Sodo

Sorry - I'm reposting this as I realised I didn't say in the title that I was referring to a Paris hotel.

I stayed at the Hotel des Arts in Montmartre a few years ago and was really pleased to find a great price on their website for trip in September this year, which I quickly booked for four nights. Much cheaper than booking via our travel agent in Australia.

Now I see that there are a lot of negative reviews on sites like Tripadvisor, which suggest the hotel constantly shuffles people off to other less appealing hotels.

Has anyone had any personal experiences with this hotel?

I've asked my travel agent, and they say that because their bookings are all via agents, the hotel probably wouldn't pull that kind of scam.

So it's possibly the internet customers who get the bad deal

I'm really just inclined to cancel the booking and start again. It's paid for, but appears to be easily able to be cancelled (with a small fee).

Any comments?

cigalechanta

http://www.hotel-des-arts.net/hda800/indexe.html

Looks pleasant.

Sodo

It is a very nice little hotel. I liked it a lot last time I stayed, which is why I was feeling smug having got a great internet deal.

But now I'm not so sure ....

Dave_in_Paris

How many times have you read posts from folks planning trips who have reserved a hotel and yet are still considering other hotels. Think about it: there's no excuse for a hotel overbooking, but it would be rarer if there were fewer guest no-shows.

Intrepid1

Sodo: if, based on the TripAdvisor reviews you really feel the hotel is "scamming" people then stay elsewhere.

Dave: I think there are few no-shows because of credit card guarantee requirements, don't you?

Travelnut

Things to change over time -perhaps the management is different at the hotel than 'a few years ago', and don't handle things as nicely.

francophile03

The hotel is part of the Logis de France hotel selections. I thought this is a reputable booking agency that selects well-regarded hotels. But perhaps the management style has changed as mentioned.

Dave_in_Paris

You have a point about credit card requirements. but they aren't universal in France, Paris included. I should written "no shows and late-in-the-game cancellations." When I read posts by people who have booked a hotel and are still looking for a hotel, I'm appalled, just as I am when I read about overbooking by hotels.

Sodo

I've sent an email to the hotel asking them to confirm there will be a room available at Hotel des Arts when we arrive.

I actually mentioned the negative internet comments, so it will be interesting to see their reply.

My husband thinks I'm totally mad (as he always does when it regards travel arranging). His theory is that "if" it happens we deal with it then, but in any case the room is only to sleep in. Which is actually quite true.

francophile03

I see alot of comments about the room is just for 'sleeping and taking a shower'. I suppose it's true for quite a few people literally. But you spend more time in your room than you think. You stay there to sleep at least 6-8 hours and you use the bathroom to shower. Doesn't it matter that your bed be comfortable, the shower and bathroom clean, and there is at least sufficient space to walk around your bed instead of on top of it? Well, it's just my personal opinion that a room should be more than just a room.

Sodo

I think most of the complaints were related to less appealing locations (to those people), not that the hotels were actually sub-standard. One person said they actually preferred the hotel they were sent to!! For me it's just the thought of having a run-in with hotel staff and being shunted off somewhere else.

francophile03

Sodo, I understand. And really if I were you I would choose a different hotel, one that doesn't have reports of overbooking as far as you can tell. I guess it's overbooking that caused the guests to be sent to another hotel.