Priceline Hotel: Frankfurt in Jan 06

[birdie]

Hello,

This is my first time on so please bear with me. I'm looking for 1 night 4* (or even 3*) accommodation near Messe, Frankfurt. I haven't used Priceline before but want to try it as the hotel prices are sky high in Jan. I've read the tips etc. but it's all a bit confusing. Can someone who knows the area confirm whether Messe is in the west of Frankfurt? What price should I start bidding at (the hotels seem quite full and direct rates are over

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Somebody else i'm sure will comment regarding the area, but have you already looked at the Priceline map to see how they divide the zones and if this is the area you want to be in? (or can you not tell from the map)?

[blindman]

There is no PLACE called MESSE in Frankfurt, that's the name of the Festival Hall.

Link to MESSE

This is in the WEST zone and one hotel that comes up is the Marriott

Marriott

Read the first few lines of the hotel description.

I've only visited once so I coud be wrong :)

Link to Interactive map

[birdie]

Thanks for that.

I want to be close to the Fair grounds or at least to easy public transport. Would the 'west' zone be best for accessibility? Is the 'east' zone better or should I try the airport 4/3*? I have poured through several maps but I still can't tell. I checked several websites and looks like the 4* Marriott is sold out. Does anyone know what other hotel I'll likely get if I bid for 4* west?

[anyway]

What are the exact dates of your stay? Check out Frankfurt Courtyard Messe, if there are rooms available, you can try bidding 3* in the West zone. WillTravel got it for $45 on the first try, so you could try a bit lower at first.

There are no other 4* hotels besides Marriott reported in Frankfurt West zone, but sometimes (very rarely) Marriott has some Priceline rooms left even when it's sold out through traditional channels, so trying 4* in West shouldn't hurt. There's also a new Radisson SAS ('Blaue Scheibe' :)) just opened near the Messe, maybe it will participate in Priceline. Or you could try booking it through non-opaque channels.

Le Meridien is another 4* option if staying in the East zone is OK.

Hope it helps.

[Jule]

You cannot go wrong with either 4* West (Marriott) or 4* East (Meridien) bids. The Marriott is a 3min walk, the Meridien a 3 min walk and 3 tram stops from the fair (or a 15min walk). I would not recommend the Airport zone.

To get an impression on rates you could check your dates at hrs.de.

[birdie]

Using Priceline has been very frustrating so far. I tried the strategies suggested elsewhere on the forum, but Priceline won't let me. I bid 4* west at the equivalent of $60US - no go. Then tried to bid up but the system wouldn't till I ticked a change of date/star rating/area. So I bid 4*east at same price -no go. Same again had to click on a change of date/rating/area, and so it went till it locked me out. Am I missing something? Or is it the priceline.co.uk site?

I'm looking for one night 11th Jan. Can anyone suggest anywhere for under $US100? I would even consider a Best Western at this stage.

[blindman]

Checking the Marriott web-site for your one night stay, there are "No rooms available".

If you pick two nights either side of the 11th (10-12 or 11-13) then the rate is over $500 and $600 respectively.

The Le Meridien in the East PL zone has rates of over $400 for that night, but at least it's available.

A recent successful bid of $100 was made here when the best hotel rates were just below $200.

So you may not get a PL rate at all unless they release inventory at the very last minute.

Have you a cancellable back up or other plans for accomodation?

Looks like this will go down to the wire.

Good Luck and Happy Christmas :)

[Chris26WI]

I think the Tryp Hotel in Frankfurt-West (Rebstock, between the Courtyard and the Marriott) might show up as a 3 star as well, and doesn't seem to be a bad place to stay either.

[WillTravel]

Tryp often has great promotions. Sign up for them at http://www.solmelia.com .