i'm looking at booking a hotel for paris through expedia but has anyone else ever done that? do they do a reasonable job? are there hidden charges? <BR>is there a better way to book hotels?

Hi Rose. I have never used them to book a hotel. But I know people here have given advice about finding something you like through Internet booking services. Then try to contact the hotel directly. Sometimes the hotel will charge less, sometimes more. You can pick the best deal.

I've never booked hotels in Europe through Expedia, but have booked lots of USA hotels through them. Many times, I have gotten great deals (usually when you pay for the hotel when you book) - and I've stayed at some places that would have been too extravagant otherwise (I'm usually on client business and don't want to spend hundreds of dollars per night).<BR><BR>I usually see what the Expedia price is and check directly with the hotel. The last time I booked through them, I saved over $100 per night by booking through Expedia.

I've used both Expedia and Travelocity with no problems. Sometimes they have better prices, sometimes the hotel's website has better prices, sometimes you can do better dealing with the hotel directly. For hotels in Paris, I've dealt directly with the hotel as the hotel I wanted wasn't listed on Expedia.<BR><BR>A couple of things to be careful with-make sure to read the fine print. Sometimes the hotel requires a nonrefundable deposit, sometimes you have to pay for the whole stay in advance with penalties on cancellation. Most of the hotels I've booked had cancellation periods up to 1 day prior with no penalty. I have cancelled a reservation on Expedia and I didn't have a problem doing so.<BR><BR>Look to see if taxes are included or not.<BR><BR>Also, make sure you print out a confirmation, no matter how you book the hotel. Sometimes hotels lose reservations, sometimes they don't have the right rate.

I have used them to book domestic hotels and have never had a problem. However, I always check the hotel's web site, too, just to be sure the price isn't cheaper. Sometimes I get a better rate that way, and other times it's thru Expedia. Just check both.<BR>

I haven't used Expedia and am not that familiar with what hotels they have, but from viewing comments from people who have used them, it appears they have a bad collection of hotels -- large, expensive chain hotels and then some small really bad ones in bad areas they are trying to palm off on people who don't know better. I just looked at their web site and they seem to work with a few chains mainly: Atel, Choice, Citadines, Abotel and Meridien. They do have a few others that are fine. I looked at their complete list for St-Germain and they have a few decent ones, of course the selection is a lot smaller than if you selected on your own. I don't know about the charges, the rates I saw didn't look low at all but not necessarily too high. You'd have to really compare sources to know. However, I wouldn't use them unless I already knew the hotel I wanted and they had a good rate for it, or didn't really care a lot about what I got. I would not reward them for their web site because I think they do a poor job of displaying and explaining the hotels. There aren't even any pictures.<BR><BR>I would use a French hotel-specific web site for best choice and information. I like www.parishotels.com, www.hotelboulevard.com, www.france.com, and www.france-hotel-guide.com I've only used one of those but I've heard from no one on the others who has had a terrible experience. It looks to me if you want a budget hotel (2-star), you really have to go elsewhere than Expedia.<BR><BR>

I have used them to book domestic hotels and have never had a problem. However, I always check the hotel's web site, too, just to be sure the price isn't cheaper. Sometimes I get a better rate that way, and other times it's thru Expedia. Just check both.<BR>

Rose,<BR>I've used them to book hotels in Spain but only after an exhaustive search myself for the very best rates, on the hotels' Internet sites themselves and buy calling directly. For this summer, I booked my Bilbao hotel, the 5 star Lopez de Haro, through expedia for an exceptional rate of $119 for my dates in late July. Rates will depend according to your dates. Last summer I booked two hotel stays in Madrid through Expedia because the rate was slightly lower than going directly through the hotels themselves. And I didn't book the special Expedia rate, noted in red, which is charged in advance to one's credit card. But I always do my homework, and lots of it. Sometimes Expedia has the best rate, other times, not at all.

Just used Expedia to book a night at the Sheraton at Schipol (want to see the Floriade) for a remarkable $125. I think they usually have deals and are quite easy to use.

I've used them domestically and had great luck with getting good prices for good hotels. The best example: Last June I booked into the Plaza in NYC for $189 (total, two people). When I checked in I kept worrying that the desk clerk would say something like "Whoa, this is a mistake, can't honor it." But they didn't and even upgraded my room (without asking), even though they knew the price I'd paid.

There are no rules.<BR>Sometimes they have great deals, sometimes they are more expensive than others. <BR>Do research and compare. <BR>I reserved hotels and air thru them when the price was right.<BR>They are reliable, but recently they made a $25 fee for reservation cancellation. Travelnow has $10 fee.<BR>I am holding the reservation for Las Vegas currently for hotel Paris. Their price is $79, whereas everywhere else it starts from $120. <BR>See for yourself what you couls find.

Booked through Expedia in Munich and Salzburg last year and got some fantastic rates. Careful though, the "Promotional" rates I had did not include breakfast and they wanted to tack-on an extra $7-$10 per person each day if we ate breakfast at the hotel. The rates I got were well below the rack-rate, but would have to pay $10 for a slice of toast and OJ. Expedia is reliable and cheap, just thought I'd warn about the breakfast charge.

I booked a good rate at a hotel in Vienna last year through Expedia, but did have some trouble when I wanted to add an extra day, before leaving for the trip. When I phoned Expedia to ask if I could do this, they told me I would have to cancel the whole reservation and re-book in order to get the extra day. <BR><BR>I said, no thanks, I'd leave it as it was. Well, half an hour later I checked my record, and they had cancelled the reservation anyway. I phoned them again, and got a run-around and some rudeness from the Expedia representative that I talked to. (First he said he was the same person I had talked to a half an hour before, then he said he wasn't, then he said he "didn't have a supervisor," etc. etc.)<BR><BR>In the end I phoned the hotel itself to re-instate my reservation.<BR><BR>I suppose these mix-ups can happen anywhere, but it did make me a little wary of Expedia.

We just booked a three night trip to London in April through Expedia. Non-stop from Newark and 3 nights (for 4 in a family room/apt) at Le Meridien Grovesner (5 star large hotel) for $540/person. The hotel itself was not available at all when I checked on -line. All other sites were considerable more expensive.<BR>When I called the hotel for an upgrade, no reservation was listed. Expedia called London, and called me back within 30 minutes with the confirmation. We hope that we won't be put in the basement. I'll report back upon our return.