Anne

My husband and I are toying with the idea of taking a few days that we haven't planned yet in the middle of our Germany trip and taking the train to Paris if the weather is nice. What is the best way to find a hotel if you don't have a reservation when you get there? We will be there around the middle of September. <BR> <BR>Thanks.

Christina

I wouldn't advise it at all as September is one of the, if not THE, busiest hotel-booking months in Paris due to business conventions and trade shows. Personally, I would recommend making notes of several dozen hotel numbers you would find acceptable from a guidebook or online site and calling ahead from Germany the day before or something. If Best Western has a central Europe booking number, you could call them, also, as they have quite a few in Paris; so does the LIbertel chain. Barring that, if you just show up in Paris, I'd recommend you go to the tourist information office as they have a hotel booking service and will best know vacancies; the main one is at 127 av Champs-Elysees. There are some other ones at train stations, I think, but the one at Gare du Nord was closed when I had counted on them.

elvira

Only twice have I arrived in Paris without hotel reservations, and both times it was a disaster. The first time I ended up in a bug-infested hotel in the 13eme; the second time, at the upscale Hotel Royal St Michel and paid more for a room than I wanted. <BR> <BR>You can probably find a room, but it won't be what you wanted. If you really want to visit Paris, make your plans early and book a hotel ahead.

Betsy

Make a reservation and know the cancellation policy. Usually if you cancel within 48 hours you won't be charged. That way you'll be assured a hotel but you don't have to be locked in. Or at the very least follow the advice of Christina and call ahead while in Germany. Paris at that time is full!

Anne

Thanks everyone, I think that I've convinced my husband that being spontaneous at that time of the year is not a great idea. I asked some of the people in my office that have been several times where to start and am going to make a reservation this week. A.

phil

For others considering a last minute booking to Paris without a hotel from what I understand, the worst times are basically all of June (French Open early June, Paris Air Show late June) and late September when European market weak occurs in the Fashion Industry. <BR> <BR>Have others identified other periods that do not reward the free-and-easy travelar? <BR>

Christina

It is also very busy in early October; some years there is an auto show at that time--I think it is roughly the first two weeks in October every other year (but not this year, 2000 and 2002). I stupidly came into Paris once in early Oct by train from London without a room reservation and spent about four hours on the phone before I got one (not what I wanted at all and more expensive) and then for only one night. I left for Belgium the next day, it was an awful experience. The tourist office to help you with rooms was conveniently closed for no reason I could see (it was Fri afternoon); also, Paris had conveniently changed their entire phone system between the time my guidebook was published and my arrival, so all my phone numbers were wrong. It was lovely. I have never traveled without reservations again. I don't envy people who do that at all, although I think they just have lower criteria for hotels than I do. My hotel ambience, comfort and espec. location is very important to my experience (I don't spend a lot, just 2-3 star hotels). A lot of people I know who travel without reservations end up in bad locations, poor values, and crummy hotels; I don't understand the attraction of no reservations. One funny thing I've always wondered, people always talk about the "flexibility" of this -- so what do you do when you check in to a place, don't they make you say how long you are going to be there? Given how booked up hotels are in some cities are nowadays, and cancellation fees for even reservations cancellation, espec. in popular hotels, I can't see them accepting you saying -- "oh, I'll just stay as long as I feel like it, I'll let you know." Don't they charge you if you say you will be there 3 days and then you leave after one? This is a serious question.

Al Godon

I don't understand what is weak about the European fashion market in Paris. <BR>I thought it was quite strong. Certainly a lot of people attend. <BR> <BR>I think people who show up in Paris (France) without hotel reservations in mid to late September are either misinformed or don't care where they sleep. <BR>