lilaki Posted February 20, 2008 Report Posted February 20, 2008 hi everyone,i'm a newbie here. i've never used priceline - just hotwire (with good success).we will be going to paris from september 22 - 29, 2008 for our honeymoon. i was quite shocked when i looked at the 'retail' price of hotels in paris ... made especially worse by the Euro vs. the Canadian Dollar! hence, i'm breaking down and hoping for a priceline miracle!!!so, a few questions for all the experts here...1. is it too early to start booking?? i looked at some of the wins from september 2007 and it appears they all happened around may/june 2007.2. what is a 'reasonable' bid i can expect for a 4* in the following areas:Bastille - Bercy Batignolles - Montmartre - RepubliqueChamps Elysees - Opera Quarter WestEiffel Tower - Grenelle - MontparnasseOpera Quarter East - Les HallesSt. Germain - Latin Quarter - Montparnassei would REALLY love to pay about $100 (absolute maximum is $140). is this realistic?3. we are going for one week ... and i would REALLY like to stay in one place (we are heading to provence for another week after the 29th). however, will this decrease my chances of finding a winner? if i need to switch hotels, i'd like to stay in one hotel for 3 nights and one for four ... or something like that. as long as i'm not staying somewhere for 6, and then switching for 1 and then repacking again to head down to provence...4. i have read through a few threads and have noticed that some members are saying that a European 3* is not the same as a North American 3*. could anyone elaborate on this one? 5. i am not a luxury hotel snob but i do travel quite frequently for business (and once a year internationally for fun). on business, i stay at marriotts, westins, sheratons, hiltons, etc. and for paris, while i don't expect a st. regis, ritz, or anything like that, i would like something in a SAFE area, with a comfortable room, with basic amenities (TV, hair dryer, ensuite bathroom, comfy bed). high thread count sheets and towels are a bonus. i've stayed in 2* properties in some major canadian/US cities that have been GREAT ... not the westin, but you get what you pay for. while we are going for our honeymoon, neither of us have romantic notions about the hotel (whatever it ends up being) ... we are in paris to see the sights, pound the pavement, and fill up on the gastronomic delights. i won't be dieting to fit into my wedding dress ... i'll be dieting to make sure i can fit into my jeans on the flight home!!any advice would be MUCH appreciated ... i have read the re-bidding strategy and i think i'm getting it...but if you could help me with a bidding strategy, that would be GREAT!thank you!!!
WillTravel Posted February 20, 2008 Report Posted February 20, 2008 Late September can actually be an especially expensive time due to trade fairs.I am not sure if your goal is realistic, but the only hope is to try.I would definitely start by booking a backup you can live with.> European 3* is not the same as a North American 3*Some common characteristics of European 3* hotels:Small rooms, even very small roomsQuirky bathroomsNo washclothsQuite likely no air conditioning (probably not an issue in late September)Probably no ice machine or room serviceIronically, a modern 2* hotel like the Ibis hotels tend to be will likely have more modern plumbing than the older 3* hotels. You can also find 3* hotels that charge 200 Euros or more per night and probably do not have these deficiencies.If you want something equivalent to your business hotels, you would probably find even some of the 4* Priceline options to fall short. It does seem that the Marriott Rive Gauche has pretty good reviews, though.
thereuare Posted February 20, 2008 Report Posted February 20, 2008 Thoughts based upon WillTravel's comments above? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
lilaki Posted February 21, 2008 Author Report Posted February 21, 2008 thanks, willtravel.i will stick with 4* hotels then. i'm not necessarily looking for a hotel equivalent to my business hotels BUT but a small, dark, dingy 3* (by european standards) isn't very appealing. i don't need first class service (i.e. i don't order room service when i'm traveling for leisure) but i'd prefer a good location with a decent room/amenities. i've also refined my search criteria...in order of preference, i'd like the following areas:St. Germain - Latin Quarter - MontparnasseChamps Elysees - Opera Quarter WestOpera Quarter East - Les HallesBatignolles - Montmartre - RepubliqueBastille - Bercy i have removed the eiffel tower because of previous comments in other threads...any bidding strategy advice would be great!
thereuare Posted February 21, 2008 Report Posted February 21, 2008 Are you looking to bid up to your maximum in the first zone, then try for the second zone up to your maximum, etc, etc... or are you looking for the least expensive 4* or better hotel in any of the above zones? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
lilaki Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Posted February 22, 2008 the least expensive 4*, preferably in the top two areas i mentioned above...i still have seven nights in provence followed by 5 nights in england before we go home totally broke!
thereuare Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 the least expensive 4*, preferably in the top two areas i mentioned above...You need to be clear exactly what it is that you would like...Do you want to include all of the zones above or just the first two? :) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
lilaki Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Posted February 22, 2008 if broadening the areas makes a better bidding strategy, then i'm willing to accept the lowest priced 4* in any of the above areas.but my ideal preference would be a low priced 4* in the top two areas.sorry for the confusion! let me know if that helps!! thank you so much for your assistance.
thereuare Posted February 22, 2008 Report Posted February 22, 2008 You can try as follows...Select 4* St Germain...Bid $75, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Champs Elysees...Bid $75, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* OQE...Bid $75, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Bastille...Bid $75, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* St Germain and Champs Elysees...Bid $85, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* OQE and Bastille...Bid $85, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* St Germain and Bastille...Bid $95, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $100, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* OQE and Champs Elysees...Bid $95, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $100, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* St Germain and OQE...Bid $105, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Champs Elyseesand Bastille...Bid $105, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* St Germain and Champs Elysees and OQE...Bid $115, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* St Germain and Champs Elysees and Bastille...Bid $115, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* OQE and Bastille and St Germain...Bid $125, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previoulsy.Select 4* OQE and Bastille and Champs Elysees...Bid $125, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previoulsy.Select 4* OQE and Bastille and St Germain and Champs Elysees...Bid $135, if rejected add Batignolles...Bid $140.Amy 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
lilaki Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Posted February 22, 2008 thank you SOOOOO much!!! i will let you know how it turns out!!
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