to predict the outcome so I would say that the biggest benefit is the lower price.

All reported hotel for Paris can be found in this link: Priceline Paris hotels

 

But the this Price.line Hotel List is NOT a complete list of all hotels that Price.line offers in this area, it is ONLY a compilation of hotels that have already been reported on this forum. Hotels are added/removed by Price.line all the time, and star ratings can change at ANY time. As well, the geographic boundaries of an area are subject to change

 

If you would like to get help with a bidding strategy so please post your budget/night before tax/fees, zone(s) you're willing to stay in and the star rating for the hotel.

 

Let us know how we can help you further with your stay.

 

Please use the PRICELINE and hot.wire links on the board to begin your purchases and searches.

 

Yellowdog.

[everyedge]

Thanks yellowdog -

 

We'd like to stay in:

 

4* star - louvre, latin quarter, or st germain.

 

Do you think $115/night CAD is doable for bidding?

 

We'd like to stay as close to that as possible. I'm basing that off of seeing $148/night on the PRICELINE EXPRESS. Is that discount factor unrealistic? (approx 20% off express)

 

A bidding strategy would be very much appreciated - since we have 3 zones, hopefully that helps.

 

Since you're in Europe - what's your take on the best location?

 

Cheers

[Romelle]

I'm a member, not a board official, but thought I'd try to help a bit here.

 

For starters, 115 CAD is about $105.  While you can bid in all sorts of currencies, keeping the communication to USD makes things more consistent here.

 

You've got 4 days in Paris, so likely are going to be doing quite a few different things.  And the tourist major attractions are scattered about.  Considering as many zones as possible will improve your chances of getting a good price.  The Paris Metro is very easy to use to move around.  If you zoom way in on the Priceline map, you can see how close together the Metro stops are.  Another benefit of zooming those maps way in is you can see a number of the named tourist attractions.  Not all of them, but some.  

 

If you are walkers, you will find you can easily walk through several zones.  That inner core of Paris with almost all the Priceline zones is only about 5 miles across.  

 

While I wouldn't advise it for a short visit, I once stayed clear out in the La Defense zone (the most remote zone) and used the Metro to get everywhere.  It was about 15 minutes to the very center of Paris.  The La Defense area is mostly offices and such so it doesn't offer much right there.  But the price was right and the hotel was very nice.  

 

I'd guess that 20% discount off Priceline Express in not realistic for summer in Paris.  The only real way to know though is to actually bid.  

 

You mentioned safety.  My teen-aged granddaughter and I wandered much further around the city than the zones you are considering, and always felt completely totally safe.  We did not however do any wandering after dark.  Probably also safe, but I did want to mention it.

 

Without knowing more about your interests, it is hard to give advice on things to do.  When tackling a new city, I usually do a few things.  First I go to the local library and check out an armload of guide books.  While there I also search on the city/area/country names and even check out historical novels and pure fiction.  I usually end up actually buying the favorite guide book and taking it with me.  I also search the internet with something like "top 10 tourist attractions citynamex".  Then look at the map for the attractions and it helps me define just where I'd like to stay.  Sometimes my budget causes me to reconsider the location (hence La Defense in one case), but it is a good start.  

 

My teenage granddaughter's top choices were:

 

A tour of the Paris Sewer System

A tour of the Catacombs

Shopping in a major department store

The Eiffel Tower

 

I added a requirement of one museum. 

 

We had a grand time, but I'd guess your list might be quite different?

 

Romelle

[thereuare]

You can stop at whatever amount you'd like, but the strategy below goes up to $120/nite (US) as i think that is a more realistic bid amount (it stil may not be enough, but at least it gives you a fighting chance).

When bidding 4* in Paris you have TWO re-bid zones. 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* Louvre...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 4* Latin Quarter...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 4* St. Germain...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 4* Louvre and Latin Quarter...

Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $113, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 4* Louvre and St. Germain...

Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $113, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 4* Louvre, Latin Quarter, St. Germain...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120

Any questions feel free to ask.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[everyedge]

Thanks.

 

I can't seem to find the 2 re-bid zones. What are they?

 

Am I not looking for zones with no hotels that are 4* and up? I didn't see any zones that fit this profile. Can you please help?

[everyedge]

Also, to find the star ratings available in the area, I'm using the filter on the left margin, that shows the number available for each star rating that you can click to filter.

[AaronJB]

To find the available star ratings in each zone, you are looking at the screen during the bidding process where you can select zones and star ratings to bid on. You highlight zones one-by-one to see what star ratings are available to bid upon in that zone. Do not use the retail side of the service. Additionally, the star rating options in a zone can change at any time, so it's recommended to check each time you start bidding.

 

Let us know if you have additional questions and/or need further help confirming.

 

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[everyedge]

Ah.. I see. I think I got it:

 

Batignolles - Clichy –  detail map

Buttes Chaumont - La Villette Area –  detail map

 

these are the 2 with max 3* - can you confirm that's correct?

 

Also, sorry but if I wanted to take Louvre area out of the bidding, could I just follow the bid strategy excluding Louvre?

[Romelle]

You've got the 4* free rebid zones correct for right now, but do check again before each bidding session.  

 

Regarding just pulling the Louvre out of the bidding, you can do that.  But with only two actual zones you won't have as many bids in one session.  To get to the $120 you'll have to either use larger increments, or bid over a couple days.  

 

Romelle

[everyedge]

Bid 

100-110-115 CAD on the individual zones no luck.

 

Bid

120-125-130 CAD on the 2 zones combined no luck.

 

I see 2 PRICELINE EXPRESS deals:

 

4*St germain 145/night CAD, 7/10 rating, guaranteed free internet and business centre.

 

4*Latin quarter 168/night CAD, 8/10 rating, guaranteed free internet and pets allowed.

 

Any idea what these are??

 

Since my bids were so close to these, maybe these are the best options.

[Romelle]

Since my bids were so close to these, maybe these are the best options.

 

The one little refinement to your logic is that Hotwire can be more generous with stars than Priceline.  Lots of variance, but a rough tendency of about a 1/2 star, with Hotwire tagging a place 3.5 stars and Priceline giving it only 3*  There are examples of a full star difference, and also examples of the rating being the same.  

 

Romelle

[everyedge]

Sorry I meant, there were options through PRICELINE that I quoted above. after the failed bids, i took a peek at those on the same site.

 

Wondering what the hotels are.

[thereuare]

Bid

120-125-130 CAD on the 2 zones combined no luck.

Above you mentioned three acceptable zones and the bidding strategy was for 3 zones... which TWO zones did you bid? (is the other no longer acceptable?)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

PS- please use the 'ADD REPLY' (black) button at the bottom right of the page (and not the QUOTE button inside the post) when replying unless you have a need/reason to quote a previous post. Thanks.

[everyedge]

The 2 zones were latin quarter and st germain.

Yes, I decided I prefer these 2 and wanted to try obtaining something in these 2 zones only.

 

Thanks for all of your help here.

[everyedge]

Could I get help on the above (priceline)?

 

Also, just found these on hotwire:

 

4* Saint Germain - Luxembourg Gardens - Invalides area -

Fitness, business centre, internet access

$144 CAD/night

 

4* Latin Quarter - Sorbonne area

Internet, smoke free

$169 CAD/night

90% recommended.

[everyedge]

Any ideas what these might be? They are slightly different than the original ones I had posted, thanks!