Priceline Hotel: Amsterdam 9/11/09 - 9/13/09

[Betsy90035]

I have three 20 somethings traveling in Europe who have plane tix to Amsterdam 9/11 but no hotel. I have been watching as Amsterdam seems to be filling up. I'm afraid they are going to get shut out of the city and end up in an airport hotel (and lucky to have it). Should they bid now for Amsterdam hotel or wait until the week of? Price is paramount concern but they want location too (of course) ...

[thereuare]

As per our reply to your 2005 New York City thread (for which you never followed-up on :) ):

Nobody can say if rates will go down... or up... between now and your stay.

For additionial information see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

I'll also 'warn' against using PRICELINE for triple occupancy in Europe as there are many hotel rooms there which can only accomodate double occupancy and/or only have one bed. Unless you were planning on getting more than one room, HOTWIRE may be a better/safer (although slightly more expensive) option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. (and dont' forget to follow-up this thread with whatever you decide to do for this stay)

[ReconDoc]

Your kids have picked the single worst week in AMS as far as hotels.

The annual IBC Conference starts about the 11th and runs through the 14th (conference) and the 15th (exhibit)

In years past this conference has taken over AMS hotels.

[Betsy90035]

Fortunately, they managed to get nh Carlton 2 nights $158 (after VAT). Believe they went through the priceline.co.uk site, since the price they gave me was in GBP and they were able to book a triple. Maybe not a bargain, but at least a safe place to sleep.

[txw888]

What area is NH carlton considered? zone 2?

[thereuare]

I don't believe they bid for this stay as they wouldn't be able to designate a triple unless it was thru the "retail" (non-opaque) product.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[ReconDoc]

Betsy, could we get a little more info on that NH Carlton stay?

-Was the $158 for two nights total? Did they bid through PL/UK?

At $158 a night you are well below the hotels normal asking rate.

At $158 for two nights this is a really great deal considering how busy that time period is. Just slightly more expensive through bidding than the week before and after IBC.

Someone asked about the zone? The Carlton has been one of the two PL hotels showing up, for virtually all winners, in zone 2 the centre museum zone for a 4* in 2009. The other hotel being the NH Amsterdam Centre.

Both hotels get very good marks from customers. And they are both very well located on or very near ( 2 min walk) popular squares with lots of day and night activity.